The sun., 1908-05-17

Buck Maloney found time hanging heavy
on his hands in the quiet town. He re-
garded the college boys with indifference
beyond the work Of training the team.
Books had no fascination for him.
He did think he knew something about
women and he rather liked the looks OF his
neighbor. He recovered rapidly from the
rebuff OF the first encounter and made up
his mind he would enjoy q fiirtation. =.
BUCK Mal91ey was simple I IA IN his s mental z,
Miss Bidwell-ho got her name from one Of
the students-was person who wouldn' t
associate with him he would have laughed.
He believed firmly In the equality Of man
kind, and education and culture were terms
which mean little to him.
The very next time he saw Miss Bidwell at
work in her garden he strolled over.
Il hope you'll pardon mo- he began with
a. rush Of words. -but we're neighbors and
it's dull here and We ought to DO company
for each other. I'm ball tosser. I suppose
you know, and you're something In the
writing line. they tell me; but mans a man
and a woman's q woman. It's springtime.
We're neither Of us chickens and you're
good to look at. 80 let's be friends
Having, delivered himself Of this Ii oon-
appropriated q garden seat and crossed
his legs as IL he had come to stay.
Now Sarah ann Bldwoss should have
departed scornfully and Immediately. In
stead she went on with her work. which
was setting out dallia bulbs.
She said nothing. She would scoop
up trowelful Of The rich, warm earth,
put the bulb In place and scoop the dirt
carefully over It. A friendly pat or two
concluded the performance. She did not
Mr.. Buck Maloney took out cigar and
lit II. He was preparing for siege. After
a pause which would have been uncom-
Portable to almost any other man he spoke
I've been told you don't like men. Well.
you've got the wrong steer. just because
you have met up with some who aren't
the goods you mustn't turn down the whole
lot of us Give mankind another chance"
Sarah Ann looked up. Her face was
fiushed. She was angfy; -. ,. a.. :.
wade my privacy. I do not hate men.
They simply do not interest me. You are
confirming my opinion OF them by your
behavior. viii You 20 or must be driven
out Of my own gardenf'
Why III @ g E you look !t at i that T.. way; mg..
I've said soak in bit: Mobile youri get
a new idea some day
SO Mr.. Maloney departed Sarah Ann
went on putting dahlia bulbs into the earth.
Her anger disappeared slowly and an pn.
the man said did take root In her mind. and
more than that the man himself had made
an impression.
That night at supper she questioned
Josephine again.
4Do you know anything about Mr.
Msloney7' she asked. where does he
como from and what does he do besides
play baseball2'
"Well, Miss Sairy." said Josephine, .Im
sure dunno. But Mrs. johnson says he's
q real moe gentleman, even II his manners
amt as smooth ~ some. He's been awfully
good 70 her little girl that's oTipplsd.'
Sarah Ann took long COUNSEL with her
self that evening. She couldn't understand
why q man no obviously beneath her could
interest," her. But Of o sudden 10 came upon
her TINT she was very lonely.
Somehow she had missed something
out OF life. She heard children playing
IN the street. She had looked upon children
heretofore aa she did the trees and flowers
and other live things In nature, They had
not impressed her except 1mpersonally.
Now their voices seemed to have message
NSnt day town and college were startled
by the sight Of Miss Sarah Ann Bidwell
In gay attire at q baseball game. It was
unheard Of. Buck Malonsy, giving the
home team q brief but pointed lecture be-
fore the game, got the idea that something
unusual was toward and asked about ID.
When be heard that Miss BidweIl had caused
an The sxcisefhent be smiled 10 himself