St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1911-03-11
A Back Number
BY JEANNE O. LOIZEAUX
Copyright, 1910, by Associated LITERARY Press


Stanley Pierce, at his desk in the
middle office, bent his head over his
bookkeeping, and wished to goodness
that when he stayed to work over.
time the girls in the outer Office would
go home and stop their chatter. He
was at the head of his department,
ana was anxious that there should be
no errors-he was always coming to
me once early and leaving late. His
nne shoulders were stooped a little.
ana his dark hair was thinning on
top. he was probably thirty-he look
eo forty His face was weary and pas
slVe. Then, hearing his name spoken
IA eueenle Dawson's clear young voice
Ae looked up quickly, showing a pair
OF dark eyes, alert and keen.
Why Stanley Pierce? she asked.
and Ruthie Carter replied.
Lets ask him anyhow. He be-
longs to the force as much as we"
More" snapped Queenie; hes q
thousand years old"
ruth interrupted her. And it's the
first free Saturday afternoon of the
summer tomorrow, and we need an
other man for the picnic anyway. He
may not go, but let's ask him. He's
nice. and he'd enjoy it. He lives way
out somewhere with an old maid sis
ter. It's no wonder he's drying up!"
I'm not missionary" retorted
Queenie. He'll think it his duty to
go and will be a wet blanket on the
fun. Imagine him trying to fiirt! Do
leave him in peace. girls. and ask a
real, live man-he's back number.
mere column of figures!"
NO." declared Ruth, and Cassie
seconded her.
He's saved us from the chiefs ire
many's the time-always doing some
body else's work.
oh, If you're SO smitten on him,
Ruth, very well! Only you'll have the
dullest day of your life, for you'll have
to annex him-I won't!"
Then. some one seemed suddenly
to be aware that the door was ajar;
a frightened little silence followed.
Pierce heard suppressed giggle, and
then he remembered it was shameful
to listen, and stepped softly through
the open door back into the private
Office, now deserted. He was safely
inside when one of the girls looked
into the middle room, and marked
with relief that probably he had been
out Of hearing distance.
Five minutes later, seemingly quite
unconscious of the others, he came
out and prepared to leave. The girls
gathered penitently about him-save
Queenie. who held her head high and
watched him from a corner as she
adjusted her hat.
Come to a park picnic with us to-
morrow, Mr.. Pierce, dol" begged Ruth
10, in her sweet fashion. Let your
garden go to weeds, and have little
fun! We're a man short-and you
need change anyhow
He considered the girl with amused
eyes, then looked up to encounter the
gaze of Queenie. Her fair, saucy face
famed, and her clear, blue eyes fell
in confusion. 1t was disturbing gaze
for them both, but the man was cool
enough.
Il shall be glad to come" he said
conventionally. Il had almost forgot
ten there were such things as picnics!
Do we start from here?
After discussing details for mo
ment. they separated. And Stanley
Pierce went home to think. Had the
girl been right? Was he wet blank.
ct to innocent fun? Queenie's petu.
liant, young voice, her bright face,
haunted his memory.
The next afternoon, at Pierce's sug-
gestion, the little basket-laden party
in the interurban car passed the
park and he got off at a strip Of open
wildwood. All June blossomed and
sung about them, and there was much
merry finding of flowers, wandering
about the grassy hillsides, much story
telling and laughter. Clark Miller
STAYED near Ruth, and each Of the 9th
er girls had her satellite. But, with
determined but unostentatious stead
mess. StaUlSy IlClS0 AoosSASo AAAAAAS~AA
to Queenie Dawson, pretending not u
mark the malicious joy Of the rest.
ANNOYED at first, the girl was soor
interested, finally pleased. The "baci
number" was so entertaining that al
length the whole group came unde'
his spell. Why had they not seen be
fore that he was an out-of-doors man,
Why had he hidden his knowledge O
flowers and plants, OF wildwood crea
lures. his quick, humorous observe
lions on life in general?
Toward evening they began to thinl
of place to spread the supper, out ~
said he knew the loveliest spot imagin
able. and not so far away, II the!
would come with him. Immediately
the band was on the march Pieroe
still with Queenie beside him. leo TN
way, plucking a flower for her mere
helping her under fence tnere' ono
cutting a willow twig and making ne
a whistle that would have delighte'