The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-04-14

he kneeled to release her, and she was
grateful that his tone was unmixed
with amusement She bit her lips, as
by sheer strength of elbow and knee
he snapped the offending bole short
off-one of those quick exhibitions
of reserved strength that every wom-
an likes.
81 don't know how / could have
been so si1ly-thank you SO much,
said Shirley, painting slightly from
her exertions. I'm not the least bit
hurt-only my dress-an you know
very well that wasn't afraid of that
ridiculous dog" A richer glow stole
to her cheeks as she spoke, burn
ing recollection of rose, which from
her horse that morning at Danory
Court, she ha>- glimpsed in its glass ON
the porch.
Both laughed a little. He imagined
that he could smell that wonderful
hair, subtle fragrance like that Of
sun-dried seaweed or the elusive scent
that clings to tuft Of long-plucked
Spanish moss. "Chum stands alb
solved, then" he said, bending to
sweep together the scattered jessa-
nine. do you-do you run like that
when you're not frightened?"
when I'm caught red-handed.
Don't you?"
He looked puzzled.
She pointed to the flowers. II had
stolen them, and 1 was trying to
Escape off wild 'em' as the negroes
say. Shocking, isn't It? But you see,
nobody has lived here since long be-
fore 1 was born, and l suppose the
fiower-thieving habit has become in
grown"
But he interrupted, there's acres
of them going to waste. Why on earth
shouldn't you have them?"
"Of course l know better today, but
there was IA special reason. We
have none and this is the nearest
place where they grow. My mother
wanted some for this particular day."
Good heavensi" he cried. ''You
don't think you can't go right on TAX
ing them? Why, you can 'scape Off
with the whole garden any timel"
A droll little CLEAN of azure mis-
chief darted at him suddenly out of
her eyes and then lodged back again.
Aren't you just little rash with
other peoples property"
"Other people's?"
What will the owner say?"
He bent back one of the long jessa-
mine stems and wound it around the
others. Il can answer for him. Be
sides, owe you something, you know
robbed you this morning-of your
brush"
She looked at him, abruptly serious
"Why did you do that?"
Sanctuary. His two beady eyes
begged so hard for it. Twenty raven
Gus hounds they said. and a dozen
galloping horses. And look what a
poor shivering little red-brown NOR
sci ami
For just an instant the bronze-gold
head gave quick imperious toss, like
high-mettled pony under the flicB
of the whip. But as suddenly the
shadow of resentment passed; the
mobile face under the bent hat-brin
turned thoughtful She looked again
at him. DO you think it's wrong tc
kill things?" she asked gravely.
'Oh, dear, no." he smiled. %
haven't single ism. I'm not even {
vegetarian
But you would be if you had to Kill
your own meat?"
Perhaps So many of us would
AS a matter of fact, don't hunt my
self, but I'm no reformer."
why don't you hunt?"
81 don't enjoy it, He flushed
slightly. 81 hate firearms" he said, 6
trifie difficulty. 81 always have.
don't know why. Idiosyncrasy, L sup
pose. But l shouldn't care for hunt
ing, even with bows and arrows.
would kill a tiger or a poisonous rep
tile, or anything else, in case of neces
sity. But even then 1 should hardly
pests and have to be killed. Some
men do. too. But don't like to do il
myself"
Wouldn't that theory lead to +;
wholesale evasion of responsibility p
Perhaps. I'm no philosopher. But
a blackbird or red fox is so pretty
even when he is thieving, that I'd lei
him have the corn. I'm like the
Lord High Executioner in The Mi
kado' who was SO tender-hearted tha
he couldn't execute anybody ant
planned to begin with guinea-pigs ant
work up. Only I'm afraid couldn't
even manage the guinea-pigs."
She laughed. 'eYou wouldn't fine
many to practice on here. Do vol
raise guinea-pigs up North?"
"Ah," he said ruefully, you tag me
too. Have I by chance a large Letter
N tattooed upon my manly brow? Blu
l suppose it's the accent. Uncle JEFF
ferson catalogued me in five minutes
He said he didn't know why I was
from de Norf,' but he knowed' it
I've annexed him and his wife, by the
way"
You're lucky to have them. Unc
Jefferson and Aunt Daph might have
slipped out of plantation of the las
century. They're absolutely ante-bel
lum. Most of the negroes are more
or less spoiled, as you'll find, Tn
afraid" She turned the conversation
bluntly. Had you seen DamorJ
Court before?"
mo, never"
'Do you like the general plan of the
placer"
DO 1 like it?" cried John Valiant
do like it,"
A quick pleasure glanced across hel
face. ITS nice OF you to say it thai
way. We ask that question so otter
it's become mechanical. You see, it's