The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-11-04


WEREN'T YOU SCARED ?" ASKED JEFF.
going down to the creek to fish. but
believe I'd rather stay here and
plow."
Gladys laughed outright. IF you'd
rather pillow than go fishing you may"
she said You'd better come up to
the house and get some new whiffie-
| trees. though"
While jeff was fixing the whiftle-
trees Gladys went into the house and
came back with a couple Of fresh
doughnuts.
Boys are never happy unless they
are eating" she remarked with the
wisdom of her sixteen years expert
ence. you can't guess what we're
going to have for dinner" she added.
JEFF Strengthened up in sudden fear.
81 can't stay to dinner-not with your
aunt here" he cried.
"Oh, yes, you can" Gladys smiled
mischievously. IF you won't eat you
can't plow."
signedly as he drove away to the field.
That dinner was a torture for the
awkward boy, for Gladys had told
the story of the runaway. giving JEFF
most of the credit, and both Mrs.
Sanders and her sister showered him
with praise until his face was as red
as the tabecloth and be was forced
to wipe the self conscious perspiration
out of his eyes with his napkin. He
brought the uncomfortable occasion to
a close as quickly as possible and left
the table before he was half through
on the preteXt that he heard the colt
kicking out in the barn.
About the middle of the afternoon
Gladys went out to the field where
JEFF was working with a big apple pie
| under her arm.
81 know you didn't eat half enough
dinner" she said. 1T was too bad for
| them to bother you So"
Il ate all wanted" lied Jeff. at the
same time hungrily eying the pie.
"Then you don't want this?" said
Gladys. starting to turn away.
"Oh, yesp' he cried in sudden alarm.
THAT is, maybe | could eat part Of
It, 1t looks awful good"
Gladys held it out to him.
did you make it?" he asked as he
started on the second quarter.
yes" replied Gladys, but it isn't
any better on that account"
81 like it better" said JEFF as he
handed her the empty plate and brush
ed the crumbs from his overalls.
1t was Gladys turn to blush now.
eff you don't stop making such
speeches I'll hate you as badly as l
do Harold Du VAL" she said.
"Do you hate him?" cried jeff ex-
citedly, jumping to the ground.
NO" answered Gladys quickly. ITS
just the speeches l hate. l like Har-
old very much He'd be as nice as
any one If he wasn't boy and had
little ambition"
JEFF climbed slowly back to his seat
again. Ibid you know l was going
away" he asked.
mop cried Gladys, with sudden in
terest where tor
"To college. | want to find out
things-why corn won't grow just as
well if the ground isn't plOwed, why
there's so many angleworms after
rain. why cream turns to butter when
it is churned, Why
"Why boys like pie" laughed Gladys.
looking at the empty tin.
you're making fun of me now" Jef
said in an aggrieved tone.
Indeed I'm notp' protested Gladys.
''Tll be proud to have a college boy
for my friend"
At the picnic Harold could not help
brooding over Gladys slight, as he
chose to call it, in not coming. He
devoted his entire attention to freez-
ing the ice cream and making the
lemonade and left the others to the
merrymaking.
He was turning away with all his
might on the crank of an ice cream
freezer when he was startled by a
teasing voice close to his elbow. "You
don't seem to be enjoying the picnic
very much" it said.
He looked up and saw Mabel stand
ing with one pretty elbow leaning on
the lemonade barrel. He noted with
an approving eye that her dress was
of the latest pattern and that 1t fitted
her perfectly; also that her hair. while
not quite so wavy as Gladys. framed
face almost as pretty.
Pm not much of a hand to get over
disappointments easily" he said, Civ
ing the handle vicious turn. What
have | done to make that sister of
yours dislike me so?" he added.
| she doesn't dislike you. and If she