Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-09-03
m.nded WenEell ssvagely.

pIalneu.
81 CUES. We won't pick out any pa.
per tonight" said Wenzsll deliberate
ly. "You better get in and I'll take
you home. Maybe you have an en-
g.gement to play croquet with the
boarder T.
They drove home in silence, and it
was not until the black horse turned
in at the gate that Wenzell spoke
again then his voice was hoarss and
rough with emotion.
~ ain't got the style Of that bank
fellow, Ann Rose, but you liked me
first. If you like him better than me
just say 80. I won't stand in the way.
You We acted different ever since he's
been here. ! may be slow, but under
meath I won't stand much fooling.
You know I think q sight Of you. .
His voice failed.
"You must have wanted to pick a
quarrel to get mad over such a little
thing aI his looking at our house, and
here's your ring, Wenzell Beebs. Mr..
Laidlaw is q gentleman, anyway p
She thrust the ring into his unwilling
hand and sprang from the carriage be-
fore he could lend her assistance.
All that evening Ann Rose firted
desperately with Chester LGidlaw.
Mrs. Baker looked on in stern disIp.
proval and when bedtime came she
drew her daughter aside: What do
you mean, Ann Rose, a cutting up with
the boarder1 Where's W0nzell1 l
thought he was going to stay to tea. >
"Wenzell is = slow poke, and l never
want to see him again" brsathsd Ann
Rose Indignantly as she freed herself
from her mothers grasp and closed her
bedroom door.
A half hour afterward it thundsrsd
loudly and fash Of lightning cut the
outer darkness. Mrs. Baker hurried
around and closed windows She
creaked into her daughters room,
throwing q colossal shadow from the
candle in her hand.
Land sliVeI" she whispered hoarss.
ly. The bosrder's down in the par
lor scared to death Of the thunder !
He, got kitchen chair with the legs
set in four tumblsrs, and he's got his
rubbsrs on. He's sitting there shiV'
ering with the lamp lighted and 1
don't know what all. Hes great
ninny. The lightning'' as sharp as l
ever see it. The south meadow hay
will be ruined, l guess. There it is
waiting to be loaded 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
1t came with crashing roll Of thun-
der, and in the bright glare the hay
field lay before them like . painted
picture, a broad sweep Of stubble,
with here and there . stack Of
hay and in the midst q man solitary
form pitching hay vigorously.
"Who can it bef" whispered Ann
Rose wonderingly.
"Thers's only one man hersabouts
who'd take the troubl4 and risk his
horses In that open field on night
like this just to save neighbor's hay.
It's Wenzslll II"
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 brimning wagon. Then he mount
cd the load and drove toward the barn.
I'm going down to open the barn
door," cried Ann Rose sharply, and
she sprsng from the bed and hurried
into some clothing. As shs flashed
through the p,rlOr she cast con-
temptuous glance at the boarder.
"Goose T. she sneered, but he was too
miserable to care.
WenEell Beebe found the barn door
wide open, and he drove in Just as the
first great rIindrop' fell. He Hlid
down from the load and closed the
great door tightly then in the inter-
mittent flashes that came through the
wide cracks be saw q small, white clad
6gure leaning against tn, corn bin.
ats me, Wenzsll,' Iobbsd Ann
Ro.s weakly. ~ was dreadful scared
when I saw you down in the field, and
l knew than if anything happened to
you I'd never be happy again. She
sobbed the last words on his broad
shoulder, and his great hand cars'ssd
her hair softly.
Don't you care, honey" he whis-
psred. Il was great gumP TO get
LI.I 1uAa