Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-10-24
A
Flower Thief
BY ESTHER vANDEvEER

mans country place. Between her ana
a flower garden was 3 low fence.
Climbing the fence, she entered the
garden.
Somehow or other the flowers seem
ed to be more beautiful the farther she
advanced. She was not the first girl
TO be led to her doom by their seduc-
tive beauty. At n rate, she was
drawn farther and farther from the
fence. What made the advance into
the enemy's territory more dangerous
was the prisoners she took. In case
Of a retreat they would be burden
some Her prisoners, by the way, were
the flowers she had plucked.
Finding herself among some beiated
roses, she made more captives and
while bending to her work failed TO
see the enemy at a window in the
house. He ran downstairs, out the
front door and, s~kirting the fence.
gained a position In the girls rear be-
fore she saw him at all. Then when
he had cut off her retreat he walked
toward her. Having her back toward
him, she was not aware of his pres
ence until he coughed to attract her at
tention.
Had this young man been bent on
Furnishing a poacher he would proba-
bly, have been too angry at her depre-
dations to be moved by her discom-
future. As 1t was, he thought 1t the
prettiest sight Of his life. She stood
with the flowers In her skirt looped
to hold them, some of them falling to
the ground. hanging her head, a pitt
full but a beautiful sight. The young
man who had trapped her had done
SO for amusement, and, though his
heart melted toward her, he determin-
ed to play his game.
"If you had called at the house." he
said, land asked If you might gather
some flowers you would have been
given permission"
She looked down at the flowers she
held In her skirt, to avoid the gaze of
the young man who had ~reproached
her. Presently she found her tongue.
"You might take them," she said.
-'and put them in a vase and use them
10 decorate the drawing room or the
dining table,"
emo; that would not do at all. The
sentiment would be spoiled. How
would you like to have flowers about
you that would remind you that you
had not been permitted to pluck them
yourself?"
The girl hung her head lower.
1.-THE flowers in these beds are spoil
ed" continued the young man. you
may as we'll take the rest of them.'
And, whipping out his . pocketknife.
he began to STAY them by the dozens
Roses, v%iolets. lilies, fell. and as fast
as he cut their stems he tossed them
IN with the others. She looked at him
with an expression more troubled than
ever.
aI'm very sorry" she faltered. that
/ have spoiled all these flowers for
you. don't see why. haven't
touched them"
You have spoiled the whole gar
den," he replied. Come over here
These are our favorite beds. since they
contain the choicest varieties" And
he began cutting them ruthlessly.
ssPlease DON'T" she faltered. Surely
I cannot have contaminated these
"All blighted." he persisted. And
as they fell he tossed them at the re-
ceptacle. which was now full to over.
flowing.
you'd better sit down on that
bench" he added. "And for a pun
ishment III bury you alive with bios
SONS"
The flowers were falling about her
in such p~rofusion that she was glad to
- - kIAA -tx 1D.rI1 14Il kha.a
In her lap. He continued to pelt hei
with them for a time. when, seeing b
her quivering lip that she would no
long be able to restrain her pentup feel
ings, he desisted.
II think | should have something IL
exchange for all this waste" he said.
Indeed. | should be glad to pay"
"In what coin?-
81 have some silver with me-"
The young man smiled. What limo
cencei
There's just n little thing which
If you would give it me. would amply
repay me for the loss | have sus
tanned"
The girl looked up hopefully. Wha
could it be?
"A kiss"
Again the eyes dropped to the flow
ers in her lap. She was silent fol
some time; then there came in a veal
little voice:
Il shouldn't think you'd care to kis.
a-thief."
She looked up. He was squared be
fore her, smiling at her. Her eyes fel
and were raised several times, and a
last she seemed to understand that h,
had been guying her. She should hay.
seen through 1t all before. but she WIZ
barely sixteen years old.
He gathered up the flowers for her
renting the penalty. and insisted OF
nnrrrinn tho,n hnnno for har And fhn