Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-02-13


Quick" I painted. "Thoburn and
Mr.. Won invalid coming-basket-l
tern-warn the shelter-housel"
Great Scottl" Mr.. Pierce said.
Here, you girls crawl over the fence;
you'll be hidden there. I'll run back
and warn them"
The lantern was swinging again. Mr..
Thoburn's grumbling came to us
through the snow.
II can't climb the fence!" Miss Pat
ty said pitifuliy. But Mr.. Pierce had
gone.
l reached my basket through the
bars and climbed the fence in a hurry.
Miss Patty had got almost to the top
and was standing there on one snow
covered rail. staring across at me
through the darkness.
II can't, Minnie," she whispered
hopelessly II never could climb
fence, and in this skirt"
"Quick!" l said in a low tone. The
lantern was very close. "Put your leg
over"
She did, and sat there looking down
az luo iihS d bCdlc UdUy.
Now the other"
"T-I can't!" she whispered. "If
put them both over I'll fall"
"Hurry!!"
With little grunt she put The 9TH
er foot over, sat a minute with agony
in her face and her arms out, then she
slid off with squeal and brought up
N, CT
corner. l dropped beside her.
What was that noise?" said Tho
burn, almost upon us. Something's
moving inside that fence corner"
tits them deers," Mikes voice this
time. We could make out the three
figures. "Darned nuisance, them deers
is. They'd have been shot long ago
If the springhouse girl hadn't object
ed. She thinks she's the whole cheese
around here"
Set it down again." Mr. Won In
wald painted. We heard the rattle of
bottles as they put down the basket,
and the next instant Thoburn's fat
hand was resting on the rail Of the
fence over our heads. I could feel
Miss Patty trembling beside me.
But he didn't look over. He stood
there resting, breathing hard, and
swearing at the weather, while Mike
waited, in surly silence, and the Won
invalid cursed in German.
After my heart had been beating in
my ears for about three years the fat
hand moved, and / heard the rattle of
glass again and Thoburn's groans as
he bent over his half of the load.
Come on" he said, and the others
grunted and started on.
When they had disappeared in the
snow we got out of our cramped posi-
tion and prepared to scurry home.
climbed the fence and looked after
them. "Humph!" / said, 81 guess that
basket isn't for the hungry poor. I'd
give a good bit to know" Then l
turned and looked for Miss Patty. She
was fiat on the snow, crawling be-
tween the two lower rails of the fence.
Have you no shame?" demanded
ShS locked up at me with her head
ava half her long sea!skin coat
through the fence.N
None" she said pitifully. Minnie
I'm stuck perfectly Tight"
you ought to be &eft as you are"
said, jerking at aer, "for people to
come"-jerk-"toinorrow to look at"-
jerk. She came through at that, and
we lay together in the snow and like
to burst a rib laughing.
You'll never be a princess, Miss
Patty" declared. You're too lowly
minded"
She sat up suddenly and straight.
ened her sealskin cap on her head.
II WISH" she said unpleasantly. 81
wish you wouldn't always drag in dis.
agreeable things, Minnie!"
And she was sulky all the way to
the house.
Miss Summers came to my room
that night as was putting my hot-wa
ter bottle to bed, In baby-blue silk
wrapper with band of fur around
the low neck-Miss Summers. OF
course. not the hot-water bottle.
WE'LL" she said, sitting down on
the foot of the bed and staring at me
well, young woman, for person who
has never been farther away than Fin
leyville you do pretty well!"
do what?" / asked, with the covers
up to my chin.
do what, Miss Innocence!" she said
mockingly. You're the only red-hairet
woman ever saw who didn't look as
sophisticated as the devil. I'll tell you
one thing, though" She reached dowr
into the pocket Of her dressing-gowr
and brought up cigarette and 9
match. You never had me fooled fol
minute!" She looked at me over the
match.
lay and stared back.
"And another thing" she said. %
never had any real intention of marry
ing Dicky Carter and raising a baby
sanatorium. / wouldn't have the face
to ask Arabella to live here"
Pm glad you feel that way, Miss
Summers" said. 1--WE gone through
a lot; I'm an old woman In the last
two weeks. My hairs falling from iti
having to stand up on end half the
tin,a