Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-08-27

me, yelling it out like a cowboy ON
spree, and right beyond where the
brook crosses the oat field who should
Jump over the fence but that man.
Look at me, size me up-scratches,
ragged dress and all. He was dressed
in suit of blue overalls and q straw
hat big enough for hen to hatch
ducks in, but he pulled it off as though
it were a silk opera tile. Then he
talked about the weather and the crops
until you'd think he owned the farm
and was depending on the corn to pay
the taxes"
"Well, you know him." was, the
mournful response Hes seen you
when you've looked like civilized hui
man being, while l. You know, I've
never met him, and I've been sending
him stories that he's never bought
and She broke down suddenly.
"Bert SOlberg, what will do? don't
feel as though could ever face him."
"You can wear mask" was the
friendly advice, "or you can dye your
face with some of these poke berries
and pass yourself off as one of a new
race. Or, say, what's the matter with
posing as Miss Merryweather or Mrs.
Peggotty? He never saw you and won't
know you from the mother of Cain
and Abel"
GAS though the pilgrims didn't know
who | was" Edth's total disregard
of tense was proof Of her feeling In
the matter. Besides, it's mean of you
to laugh at me. There's just one thing
l can do, and that's to go home, and
Pm going this very minute"
She picked her sunbonnet from the
grass with jerk and flung it on her
head; then another jerk broke off the
strings.
81 don't care" springing to her feet
and starting off. you may pick bcr-
ries all day if you want to, but I'm
going before there's a ghost OF
chance Of meeting that man."
81 saw him making for the corn
field" and Bert trudged dutifully after
her. 81 really wish you wouldn't go
home, Edith. Can't we fix it some
other way?'
Edith shook her head. The act of
shaking brought her eyes in line with
figure in blue overalls walking at a
brisk pace along the path. Bert
stopped short and laughed. 1t was her
way of getting out Of trouble.
"Too hot for berry picking?" asked
the wearer of the overalls.
"We're just going over to the other
pasture" fibbed Bert. 1.-THE berries are
bigger there" Then she introduced
Edith.
work won't begin until tomorrow"
said Mcpherson. "If you will permit
I'll go with you. | am out on the
same mission"
do you think we will carry home
enough for supper?" questioned Bert
Hudaciously. We've promised our
landlady some for pies, and l have
always presumed that men ate more
than were found in their pals later
on"
He gave Il ringing laugh. "If you
Will follow my lead I'll show you ber-
ties bigger, better, ripper than any
you've seen this year. haven't
roamed this farm for years without
finding out where the best ones hide"
mo, shall not go home" Edith de-
oh ht1,l
before my month is up that I'm good
for something, even if 1 can't write
stories. Besides, other editors buy
them if he won't I'd like to know
how he discovered this place. l
thought it almost belonged to u.s."
"Ask him." returned Bert. "For my
part, I'm glad he's here, even If he
did catch me In my beggar robes. SUIT
picking why, he worked like steam
thrasher. He filled ten quart pail
while l was picking four quarts"
"Ive mind to ask the pilgrim ia
Their to let me ride the hayrake,"
Edith remarked viciously. 81 used to
when l was a girl, and intend to
catch that bay colt and ride him to-
morrow without saddle. / don't be-
lieve I've forgotten how"
"Do, and he'll surely think you ca
pable Of running a cattle ranch in
Arizona, even if he doesn't accept your
Stories
"He might suggest 1t In the next re-
fusal he sends me-" was the somewhat
bitter response, while a figure sitting
by the window in the adjoining room
heard every word and went on with
the third reading of typewriter
manuscript which would have been