Oxford Democrat., 1907-07-02

He did not go on to that point IN the
main road which was directly opposite
the watermelon patch. He did not
wish to have his ascetic contemplation
disturbed by some chance wayfarer.
He turned off along short lane which
led to 81 Bryant's barn. Here he
reached place where he could see
over the fence the faint shapes Of the
melons.
Alex was affected. The house was
some distance away, there was no dog
and doubtless the Bryants would soon
extinguish their lights and go to bed.
Then some poor lost lamb Of sin might
come and scale the fence. reach a mel
on in moment, sever the stem with
his ready knife and in a trice be back
In the road with his prize. And this
poor lost lamb of sin might even be q
bishop, but no one would ever know 1t.
Alex singled out with his eye very
large melon and thought that the lamb
would prove his judgment II he took
that Que.
He found soft place In the grass
and arranged himself comfortably. He
watched the lights In the windows.
1t seemed to Peter Washington that
the Bryants absolutely consulted their
own wishes in regard to the time for
retiring, but at last he saw the lighted
windows fade briskly from left to right
and after moment window on the
second floor blazed out against the
darkness. 81 was going to bed. In
five minutes this window abruptly van
ished, and all the world was night.
Peter spent the ensuing quarter hour
in no mental debate. His mind was
fixed. He was here, and the melon was
there. He would have 1t. But an idea
of being caught appalled, him. He
thought of his position. He was the
beau of his community, honored right
and left. He pictured the consterna-
ton of his friends and the cheers of his
enemies IL the hands Of the redOubtable
81 Bryant should grip him in his
shame.
He arose and. going to the fence, lis
tened. No sound broke the stiffness
save the rhythmical incessant clicking
of myriad insects and the cultural
chanting of the frogs in the reeds at
the lakeside. Moved by sudden de-
clslon, he climbed the fence anG crept
silently down upon the melon. His open
knife was in his hand. There was the
melon. cool, fair to see. us pOTpous In
Its fatness as the cook In q monastery.
Peter put out hand to steady II
while he cut the stem. But ut the In
slant he was aware that Il black form
had dropped over the fence lining the
lane In front of him and was coming
stealthily toward him. In II palsy OF
terror he dropped fiat upon the ground,
not having strength enough to run
away. The next moment lie was look
ing into the amazed and agonized face
Of old Alex Williams.
There was a moment Of loaded ST.
lence, and then Peter was overcome by
4 mad Inspiration. He suddenly drop
ped his knife and leaped upon Alex.
II got chez he hissed. 81 got che! l
got chez The old man sank down as
limp as rags. 81 got che! I got che!
Steal Mist Bryant's mellums, hey"
Alex, in low voice, began to beg.
"Oh, Mist Peter Wash'ton, don't go
fer ter be too ha'd on er ole man! |
new come yere fer ter steal 'em. Deed
l didn't, Mist Wash'ton. come yere
les fer ter feel 'em. Oh, please, Mist
Wash'ton"-
Come elong outa yere, you Of rip
said Peter. "an' don trumple on desc
yere baids. l gwine put you wab you
won ketch coll"