Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-05-15
Copyright. 1910. by Meredith Nicholson

death, to say nothing of me. Why
should I help you?
"Oh, you're a mar and I was just a
little girl who had lost her slipper"
she replied. 81 was sure you would
fix it up"
She drew from behind a bowlder by
which we stood a pumpkin Of portable
size, which 1 surmised had been carved
into the most hideous of jack-o'-lan-
terms by the shrewd hand Of Hezekiah.
Gomez" she cried. "If you are good
and won't begin preaching about my
sins I'll show you the funniest thing
you ever saw in your life"
In my joy Of seeing her l was neg
lecting Cecilia's commission. Very
likely Hezekiah had forgotten all
about her theft. Hers. 1 reasoned,
was a nature that delighted in the
nearest pleasure. 1 would follow her
jack-o'-lantern around the world for
the chance of seeing the fun brighten
in her brown eyes. but I had made a
promise to Cecilia. and I meant to full
fill it.
She led me now cross the meadow.
over a stone wall. up a steep slope
and by devious ways through a strip
Of woodland. I bore the jack-o'-lan-
tern. She had hidden me do it with
some notion l did not question Of
making me a 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 l had concluded and added her
aunt's comment. You may be sure
that tickled Aunt Octavia. You can
lie almost as we'll as IN architect.
Aunt Octavia says architects are bet
ter liars than dressmakers."
1T was my weakness for the truth
that caused me to abandon architec-
ture. For heavens sake, what are you
up to-"
I had kept little account Of the di-
rection Of our flight. and l 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. l must know what
you're up to right here, or I'll go home.
Besides, there's a 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 l yer 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 them
Hezekiah whistled the rest Of it.
While we waited l tried once or
twice to revert to the silver notebook.
but without success. Hezekiah was a
mistress of the art of evasion with her
tongue as we'll as her feet.
wait till the evening performance
is over and I'll talk about that. Sh!
Quiet! Crawl over there out Of the
way, and when I say run. beat it for
the road"
These last phrases were uttered in a
whisper. her face close to my ear. She
gave me a little push. and I withdrew
Il few yards and waited. The ground.
l may say. was wet and the drizzle
mad become a monotonous autumn
rain.
The light Of the lantern fell warmly
upon Hezekiah's face as she held its
illumined c~ountenance toward her
crouching on the stile steps. l heard
now what her keener ear had caught
earlier-the tramp Of feet along the
path. The suitors were returning tC
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
err and nearer came the patter of feet
and I heard, for l could not see. the
scraping Of Hezekiah's slipper-a wei
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 tc
try again. That growl marked for me
the leader Of the van Hartley Wig
gins, beyond a DOUBT. and in no good
humor, I guessed! The others, l judg'
ed, had trodden upon n another's
heels at the moment Virgins stumbled
Thus let us imagine their approach
six gentlemen in top hats headed for Il
stiIe on a chilly night Of rain.
1t was at this strategic movement
that Hezekiah pushed Into the middle
Of the stile platform. Its grinning face