Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-01-06
THE MAN and
THE Girl.

Ill S ohA saw 5laHIe dl Tue STed
ugly head of the deg and at the little
shining revolver on the table.
i don't think. Bruno" she said
That We Iced to fear very much from
tramps.' Bruno looked up at her with
MS great, soft brown eyes and wagged
lis tail comprehensively. .
The girl threw herself down in tho
hammock, which was extended the
whole width of the little camp, and
drew deep breath.
All! this is life, Bruno" she cried.
Life as have always longed to live
IT. How tired | was of all; the balls,
ire musicrls. the stupid teas. Tired
}; 1eiAg told my hair was brown and
| ny eyes hazel with all sorts of golden.
| ushts and shades thrown in"
She looked from the window at the
BROAD oxpanse of wafer, at the great
,"e>s and the green. rolling solitude of
He fields. Then she jumped up and
started to store away the little Jars
ri potte1 ham and chicken, also the
many colored packages of crackers
and the boxes of cheese and butter.
AT LIST she stood the fishing rod in
co1TeH'ent l!aoe near the door and
laughed happily.
Il guess we Eeel not starve, doggie."
she said.
Then with Bruno at her heels she
walked to the river and united the
little red boat. She pointed towards
the camp. /
Guard it, Bruno" she called, and
the dog sat straight and stiff upon the
banks and watched her row swiftly
down the river
"Oh. the glorious freedom of 1t ALI"
Sic cried Just Bruno and I and ma
t're; nature everywhere. No odious
danmer man with his endless compli-
meats and"
with a start she paused, with her
oar raised. Directly in front of her
seated on rock was the man. The
man who had said the siliest things
OF them all, the man who had-cared.
she had cared, too-afterwards, when
1t was too late. She had meant to
let him know that she cared-after
awhile. But he had taken her at her
word and there had never been an.
otner chance. Then she gave e. short !
little helpless laugh and faced him.
Tom Carruth pulled at the last rome
OF his tent and then breathed a great
sign OF contentment He stroked his ,
gun tondly and flung fishing rod over
his shoulder. His cheeks and ewes
were glowing with health and enioy.
nent and he squared his great broad i.
shoulders as he took in deep breaths !.
of the pure fresh air.
This is the life for mel" he cried
Is he rolled up his trousers and -.
'trode out into the water. Then seat. -
ng himself on a rock he started to
isa. A clo.a came over his face and :,
lie gazed moodily down into the wa. :,
er. He closed his eyes with a quick Y
udden pain, for picture of a tall. I"
tralght girlfsh form came before him y"
Il brown hair with bright CLEANS of
old, then two merry eyes seemed tn o.
lock him. He had loved her and she p'
al been playing. Perhaps it had 81
cen an old game to her, but to him CO
had been very sweet and new. 10
summer girls? BAH" he growled. OF
They are all the same with their In
uffy furbelows and their" al
There before him in the boat stood ci
lie girl. The girl who had worn the
ufnest furbelows Of them all, the girl 10
no had smiled and smiled until she ly
al worked herself into his very sh
cart. Then she had smiled again and 81
ad-gone away. AS he looked up al
er saw that she was still smiling iol
18th strange little twinkle In her Ia
re. ty
She was dressed in a dark blue
lilor suit that revealed just a glimpse tn
her soft white throat. Her brown pa
'ir was flying about her face and ev
IF merry dark eyes sent a little tel
ing OF remembrance through him. rel
"Grace!" he cried.
Again she laughed. a sort Of q a.
lghtened, guilty little laugh that held an
ring OF gladness. up
II Is no use, she said. THE world ov'
ter all, Is so very small" VIII
Are you staying here, here in ira
avs woods" he asked. :
Il was staying here" she replied ent
was going to remain all summer. Blu
1t now that you have come, | SUP. int
Sc / must go tonight" spi
mo, no." he said, hastily. winding the
his reel. Il will go, at once" the
She was looking down at him visit. I
ly as she stood firmly poised in the ant
at. How his face brought back all of
At she had enjoyed and-suffered. sar
} sat there before her silent and the
SCRABBLE, winding up his reel. Then low
idenly he looked up at her and mo
in her face sent the blood Els
ping in his veins. A
Grace" he said, in a low. awed Tai
ce, you care, you care after all?" UNI
Why need you go?" he pleaded
h the audacity she remembered so pri
II. Further down the river is a as
le stone church, and-and-" roo
'he buried her burning face In her ma
ids. Then at last she looked up at pie;
], her eyes once more merry and He
ing. sin,
must eo hack 20 +ha Q