Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-12

lie and | scrambled to my 1eet ana
came over to the fence to get between
him and Billy.
IT'S a lovely day. isn't it Judge
Wade?" I asked with the greatest In
terest. which I didn't really feel, in
the weather; but what could l think
of to say? A woman is apt to keep
the image of a good many of the
grand men she sees passing around
her in queer inches in her brain, and
when one steps out and speaks to her
for the first time it is confusing. OF
course, | have known the judge and
his mother all my life, for she is one
of Aunt Adeline's best friends, but
had feeling from the look in his eyes
that that very minute was the first
time he had ever seen me. 1t was
lovely and | blushed some more as
put my hand up to my cheeks so [
wouldn't have to look right at him.
about the loveliest day that ever
happened in Hillsboro," he said, and
there was still more of the delicious
smile Though | hadn't noticed it SO
especially until"
But never knew what he intendedto
say. for Billy suddenly swelled up like
a little turkey-coek and cut out with
his switch at the judge.
cit, man, git and let my Molly
alone!" he said, in a perfect thunder
ing of voice; but | almost laughed,
! for 1T had such a sound in it like DR..
Johns at his most positive times with
Billy anG me.
mo. no, Billy, the judge is just
! looking over the fence at our fiowersi
Don't you want to give him a roseg'
I hurried tc say as the smile died
out of Judge Wade's face and he
looked at Billy intently.
"How like John Moore the young
ster is" he said, and his voice was
SO cold to Billy that it hurt me. and
I was afraid Billy would notice it,.
coldness in peoples voices always
makes me feel just like ice-cream
tastes, But Billy's answer was still
more rude.
"You better go, man, before | bring
my father to sic our dog on you,"
he exploded, and before / could stop
him his thin little legs went
trundling down the garden path
toward home.
Then the judge and l both laughed.
We couldn't help it. When two peo-
pie laugh straight into each others
eyes something feels dangerous and
you get closer together. The judge
leaned further over the fence and I
went a little nearer abefore ] knew It.
"You don't need to keep a personal
dog, do you, Mrs. Carter?" he asked,
with a twinkle that might have been
a spark in his eyes, and just at that
moment another awful thing hap
pened Aunt Adeline came out on
the front porch and said in the most
frozen tone of voice:
Mary | wish to speak to you in
the house" and then walked back
through the front door without even
looking in Judge Wade's direction,
though he had waved his hat with
one of his mothers own smiles when
he had seen her before / did. One
of my most impossible habits Is,
when there is nothing else to do
laugh. / did it then and it saved the
day, for we both laughed into each
others eyes a second time, and be-
fore we realized it we were within
whispering distance.
mo, 1 don't-don't -need any Cog"
said softly, hardly glancing out
from under my lashes. because | was
afraid to risk looking straight at him
again so soon. | could fairly feel
Aunt Adeline's eyes boring into my
back.
! 1T would take the hydra headed
monster of-may | bring my mother
to call on you and the-Mrs Hender-
sons?' he asked and poured the Won
der smile all over me. Again ] almost
caught my breath.
Il do wish you would. Aunt Adeline
is so fond of Mrs. Wadel" / said, in
a positive fiutter that | hope he didn't
see, but | am afraid he did, for he
| hesitated as if he wanted to say
something to calm me, then bowed
mercifully and went on down the
street. He didn't put on the hat he
had held in his hand all the while he
stood by the fence until he had looked
back and bowed again. Then | felt
still more fluttered as | went into the
house, but I received the third cold
plunge of the day when / reached the
front hall
Mary" said Aunt Adeline in a
voice that sounded as if 1t had been
buried and never resurrected, IF you
are going to continue in such an un-
seemly course of conduct | hope you
will remove your mourning, which Is
an empty mockery and an insult to
my own widowhood"
yes, Aunt Adeline. I'll go take it
off this very minute / heard myself
answer her, airily, to my own aston
ishment / might have known that il
] ever got one of those smiles it
would go to my head without an
other word, / sailed into my room
and closed the door softly.
| wonder il God could have real
lied what a tender thing He was
leaving exposed to life in the garden
of the world after He had finished
making a woman? Traditionally, we
are created out of rose-leayes and
star-dust and the harmony of the
winds, but we need a steel-chain
netting to fend us. Slowly | I'M
| buttoned that black dress that sym
bolized the ending of six years OF
the blackness of married life, from
which ] had been powerless to fend
myself, and the rosy dimpling thing
in snowy lingerie with tags of blue
ribbon that stood in front Of my
mirror was as newborn as any Other
hour-old similar bundle of linen and
lace in Hillsboro. Tennessee. For
tunately, an old, year before last,
white lawn dress could be pulled
from the top shelf of the closet in
a hurry, and the Molly that came
out of that room was ready for life
and lot of it quick and fast