The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-08-25

what had gone before.
"a little clearing with buttercups around, Eth
sidreda said. And there is path. Nobody
knows where 1t goes. And where it goes is the
only thing about a path that doesn't matter We
might have picnic, Lnnie, if we had something
to eat"
Cooker" Iinnie suggested politely, and went
down in the pocket of his roundabout and brough.
up eight nine crumbs.
Etheldreda looking across the clearing ana
up the path
'.Linnie,' she said, shall tie Itty Btty Colty
go explorer
The child threw himself head1ong from the
seat. And Etheldreda, interpreting, alighted and
tied Itty Bitty Colty, which also being interpreted
meant Little Bit of a Colt, and was Linnie's name
for the pony; but they usually called him the |. B..
c. for short.
"a GO wear no hat" announced Linnie, cast
ing his sailor into the phaeton. "Aw gone hat
Neither will T." Etheldreda assented, and Linnie
beamed. In his little heart he loved her because
Etheldreda deliciousy likely to agree with him.
Aunt Cecil would certainly have said: Indeed
you Pick up your hat and put it on--at once
Linfed." He folded his hand about two of her
fingers and hoped joyously beside her, suspending
from those two fingers. at each hop as much OF his
weight possible
Stand just where you are. please!" called
voice.
That voice-it was a disconcertngly peremptory
voice, with little modifying uplifts of ntona-
feaSSure
an unpleasant voice. 1t had a ring of authority
that magnetic. is all true authority. Cor is
not, If you believe the other way) 1t was, in
short, kind of robber-voice-voice of real rob-
Der in cloth-of-green and green-laced doublet-oh.
a voice Of robber in a wood
She stood still obedienty and instinctive1y, and
Linnie gasp of dreadful joy, and chung about
her skirts. The which fell upon her hair
also in her eyes and dazzled her. But up the lane
light along which the voice had she OWNED
a man under butternut tree.
Just you are, please-what a thought to
bring the child" he said.
Then she the easel and checked her laugh
Not that she would have laughed at robber
either but the easel made the situation
grave. One can run from robber; hardly
from artist if wished. And with
the falling gloriously through the leaves OF
the wood, in a morning of spring, why should one
at all?
1T isn't the light / wanted" said the Artist,
'but it's most bully light
Under divided whose trunk curved out
ward in the perfect half of Gothic arch she stood
quietly, her heart beating just pleasantly enough
not to beat any harder. And the dress that had
made Linnie happy and the bright hair that he was
not tall enough to were manifestly not missed
by the Artist.
by Jove,'' he said once softly, up at the other
end of the lane of light
Then Linnie took courage. Nobody who is not
four knows the tragedy of being motionless He
looked up at Etheldreda doubtfully one eye show
ing.
Keep the child he was, pleased" said the
robber-voice sharply; keep him quiet if you can"
Etheldreda spoke under her breath
''Linnie.' she said, do you care to drive Itty
Bitty Colty home? All the way?"
Linnie took courage, and hoped.
Dear Etheldreda promised stand still until
tell you. Perfectly STILL and you SHALL"
"Itty Bitty Colty?" he pressed her suspiciouslv
"A1l the way" Ethedreda repeated firmly
For answer the one eye disappeared and Linne
snuggled his cheek against her blue skirt. The
skirt was very sweet to SMELL just as the air was
sweet whenever she kissed him. Linnie fixed that
one eye a nodding harebe at the foot Of another
butternut tree. and fell very quiet
1t took the Artist unconscionable time
robber would in the exercise of his profession,
have been much quicker. And every three or four
minutes for full twenty minutes. Linnie wriggled
distressingly doubled up knee or lost his
balance outright But Ethedreda stood quite STILL
with mrth and misgivng in her heart
And when Linnie wrigged: THE I. b. c. all
the way. she kept saying softly. him. And
you may ride him to pasture, dear And we'll have
a picnic tomorrow" she recklessly piled up the
usury, IF you'll only stand STILL"
"A picnic tomorrow with a cake with nnts on "
Etheldreda whispered when he showed signs of
hopping.
An nuts in all through" he inquired hoarselv
All through" Ethedreda continued steadfastly
An false face? An live mud-turtle with
long string In? An,-an a buzz beetle"
MOI said Etheldreda sternly as one NAV sneak
below ones breath, with Artist so near one in a
lane OF light mo. And now you are Iinnie
Little-Boy. You not Linnie-Nan at ALL"
With painful catch of recollection Iinnie snb
SIDED How were you to remember to be a man in
such unexpected circumstances?
And then. by the mercy of heaven. the Attic,
spoke.
VIII you rest little now" he said sI shall
not need the child again, this morning Bur wouIa