The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-10-30

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6rst- II you like him better than me
just say 30. ! won't stand in the way.
You've acted different ever since hes
been here. I may be slow. but under
meath won't stand much fooiing
You know ! think a sight Of you" His
voice failed.
"You must have wanted to pick q
quarrel to get mad over such u little
thing as his looking ut u house. and
here's your ring, Wenzell I:eebe. AIR.
Laidlaw is Il gentleman anyway She
thrust the ring Into his unwilling hand
and sprang from the carriage before
be could lend her assistance.
All that evening Ann Rose iirted
desperately with Chester I.aldiaw
Mrs. Baker looked on In stern disap-
prevail and when bedtime anae she
drew her daughter aside: What do
you mean, Ann Rose, a-cutting up with
the boarder? Where's Wenzell? |
thought he was going to stay to tea"
"Wenzell is a slow poke. and | never
want to see him again." breathed Ann
Rose Indignantly as she freed herself
from her mothers grasp and closed her
bedroom door.
A half hour afterward 1t Numbered
loudly and u flash Of lightning cut the
outer darkness. Mrs. Baker hurried
around and closed windows. She
creaked Into her daughters room,
throwing o colossal shadow from the
candle In her hand.
Land aliye!' she whispered hoarse-
ly. ''The boarder's down III the parlor
scared to death Of the thunder. He's
got q kitchen chair with the legs set
In four tumblers. and he's got his rub
bers on. He's sitting there shiserlng
with the lamp lighted and | don't know
what all. He's a great ninny. The
llghtning's as sharp as ] ever see 1t.
The south meadow hay viii be ruined.
guess. There 1t Is waiting to be load
ed on the wagon and your pa ten miles
away!"
Ann Rose leaned on her elbow and
looked through the window. whats
that down In the meadow, mother?'
she asked. Watch the next fash"
II came with a crashing roll of thun-
der. and In the bright glare the hay
field lay before them like a painted
picture. a broad sweep Of stubble with
here and there a stack Of hay and in
the midst n mans solitary form pitch.
Ing hay vigorously,
"Who can It beT" whispered Ann
Rose wonderlngly.
There's only one man hereabouts
who'd take the trouble and risk his
horses In that open field IN a night
like this Just to a v a neighbours hay.
TIA wenzellr
The girl did not reply. She stared
fearfully out at the terrific storm.
Through It all the man In the south
hay field stolidly pitched hay on to
the brlmming wagon. Then he mount
ed the load and drove toward the barn.
I'm going down to open the barn
door," cried Ann Rose sharply. and she
sprang from the bed ana hurried into
some clothing. AS she flashed through
the parlor she cast a contemptuous
glance at the boarder. Goose she
sneered. but he was too miserable to
care.
Wenzeli Beebe found the barn door
Wide open, and he drove in just as
the first great raindrops fell. He slid
down from the load and closed the
great door tightly; then In the inter
mittent flashes that came through the
wide cracks he saw a small. white clad
figure leaning against the corn bin.
"It's me, Wenzell." sobbed Ann Rose
weakly. 81 was dreadful scared when
| saw you down In the field, and l
knew then II anything happened to
you I'd never be happy again" She
sobbed the last words on his broad
shoulder, and his great hand caressed
her hair softly.
Don't you care, honey" he whis-
pered. II was a great gump to get
jealous Of that pin headed city dude
anyhow! I might have known you
was Just enjoying the music and things
with him"
But you're awful brave to get In
the hay-that way-and the boarder-
he's sitting in the parlor scared to
DEATH" sobbed Ann Rose Historically.