The Green Forest tribune., 1910-12-09

1 night, anyway? The boys will be playing pranks that may be unpleas- ant for you" .
 Miss Brejetta smiled serenely and exasperatingly into his pleading face
 The boys will do nothing to annoy me, l am sure, Mir Dayton" she re- marked, pressing on to her own gate
 But when her own front door had been closed with quiet precision, Miss Brejettas calmness vanished and she flung herself with angry and undig- nifed haste into an easy chair.
 "I wish he would stop it." she cried stormily. T will not have him pity ing me and looking after me all the time! Now I shall nave to gather those horrid beans or he will never cease pestaring me about them! can just imagine the remarks that would be made in this town if all lowed him to make my garden."
 And Miss Brejetta, having eaten a nasty supper, pinned up her spotless linen skirt. put on her stoutest gar, den gloves and, inwardly consumed with wrath, sought her diminutive bean patch
 q 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 Curious to be breaking my back out here when 1 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, and Miss Brejetta's strength was not great Her own cozy plazza beck oned enticingly, but the gleam of 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 your life Why don't you own up to it and let people help you when they want to-"
 The nearest neighbor had watched Miss Brejetta at her bean-pulling with almost angry impatience.
 q wonder why she does it-certain- iy not because she enjoys it. And she splits her kindlings in the shed so 1 cannot see her-as if I could not hear, And she locks the doors and windows and nearly smothers herself these sultry nights!
 For long time he sat quietly thinking Then Richard Dayton, one of the most respected and highly honored man of his town, did a strange thing.
 Up in the close, clustered attic he stole with a tiny fiickering 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 discernble footsteps seemed haunting the darkness, but she comforted herself thinking it was boys on their midnight Halloween pranks-
 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 lamp, slipped on some clothing and hurried to the door. Without waiting for her
 ro;t oh ell swung back the door, and let the light shine across-a vacant porch! But down by the gate stood slouching figure with hat pulled low.
 MT. Dayton-Richard" called Miss Breietta faintly, almost dumb with terror.
 "Here," called a familiar voice re- assuringly, and the nearest nelghbor sprang over the end of the porch rail and took the lamp from her trembling hand. Drawing her out to the shad- owed piazza and into his arms. he held her breathlessly.
 q heard the bell" he explained, "and feared you would be frightened. | See, dear, 1t is that strawman- just a Halloween joke! But you do need me, don't you, Brejetta?"
 "Oh!" she sobbed, her face against his coat. Then with intoxicating sweetness she surrendered con- 1 pletely.
 Dick, I want you to hoe the gar den, and split the kindling, and do the whole miserable business! And l I perfectly hate living alone, and I have been lonely and afraid, and Pm glad I've been scared into my senses!"
 And do you love me a little, Ere ietta?" anxiously.
 Do you suppose" she cried in ex- asperated tenderness, that I should have used you so shamefully if I hadn't loved you? Oh, you dear, stu pid man!"