The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-07-31

could take you along. too. but l don't
want to leave the house alone. you
know" apologized Phoebe.
Phoebe futtered a goodby as they
/, , turned the corner by the church and
then settled comfortably back in her
seat for the long drive into the heart
of the hills. Riddle was taciturl. in
dividual and consequently an ille:l
chariOteer. for Miss Dalrymples usual
~ placid disposition was brohen BY
many emotions.
First. she was highly indignant tina
she should practically he Crivrli from
her home in order to enjoy I: Vt!ie,
day. Second. she thought she hld dc
tected a Slight smile at the corner al
Mr.. Scott's pleasant mouth when he
looked at the heart shaped crac!: in
the windowpane
Fifteen miles straightaway from the
village. among circling hills that lift
ed their blue green heights to the
bending skies. lay Uncle Morgan Tay-
lor's farm. Uncle Morgan owned the
valley and most of the hills that sloped
down to the fertile pastures The large
farm had once covered acres of cult
waited land. but now Uncle Morgan. too
old to work himself. had discharged
his farmers. sold his stock and lived
on the generous income that was more
than ample to supply the simple wants
of himself and his wife. Aunt Sally.
When great-niece Phoebe Dalrymple
drove up to the door in the hot sun
shine of the afternoon they came to
meet her with outstretched hands and
exclama tons Of delight.
The old people went to bed early. and
presently Phoebe followed suit. resting
T quietly in the best chamber under a
blue and white patchwork quilt
The next morning was different from
any other Fourth of July she had ever
, spent The dead stiffness Of the val
ley seemed to close in and shut her
away from noisy world outside And
yet, such is the perversity of human
nature. Phoebe missed something Aft
er breakfast she took book and wan
dered away to green meadow where
by dropping elm. Here Phoebe perch
ed and read industriously. feebly tri-
umphant in that she had outwitted the
nerve harassing glorious Fourth Of
July.
The sun rose higher, and the birds
singing in the thickets hushed their
notes in the sleepy noon. There was
the drowsy hum of bees and the long
chirp of countless insects in the grass
es. A brook rippled unsteady across
the meadow, and over all was deli
cious repose. 1t is not surprising that
Phoebe. too. slumbered.
A crashing explosion broke the still
ness and was echoed back from the
hills in countless reverberations
Phoebe Dalrymple awoke to the be-
wildered realization that something
dreadful had happened-an earthquake
or an event equally terrible. She was
quite stunned by the noise and sat
leaning against the tree very quietly
Then familiar smell assailed her nos
trils. and she thought she heard the
sound of vOices-boys' voices raised in
gleeful chorus.
Somebody-some boys were celebrat-
ing the Fourth of July in Taylor's val
ley. She was too much surprised even
to turn around and discover the in
truders. She sat very stiffiy. with her
back to the sun flooded meadow. tryin g
to stem her rising Indignation at the
unhappy fate that seemed to pursue
her desire for quietude.
Heres a good place. Billy-right
on this rock. Now touch her off. I'm
Gle Lee. Hurray!" shrilled the famil,
lar voice of little Jack Scott
With a thrill of terror Phoebe arose
to her feet and appeared around the
corner of the big tree trunk. On the
rock at her feet sputtered big cannon
cracker. and backing away from it's
dangerous proximity was Leander
Scott himself.
He took in the situation at a glance
Phoebes book. her white face and the
brown linen dress. so like the trunk of
the elm tree that her presence had
been quite unsupported.
INSTANTLY ue ledpeu JACK 10 the rock
and grasped the suffering explosive
in his hand. Under the impetus of bis
strong arm it went Kissing through the
air. and before it reached the brook
toward which he aimed it it burst
with defamation that again shook the
hills and drove the sleepy birds from
covert to thicker shelter.
Phoebe Dalrymple sat down on the
rock and cried from sheer relief. Le-
ander Scott looked at her with grow
ing discomfort in his mind. 1t seemed
to be his lot to pursue this gentle little
lady with an avalanche of noise. Who
would have suspected that she had
sought retreat here of all places! He
had chosen it out of dozen isolated
spots because the Taylors were deaf
and be had Uncle MOrgan's warmes,
consent to make all the noise he want
ed to.
The sight of the little boys fussing
over the box of fireworks decided him.
With plying glance at Miss Phoebes
dropping form he dashed toward the
boys. 1t was the work of a moment
to. gather the bombs and cannon crack
ers. the box of powder and the toy
cannon into a heap and the labor of
another instant tO dron tham all into