The Democratic advocate., 1909-10-15
The Lure Of a Hammock
How wigtree was Caught.
Good evening, Miss Carraway.
"Goud aveninp Mr. WiQtrpp

GOOD evening, Mr.. Wigtree.
And as these salutations of conven-
ton echo themselves away into the
cold and barren limbo of potatoes,
prunes and prisms, let us take pinch
of the snuff Of true philosophy and
see If any joy remains in a little ru-
mination.
Time: Eight o'clock in the even
ing.
Scene: The country on balmy
night in June--a vine sheltered YER
anda. Above: The moon and stars.
Below: A man and maid.
Let us therefore look at the man.
So.
Whereupon we will turn and regard
the maid and Immediately we know
that joy remains. She had complex
ion like strawberry and vanilla, and
the sweetness Of her ruby lips no NOR
tai tongue could tell. Wherefore we
will tell it. Take a barrel of sugar
and concentrate all It's sweetness into
two small pieces, shaped like a little
lady's lips. Take quart of honey.
II you please. and refine 1t into two
drops; place a drop on each OF those
two little sugared lips.
Take bouquet of lilies, a bouquet
of violets and bouquet Of heliotrope. /.
extract the scent from each, distil II,
place ii in an atomizer and spray
those two little sugared lips afore-
said Take a bottle OF the strongest
rum, bottle Of brandy and case OF
vinegar wine Distil them into two
drops of concentrated intoxicatlon and
delight and place a drop on each of
those same two little sugared lips.
Take a lambent fame and turn IL
down to a glowing sensation OF
warmth; take the velvet from a thou
sand red roses, and place them all
upon those two ravishing little sugar
ed lips, and there and then you have
the sweetness that no mortal tongue
can tell.
You are Just in time Mr. Wig
tree"
Just in time for what, Miss Car
Taway, may l ask"
Just in time," she answered him.
"to help me put up the hammock One
end has to be tied here and the other
end there, but II has TO be done aw-
fully strong or else II comes down
when you try to sit In It, so per-
haps we'd better leave it,
20, | think ! can do 1t, Miss Cara
way" said he. and he squared his
shoulders until one could scarcely
see the tips OF his ears. I'm not
so terribly weak, you know" he added.
Dear me-" she said, 81 never knew
you had such broad shoulders!"
Even the tips of his ears disap-
peared from view
Why" she said They're i'm
mensel"
And as for Mr.. Wigtree, Mr.. Wig
tree began tying the hammock into
place with such stimulation of
strength that one instinctively knew
that IL Hercules had ever tied ham
mock in place he would have tied II
in just that way.
"Therel" he said. That's one end 3"
If you can only tie the other as
strong as that" she exclaimed
There" he said. Now if that
isn't up to stay ! don't know what is B"
And he drew a chair along the ye-
randa and sat down with a manner
like that OF a man who has already
earned his entertainment.
Can | sit In II now she asked
You certainly can" said he.
II feel 30 nervous she cried
But, gathering her skirts about her,
nevertheless, she sat down in the ham
mock, through in tentative way and
with the appearance Of a girl who
fears the worst
Are you sure you've fixed Il good
and strong, MIR, Wlgtree?" she asked
Yes, yes" said he.
And 1t won't break?'
And 1t won't break"
Not even II ] swing my feet?" she
whispered.
Very dark II was behind those
vines, and very snug. A single moon
beam stole its way In beneath the
leaves OF the vines and kissed her
sweetly-sweetly on the lips)
Not eyen," said he, IF you swing
your feet"
She swung her feet and one Of the
ropes creaked.
"Therel" she said, stopping.
That's nothing" he assured her,
goodnaturedly; that's only rope
creaking."
YES" she cried And, first thing
| know. 1t will let me down."
Why" he said, 1T would hold n
dozen!"
Il don't believe It would" she said
Il don't believe It would even hold
two. II Annie Smith were only home
I'd call her over and show you"
Wait" said he, "and I'll show you
myself"
He arose from the chair (nothing
warned HIM and walked over to the
hammock She made room for him.
"Therel" he said. Now do you be-
lieve?
Il don't believe you dare swing it,"
she said.
They swung 1t.
20, WELL" she said, Just for lit
tie while 1t may be all right, but after
minute or two
And so they continued TO swing IT,
Suddenly she nearly fell out back
ward. He caught her.
There" he said. Now you can't
fall outl"
NO" she laughed, and after a time
she placed her mouth against his ear
and whispered, Where are you going
on Sunday?"
Il don't know he whispered back
a premonition striking him when It
was all too late.
Well" she whispered again, what
do you say If we go to Coney Island?'
The Joke Was on Her.