Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-17

midst OF the panic the lantern winkeo
out, and instantly Hezekiah was BESIDE
me.
"Skipr' she commanded. in whisper.
brisk. run. When we had gone a
dozen rods she paused. We heard voices
from the stile. where the gentlemen were
still engaged in dfsentangling themselves.
and then the planks doomed TO tnelI steps
as they crossed. They talked loudly
among themselves discussing the cause
of their discontinue The lantern.
may add, had been knocked off the stile
by the thoughtful Hezekiah when she
blew out the light.
moment more and all sounds of the
suitors had died away. l stood alone
with Hezekiah in the midst of a meadow
She was breathing hard. Suddenly she
threw up her head. struck her hands TO-
gether and stamped her foot upon the
wet sod. ] had waited for an outburst
Of laughter now that we were safely out
Of the way. but / had reasoned without
my Hezekiah. Her mood was not the
mood of mirth.
well, Hezekiah.'' 1 said, when / had
got my wind you pulled off your joke.
but you don't seem to be enjoying It.
What's the matter?
"oh. that Hartley Virgins! ! might
have known it!'
known what?' 1 asked. pricking up
my ears.
THAT he would be afraid of a pumpkin
with a candle inside Of it. Did you hear
that yell?"
Anybody would have yelled" 1 sug-
gested. Il think should have dropped
dead if you'd tried.it on me-
mo. you wouldn't" she asserted, with
unexpected f1attery.
Don't be deceived, Hezehah: should
have been scared to death IL that thing
had popped up in front Of me-.
Il don't believe it. l gave you worse
test than that. When switched off the
lights and swung feather duster down
the stair we'll by a string and tickled
your face YOU didn't make noise like a
circus calliope soaring. horses in Main
street. Podunk. But that Virgins mani!
Hes friend of mine and as brave as
a lion. Out in Dakota the sheriff used
the boys were shooting up the town."
maybe. but he SHE'D at a pumpkin and
can be no true knight of NINE Cecilia
may have him. ] always suspected that
he wasn't the real thing. Why, he's even
afraid of Aunt Octavia!
well, / rather think we'd better BET
I wanted to laugh, but 1 did not dare.
was not prepared for the humor in
which the panic of the suitors had left
her. did not quite make out-and ! am
uncertain to this day-whether she had
really wished to test the courage of her
sisters lovers or whether she had yielded
to a mischievous impulse in CARRYING the
jack O lantern to the stile and thrusting
II DcIOTe those SoTlOuS-TIllIOcU SeIlIlcHlcu
as they returned from Hopefield. In any
event Hartley Virgins was out of it so
far as she, HeZekiah, was concerned.
She trudged doggedly across the field UNI
til we came presently to the highway.
my wheels in the weeds somewhere.
please pull it out for me. I'm going
home"
but not alone: can't let you do that.
Hezekiah.''
"oh, cheer up.' she laughed. aroused
I,x> 1,,ex ,I,vf<, Ind 20
something you asked me for. Don't drop
it. It's Cecilias memorandum book. Give
1t back to her. and be sure no one sees
it. and you needn't look into It yourself.
and Cecilia. Let me see. There's an
iron bridge across an arm of that little
lake over there. and just beyond it big
fallen tree Tomorrow at o'clock I'll
be there. I've got to tell you something,
Chimney Man, without really telling you.
You'll be there, won't your
'Ill be there II I'm alive, Hezekiah.
l had found the wheel and lighted the
lamp. She secuted my suggestion that
find a horse and drive her home. The
lighting Of the lamp required time. owing
to the wind and rain. but when its thin
ribbon Of light fell clearly upon the road
she seized the handle bars and was ready
to mount without ado.
She gave me her hand-it was a cold,
wet little hand, but there was a good
friendly grip in it, This was the first
time I had touched HeZekiah's hand, and
1 mention it because as I write I feel
again the pressure OF her slim, cold
fingers.
Sorry you spoiled your clothes, but it
was in a good cause. And you're nice
boy, Chimney Mani
She shot away into the darkness. and
the lamps glow on the road vanished in
an instant: but before lost her quite her
CHEEKY whistle blew back to me reassur-
ingly.
(To be continued tomorrow)