Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1908-07-02
NEAR q
GARDEN WALL,
BY Virginia Osborne moroso.

In a half doze Idaho Shorty lay
sucked wall, his paunch filled with
the generous handout from the villa
on the other side, his nostrils drink
ing in the heavy perfume of the vines
over his head, and his face and brow
cooled in the morning breeZes.
Life was so full of sweetness to him
now that he even forgot that there
was no sign of male humanity about
the beautiful summer residence on the
other side of the low wall.
Occasionally, through the intoxi-
eating and dangerous odor of the
honeysuckle there crept the faint,
sweet breath of distant pines, for
there had been rain during the
night and the trees were breathing
freely and living with fullness Of
sweetness equal only to that the
sybaritic soul of Shorty was revel-
ing in.
From the open, wide windows of
the drawing room of the house came
the sounds of music. The young
mistress was playing a strange mel
ody, one that changed suddenly and
surprisingly from brilliance to sad
ness. Shorty did not know it, but he
was listening to an admirable per-
Torrance of Reinholds "Impromptu,"
and his half doze was rapidly becom-
ing stupor when he heard yet
sweeter music and nearer-the voices
of two women just on the other side
Of the low wall.
Don't you fear the nearness of
that tramp?" asked one voice
Dear me, mother" was the reply
the poor fellow was hungry and we
couldn't send him away without break
the tramps when they have finished
eating"
But all the men-servants are off on
a holiday
THE coachman will be back from
the station in an hour"
Shorty nodded benevolently. He
was right. He could carry off the
grand piano if he only felt equal to
the exertion But he could hardly
exert himself to hearken to these soft
and low voices so near him or to the
melody, the strange melody, coming
from the open, wide windows
Shorty's soul was stepped in ethe-
real and perfumed waves, and it
seemed as if the melody lingering in
the air came from the rich greensward
which cushioned his huge body
Very dim and distant sounded the
music, and DINNER yet seemed the
chattering of the women's voices.
Surely he was dreaming
At his hand was a fortune in unset
pearls. Some one seemed to be offer
ing them to him. They were of ex-
quisite form, perfect maiden jewels
untouched by setting of gold.
Shorty moved an arm and stretched
it. His red eyelids uplifted
He saw no pearls, but he heard. as
it seemed to him, repeated constantly
the words: Precious pearls. Pearls
Pearls! Priceless pearls.'
Six of them, mother came from a
woman's voice across the wall
Beautiful! Beautiful"
Look, mother how perfect. No
| woman ever had the like of these"
Shorty sat up and looked up and
down the road and then at the honey
sucked top of the wall.
Il can't help but feel a fear that
the tramp may be near us.
| Don't worry, mother. The poor
| fellow is trudging along far away from
| here now and William will be back in
a half-hour.'
But he could take everything we
have and escape"
The only thing I'd mind losing
would be these precious pearls. and
they are safe
Shorty had digested his breakfast
and had Worn off the edge of his
| sybaritic snooze. The strange melody
had ceased and the suns rays We're
causing the honeysuckles to shrink
| There was only increasing heat and
the familiar smell of the pines Shorty
was himself again. He looked again
up and down the road and whispered
| to himself:
~ . q II lOO easy
Look, mother, they are the most
beautiful jewels the good God ever lei
mortal possess" exclaimed the sweet
voice on the other side.
There was another agreeable sounG
in the dim distance-the whistle of q
freight-and Shorty knew just how
long it would take him to finish his
| job and catch it.
The long and strong fingers of the
tramp clutched the top of the wal
through the vines, and in a second he
had drawn his head and shoulders to
the top.
Another and nearer Shrek of the
freight babe Shorty hurry. He gave
twist to his arms and was immedi
ately balanced on the wall so that he
could throw himself into the garden
easily and quickly.
TN count the precious things
again, mother" said radiant Young
woman, speaking to her mother.
one two, three, four, five. ski,
she said But there's another com