Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-04-04
CHAPTER III.
The, Madness Of Much Kissing.

you." Miss Grace Sheraton
was saying to me as we
= passed among the big trees of
the Sheraton apple orchard. Her eyes
were rather soft, and slight color lay
upon her cheeks. whose ivory hue was
rarely heightened in this way.
II am in ignorance, Miss Grace"
said to her.
"Fie. You know very well what
mean-abont yesterday"
"Oh. that!'' said and went rather
red of the face, for thought she meant
my salutation at the gate.
She. redder now than myself. needed
no explanation as to what ! meant.
"No, not that" she began hastily.
''That was not noble. but vile of you.
mean at the tavern, where you took
my part"
So then saw that word in some way
had come to her of the little brawl be-
tween Harry Singleton and myself.
ITO protect an absent woman is al
ways manly" she said. Il thank yon
for caring for my name
Now, should have grown warmer in
the face and in the heart at this. but
the very truth is that felt chill
come over me as though were get
ting deeper into cold water. guessed
her mind. Now, how was l, who had
kissed her at the lane. who had defend
ed her when absent, who called now
in state with bis father and mother in
the family carriage how was to say
was not of the same mind as she?
pulled the ears of the hunting dog un
til he yelped in pain. We were deep in
the great Sheraton orchard. Presently
we came to fallen apple tree, giant
perhaps planted there generations be-
fore. We seated ourselves here. and
we should have been happy, for we
were young and all about rs was
sweet and comforting. yet, on my hon
or. would rather at that moment have
been talking to my mother than to
Grace Sheraton. ! did not know why.
For some time we sat there. pulling
at apple blossoms and grass stems and
talking OF many things quite beside the
real question. but at last there came
an Interruption. ] heard the sound of
a low. rumbling below approaching
through the trees. and as looked up
saw. coming forward with certain
confidence. Sir Jonas. the red Sheraton
bull, with ring in his nose. and In his
carriage an intense haughtiness for one
so young. knew all about Sir Jonas,
for we had bred hin ON our farm.
Miss Grace gathered her skirts for
instant flight. but quickly pushed her
down. 4 knew the nature OF Sir Jonas
very well and saw that fight would
mean disaster long before she could
reach any place OF safety.
Keep quiet. said to her in low
voice. Don't make any quick mo-
lions or he'll charge Come with me.
slowly now
Very pale. and with eyes staring n.
the intruder. she arose as bade tles-
and slowly moved toward the tree
which had in mind NOW. quick"
said. and. catching her beneath the
arms, swung her up into the low
branches. Sir Jonas came ON with
head down. and his horn missed my
trouser leg BY no more than an inch
as | lodged around the tree. At this
laughed, but Miss Grace screamed.
until between my hasty actions call
ed to her to keep quiet.
Sir Jonas tossed up his head then
and boited for the tree where Miss
Grace had her refuge. Then saw it
was the red lining of her Partisan par
asol which had enraged him. Throw
it down" ! called out to her. She
could not find 1t in her heart to toss 1t
straight down TO Sir Jonas. who would
hare trampled 1t at once. 80 she cast
| it sidelong toward me. and inch by
inch / beat Sir Jonas In the race to it.
Then resolved that he should not
have It at all and SO tossed 1t into the
hfa ncheq or anof her frno qr l ran