The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-12-08

time! Now I shall have to gather
those horrid beans or he will never
Fostering me about them! |
can just imagine the remarks that
would be made in this town If | al
lowed him to make my g~arden!"
And Miss Brejetta. having eaten a
hasty supper, pinned up her spotless
linen skirt. put on her stoutest gar
den gloves and, ~inwardly consumed
with wrath. sought her diminutive
bean patch.
Il had better get it done WITH" she
whispered to herself after the fashion
OF lonely people, because it will be
too wet in the morning and too warm
during the day. But it just makes me
furious to be breaking my back out
here when | haven't even cut the
leaves of that new magazine yet"
The sunbaked earth seemed loath
to part with the vines it had so care.
fully nurtured through long months.
n Miss Brejetta's strength was not
great. Her own coy piazza beck
oned enticingly, but the CLEAN of a
cigar end On the neighboring porch
held her to her task.
In the welcome dusk she stole into
the house, barring doors and win
dows carefully.
You are tired" she cried defiantly
at her reflection in the hall mirror
and you just hate gardening. YOU
are lonely, too, and you know you
nearly die of fright every night OF
y~ourslife. Why don't you own up tc
it and let people help you when they
want top
The nearest neighbor had watched
Miss Brejetta at her bean-pulling
with almost angry Impotence.
Il wonder why she does it-certain-
ly not because she enjoys 1t. And
she splits her kindllngs in the shed so
| cannot see her-as if / could not
hear, And she locks the doors and
windows and nearly smothers herself
these sultry nights!
Il honestly believe he unused.
that she would be fond of me if she
allowed herself to be. She has al
ways managed pretty well by herself
so far. but there will come a time
when she will not be so self-sufficient.
And, by jove. I almost wish some
thing would happen to take down her
pride a little, poor grill"
For a long time he sat quietly
thinking. Then Richard Dayton. one
of the most respected and highly
honored man of his town, did Q
strange thing.
Up in the close. clustered attic he
stole with a tiny Pickering candle for
light, and when he came down noise
lessly, he carried some dark, shape
less garments over his arm
Long After Miss Brejetta had re
tired she lay awake thinking miser-
ably. Scarcely discernible footsteps
seemed haunting the darkness. but
she comforted herself thinking It was
boys on their midnight Halloween
pranks. Unaccountable n~ight-sounds
caused her to shrink nervously, but at
last she slept in ftful snatches.
Suddenly she sat up, every sense
alert. The vibration of the old brass
knocker still echoed through the hall
For a moment she covered among
the pillows, then the thought of some
one in trouble nerved her to action
Tremblingly she lighted a lamp
sIipped on some clothing and hurried
to the door. Without waiting for her
courage to fail, she slipped the bolt
swung back the door, and let the light
shine across-a vacant porch! Bu'
down by the gate stood a slouchine
figure with hat pulled low.
"Mr. Dayton-Richard!" called Miss
Breietta family, almost dumb with
terror.
.'Here," called a familiar voice re
assuringly, and the nearest neighpol
sprang over the end of the porch RAJ
and took the lamp from her trembling
hand. Drawing her out to the shad
owed piazza and into his arms. ne
held Ter breathlessly-
81 heard the bell," he explained
"and feared you would be frightened!
See. dear, it is that strawman-
inst a Halloween joke! But you dc
need me, dent you, Brejetta?"
"Oh," she sobbed, her face against
his coat. Then with intoxicating
sweetness she surrendered com
pletely.
"Dick. I want you to hoe the gar
den, and split the kindling. and &c
the whole miserable business! Ant
l perfectly hate living alone, n
have been lonely and afraid, and Tn
glad I've been scared into my
senses!"
And do you love me a little. Bre
jetta?" a~nxiously.
do you suppose" h cried In ex
asperated tenderness, that l shoult
have used you so shamefully IL
hadn't loved you? oh. you dear. stu
mid mani"