The Cairo bulletin., 1908-07-01
TEAR A
GARDEN WALL
By virginia os :, orne Moroso.

astretch In the shadow OF q money
sucked wall, his raanch filled win
the generous handoUt from the via
on the other side nostrils drink
ing in the heavy peri me of the vines
over his head, and Is face and bro"
cooled in the morning breezes.
Life was so full Of sweetness 10 MN
now that he even forget that there
was no sign of male In lnity about
the beautiful summer residence on the
other side of the low wall.
Occasionally, through tic intoXi-
eating and languorous odor OF the
honeysuckle there crept the i1ini'
sweet breath of distant pines, for
there had been a rain during the
night and the trees were BREATH Z
freely and living with fullness OF
sweetness equal only to that tn
sybaritic soul of Shorty was revci-
ing in.
From the open, wide windows OF
the drawing room of the house cam"
the sounds of music. The youn;
mistress was playing strange mel
ody, one that changed suddenly an
surprisingly from bnlliance to SO J.
ness. Shorty did not know It, but he
was listening to an admirable per-
Torrance of Reinhold's 'Impromptu,'
and his half doze was rapidly becom-
ing a 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 che voice.
Dear me, mother" was the reply,
the poor fellow was hungry and we
couldn't send him away without break
fast. John has a pipe he always lends
the tramps when they have finished
eating"
But all the men-sevants are of on
a holiday
The coachman will be back from
the station in an hour"
Shorty nodded benevolently. Ho
was right. He could carry off the
grand piano if he only felt equal to
the cxertlon 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 perrumed 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 womens 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. Ills red eyelids uplifted.
He saw no pearls. hut he heard, as
it seemed to him, repeated constantly
the words: Precious pearls. Pearls!
Pearls, Priceless pearls
six of them, mother" came from
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 cant help but feel 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
half-hour'
but he could take everything we
have and escape"
The only thing Id 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 were
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:
It's a shame, It's too easy"
Look. mother. they are the most
beautiful jewels the good God ever let
mortal possess!" exclaimed the sweet
voice on the other side.
There was another agreeable sound
In the dim distance--the whistle of
freight-and Shorty knew just how
long it would take him 10 finish his
job and catch it.
The long and strong fingers of the
tramp clutched the top of the wall
through the vines, and In second he
had drawn his head and shoulders to
the top.
Another and nearer shrek OF the
freight babe Shorty hurry. He gave
a twist to his arms and was immedi-
ately balanced on the wall so that he
could throw himself into the garden
easily and quickly.
III count the precious things
again, mother said radiant young
woman, speaking 10 her mother.
"One. two, three, four. five. six"
she said. But there's another com.
ing
And as the tramp lowered himself