The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-04-29
promise to Cecilia, and Z meant to full.

promise to Cecilia, and I meant to full
ill 1t.
She led me now across the meadow.
over stone wall. up steep slope
and by devious ways through strip
of woodland. bsce the Jack -o'-an
tern. She had hidden me do It with
some notion did not question Of
making me party In whatever mis-
chief was afoot.
Also. she demanded that I repeat
fully the story had told her aunt Of
the finding of the slipper.
"You are better than | thought you
were, Chimney Man." she declared.
when | had concluded and added her
aunt's comment. You may be sure
that tickled Aunt Octavia. You can
lie almost as well rs an architect.
Aunt Qctavia says architects are bet
ter liars than dressmakers."
ut was my weakness for the truth
that caused me to abandon architec-
ture: For heavens sake. what are you
up tor
had kept little account of the d.
rection Of our flight. and was sur
prised that we had now reached the
stile over which I had watched the
passing Of the suitors on the afternoon
Of my meeting with Hezekiah In the
orchard.
This is the appointed place." she re-
marked, taking the pumpkin from me
and dropping down on the far side Of
the stile.
"Hezekiah. I've trotted across most
Of Westchester county after you. and
my arm is paralyzed from carrying
that pumpkin. | must know whnt
you're up to right here. or I'll go home
Besides, there's mist falling and
you'll be soaked. What do you sup.
pose your father thinks Of your alb
sence at this time Of night?"
"Oh, he'll never forgive me for not
letting him in on this This is the
grandest thing ever thought Of. Sit
on this step and gently incline your
ear toward the house. It's about time
those gentlemen were leaving Cecilia.
and they'll be galloping for their inn
in a minute. and then
Hezekiah whistled the rest Of 1t.
While we waited | tried once or
twice to revert to the silver notebook.
but without success. Hezekiah was
mistress OF the art OF evasion with her
tongue as well as her feet.
"Wait TIL the evening performance
In over and IN talk about that Sh!
Quiet! Crawl over there out Of the
way, and when | say run. beat 1t for
the road"
These last phrases were uttered In
whisper. her face close to my ear. She
gave me little push. and withdrew
few yards and waited. The ground.
may say. was wet and the drizzle
had become monotonous autumn
rain.
The light OF the lantern fell warmly
upon Hezekiah's face as she held its
illumined countenance toward her,
crouching on the stile steps. heard
now what her keener ear had caught
earlier-the tramp Of feet along the
path The suitors were returning to
the Inn. and the voices Of one or two
Of them reached me.
The nature of Hezekiah's undertake
ing suddenly dawned upon me. Near.
er and nearer came the patter of feet
and ! heard. for I could not see. the
scraping Of HezekIah's slipper-a wet
little shoe by now-as she crept higher
on our side of the stile. The first suit
or CROPPED blindly for the steps. slipped
on the wet plank. growled and rose to
try again. That growl marked for me
the leader Of the van. Hartley Wig
gins, beyond doubt, and In no good
humor, I guessed. The others, l judg-
ed. had trodden upon one another's
heels at the moment Virgins stumbled.
Thus let us imagine their approach
six gentlemen In top hats headed for a
stile on chilly night Of rain.