The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-02
SHEBA

sort OF inviting Joviality amidst thu
wavelets of the river. The sturd,
young surveyor noted that a blob O
red sealing wax held the cork ant
that a narrow red ribbon danglet
from the neck. He saw that it con
tanned bit of folded paper ant
promptly shattered the glass on 6
rock. No water had reached the pa
per, on which he found these words
written in handwriting that rambled
between the skyscraper letters of q
maiden and the cramped scrawl of q
boy:
I'm jewel worth more than the
diamond mines of King Solomon
Beneath the big red rock under the
sycamore tree you will learn more"
First time l ever knew Solomon
was in the diamond business" com
mented the young fellow.
This rock jutted out among the
lesser ones further along the river
bank, and the surveyor was soon peer
ing intently into a cavity worn be-
meath it by the frequently rising wa
tiers. The young man pulled out a
gilded pasteboard box that once had
held bonbons. A red ribbon was
wound around it.
More ribbon" commented the SIR
veyor, as he raised the lid. Within
was small sheet of paper. 1t read:
THE queen of Sheba was beautiful
and still Sheba is beautiful. Seek We
the cave of the woodchuck, where the
rock and the bridge meet"
Now, what the dickens is all this
about, anyway" queried the surveyor
with show of eagerness. AT any
rate, | know where the rock and the
bridge meet. But I'm not sure OF
the cave of the woodchuck."
The woodchuck cave proved to be
another cavity beneath a bullying
bowlder at the bridge, and in it he
found another bonbon box with the in.
evitable red ribbon, and in the boz
this time the note read:
Solomon could solve riddles-cau
you solve them, too? Come where
the apple blossoms bloom in the or.
CudTu DeyOuu the NIL.
Now, it's apple blossoms" com.
mented the surveyor, becoming still
more curious. We'll, there's the hill,
but I'm not sure of the orchard" The
hill was soon climbed, and in the vale
below spread out a great glory of
blooming apple trees. With elaborate.
ly assumed unconcern the young man
descended to the orchard. The CLINT
of white dress flashed between the
somber trunks of the low trees, and,
hat in hand and heart unsettled, the
surveyor walked heroically toward
the white dress. Suddenly he paused
and muttered excitedly: IT'S Sheba
all right; only finer, ! guess"
Then he bowed low to the white
dress, above which a radiant face
smiled, and he gid: Il beg your
pardon, but I'm jet strolling through
your orchard. I hope I'm not in the
way"
why, you're quite welcome. These
blossoms are beautiful, don't you
Think"
"A fit bower for Queen Sheba, In
deed"
"Sir!"
"Oh, I beg your pardon again. ]
meant to say, like you, that these
blossoms are fine, Sos the day; SOS
the diamonds; SOS King Solomon"
The girl looked mystified and
startled for moment, and then after
gazing more intently at the young
fellows face, broke into merry
laugh and said: "Oh, aren't you one
OF the gentlemen fixing up things for
the new railroad across my fathers
FARM"
Now, it's not in the nature of things
nor in the things of nature, for two
handsome, buoyant young folks of the
opposite sex to talk gayly together
without becoming well acquainted
and soon the surveyor and Sheba
were on chatty terms, indeed. Then
days later, time and time again, he
called at the home of Farmer Handler
son, and at last one evening after q
memorable but triumphant interview
with the farmer, he sat with Sheba
and her solemn-faced brother on the
big porch. And for the first time he
asked: "Sheba, what was your no
mantle scheme in connection with the
be-ribboned bottle. the diamond mines
of Solomon, Queen Sheba and the
cave of the woodchuck?"
why, indeed, don't know wha'
you mean-what you are talking
about" replied Sheba, bewildered.
Il do" said the solemn.lookinl
young brother, in solemn tones. sc
do. l worked up that scheme all abou
my own sweetheart"
And where is your sweetheart
dreamer" asked the surveyor.
"She lives far up in those golde,
clouds" answered the solemn-face,
brother
Secret Of an Empress Beauty.