The Caucasian., 1909-07-18
But TERM|LK AND
WILD FLOWERS.
By F. A. mitchell.
Tgsopyright, 1908. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l

he was ner TatherS farm hand,
hired for the harvest season. She had
come ont while he was driving a reap
ing machine to bring him a pitcher of
buttermilk He had descended from
bis perch TO drink 1t and for brief
chat with her.
''1f you wouldn't mind telling me-"
be said, II would like to know Just
what it was that prompted you to
bring this buttermilk to me-"
"The kindness of my heart, l sup
pose
1--WE been farm hand before, but
! never knew farmers daughter to
take pity on me when reaping I'm
afraid you haven't given me the true
reason
sWhy did you bring me those wild
flowers r.
This was a counter question that
shifted him from the offensive TO the
defensive
s'The kindness of my heart, 1 sup
pose, he said presently.
sOh, we'll, IL that's all, we're even.
But 1t doesn't seem to me that the two
cases are the same. / see you hot and
tired and think how refreshing drink
of buttermilk would be to you, so
bring 1t to you. You see some wild
flowers. You don't know that Pm es-
peciaiiy fond Of flowers indeed, only
like them as other people debut you
gather them for me. you said and give
them to me- Suppose had been some
one else.
Il haven't been used to gathering
Wild flowers before for farmers daugh-
ters where I have worked"
'T've often brought farm hands but
termfIk when they were reaping"
He looked into her face. It was as
mild as May morning.
Then why did you ask He
paused, but she replied to the unfin-
ished question herself before he could
1nish.
Il didn't until you had asked"
He had returned to the starting
poiEt He began anew.
81 suppose If any one else had gath
cred flowers for you you would have
liked it just as we'll"
q didn't say that
But you said you had often brought
farm hands buttermilk''
Il did
So there's nothing more about It.
Nothing except that you haven't
fold me why you gave me the flowers. :
There was longer pause this fime
He was leaning against the machine
she was standing on the fallen grain
sWell, don't mind telling you" he
said. though | don't see any use In
doing so. was walking in the woods
when came on the flowers. I was
thinkfng Of you They looked up al
me ln1bcently and seemed 70 say
Take is to her .
Now you've told me that much, III
tell you what the flowers said to me
They said. Wasn't 1t sweet OF him tC
bring us to you@ and said. Why was
It sweet And they said, Because
because we don't knowr Didn't be
aea you why he sent youg asked
No. they said. he didn't Then
SAID, why did he send you to me with
out a reason and they said. He may
have had q reason, but he didn't tel
rs what it was 'Ohr said l. and thai
was the end of it.
lilo, there, Jerry! Stop that!''
He's only kicking the flies. Tor
wouldn't have him suffer their sting
without trying to get rid of themg
I'n tell you what I'll do" he said
without noticing her remark. If you'll
lust. forget for awhile that you're my
employer!s daughter and some day
coming into this big farm and thu
stock and the crops and the money il
bank Tor many past crops, iii tell yoE
why gave you the flowers.
They didn't say that had anything
to do with it.
THAT'S because they didn't know
They sprung up out of the ground
naturally and remain natural. w
spring froln tile same ground. but W.
are warped by being civilized :
But the minister said only last Sun
dav id his sermon that until we be
came civilized we weren't ready t.
receive the New Testament How
then. can civilization kill within as ot1l
loveliest feelings
Again he looked at her and won
dered. How collld she by her sEreNt
replies continually force him TO take
the aggressive ana yet be SO simple
80 innocent2
these are too deep questions fol
country folk like rs TO handle, ht
said. All know is that can't speas
alI would speak TO your fathers
daughter :
They stood both looking on Nt
ground. Confused sounds came t
fhem-the lowing OF cattle, the rattle
&c distant reaper the neigh Of .
horse. the bark of a dog, the hum q
bees. The horses continued to kich
the fiies, but there was just now noth
ing to be gained by reproving them fol
doing 10. # vas the girl who broke
fhe deadlock between them
don't ask she said, t.that you