The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-06-21

really ought to have stayed over a day to buy that monument, but, to tell the truth, I wanted to see Billy so des- perately that his sleep place. above my heart hurt as if 1t might have prickly heat break out at any minute.
 So I hurried and stuffed the gray blue darling in the top tray, 1apped old black taffeta around my waist and belted it in with a black belt off a new green linen I had made for morning walks down to the drug store on the public square, I suppose. That is about the only morning dissipation in Hills boro that can think of, and it all de pends on whom you meet how much of a dissipation it is.
 The next thing that happens after you have done a noble deed is, you either regard it as a reward of virtue or as a punishment for. having been foolish. I felt both ways when Judge Wade came down the car aisle, looking so much grander than any other man in sight that I don't see how they stand him ever. At that minute the noble black taffeta deed felt foolish, but at the next minute I thanked my lucky stars for it
 It is nice to watch for person to catch sight of you if you feel sure how he Is going to take 1t, and somehow in this case I felt sure. was not dis appointed, for his smile broke his face up into a joy laugh. Of came his hat instantly so could catch a glimpse of the fascfna ting frost over his temples, and with a positive sigh of rapture he subsided into the seat beside me. turned wifh an echo smile all over me- when suddenly his face became grave and considerate, and he looked at me as all the men in HiIlsboro have been doing ever since poor MT. Carter's funeral.
 ''Mrs. Carter,'' he said very kindly, in a voice that pitched me out of the car window and left me a mile be- hind on the track, all by myself, ''I wish had known of your sad errand to town so could have offered you some assistance in your selection. You know we have just had our lot in the cemetery finally arranged, and found the dealers in memorial stones very confusing in their ideas and designs. Mrs. Henderson just told my mother of your absence from home last night, and could only come down to the city for the day on important business or I would have arranged to see you. I hope you found something that satis- fled you"
 Whats a woman going to say when she has a tombstone thrown in her face like that? didn't say anything, but what I thought about Aunt Ade- line filled in dreadful pause.
 Perfectly dumb and quiet I sat for an awful space of time and wondered just what I was going to do. Could a woman lie a monument into her suit case2 It was beyond me at that speak ing, and the Molly that is ready for life quick didn't want to. shut my eyes, counted three to myself as do when go over into the cold tub, and told him all about it. We both got satisfactory reaction, and never en- joyed myself so much as that before.
 I understand now why Judge Wade has had so many women martyr them selves over him and live unhappily ever afterward, as everybody says Henrietta Mason is doing. He's a very inspiring man, and he fairly bristles with Vaccinations. Some men are what you call taking, and they take you if they want you, while others are draw ng, and after you are drawn to them they will Econsider the question of taking you. The judge is like that.
 Tn the meantime it tingles me up to very great degree to have a man use his eyes on me, as it is the privi- lege of only womankind to do, and feel that it will be good for his judge ship for me to let him "draw me at least a little way. I may get hurt, but shall at least have an interesting time of it. I started right then and got results, for he stopped under the old lilac bush that leans over my side gate and kissed my hand. Old lilac shook 8 laugh of perfume all over us, and believe signaIed the event at the top of bis bough to the white clump on the other side of the garden I'm glad Aunt Adeline isn't in the flower fraternity or sorority. Suppose she had seen or heard!
 And it didn't take me many minutes to slip into old summer before last also for the last time inside of those buttons-and run through the garden, my heart singing Billy, Billy" in perfect rapture of tune I ran past the office door and found him in his cot all most asleep, and we had a bear re- union in the rocker by the window that made us both breathless.
 What did you bring me, Molly?'' he finally kissed under my right ear.
 "A real baseball and bat, lover, and an engine with five cars, a rake and a spade and a hoe, two blowguns that pop new way and something that squirts water and some other things. Will that be enough?'' I hugged him up anxiously. for sometimes he is hard to please and might not have got the very thing he wanted.
 ''Thank you, Molly; all them things is what I want, but you oughter brung more'n that for three days not being here with me- Did any woman ever have a more lovely lover than that? don't know how long should have rocked him in the twilight if Dr. Johns voice hadn't come across the hall in command.
 ''Put him down now, Mrs. Molly, and come and say other how do you does," he called softly.