The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-11-13

Ilc DduScu III TIC ICdundy s.AII
looked across the hedge. She saw &
long low farmhouse on a gentle Iist
of ground, a brown old farmhouse il
excellent repair and with nicely kept
grounds about it-an apple orchard
at one side and grove of naples al
the other. And in the midst of the
close cut lawn she noted neatly
lettered board propped a little above
the earth, which bore these words,
Maple Grove"
The girl opened the quaint sate
that was set in the hedge and 1eso-
lutely plodded up the graveled path
way.
She was tired and dusty. She had
walked three miles from the station
and it was a billy country, and the
day was warm. The suit case she car
ried seemed to have increased its
weight many fold, and she realized
that there was more than suspicion
OF limp in her left ankle.
A woman was sitting behind the
vines on the board porch, a gray
arose as the girl approached. and
came to the steps.
The girl looked up at her with a
wan smile, and then suddenly dropped
down on the lower step.
How do you do?" she asked with
a little gasp. please let me catch my
breath. That last hill would have
daunted Bunnie's Pilgrim himself
we always called him Bunnie at
school-to say nothing of a girl in
sung shoes, with a New England
hatred for dust"
She smiled again into the gentle
face that seemed to grow more gentle
as it looked down at her.
Come up on the porch" said the
Older woman, "and take an easy chair
and will get drink for YOU
Thank you," said the girl, "but
never mind the drink-I had long
and strong Quaff from the spring at
the bend Of the road. 1t was nectar
with touch Of iron. will take the
easy chair"
She came up on the porch and put
the suit case down and sank into the
easy chair
IF l had laid out Paradise" she
murmured, 81 would have put
broad porch all round it,
. The older woman smiled.
"And do you think the porch would
have barred out the evil one?" she
asked.
I'm afraid the dear old apple or
.chard yonder would have drawn him."
she answered. But I'm quite sure that
IL this had been Paradise he never
would have gone back to his deserted
iireside."
The older woman smiled again.
That's very flattering to our hum
BILE farmhouse" she said. But take
OF your hat and dust coat"
The girl shook her pretty head.
mot quite yet, please. l must be
sure l am right. This is Maple Farm,
isn't it?'
The older lady nodded.
Eyes, it has been called Maple Farm
for fully eighty years"
The girl wrinkled her pretty fore
head.
Il did something very careless"
she said. Il came away without Laura
Blair's letter. 1t came just before l
started and l only had time to glance
it through. Then must have laid it
down somewhere. You see Laura is
my best girl friend, and she knew
about my vacation, and so she sent
me an address. She said it was such
a very nice place for summer out
ing. She hadn't been there herself but
Ida Frobisher told her about it, and
Ida had the reputation of being very
finicky. l remember the name of the
railway station and all about the walk
over the hills, but Tp not sure Of
the name of the place. 1t was
Maple" something. Do you take
summer boarders?"
The older lady gave little stare.
Its rather early in the season."
was her mildly evasive reply.
"Yes, of course" the girl agreed.
"but that wouldn't prevent you from
taking me, would it? Oh. hope not
.You seem 50 very nice, and the place