The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-20

other than her own. Seldom did lin
Dalton's image enter her mental picture
Anne was in reality thoroughly enjoying
the brief escape into the world OF work
ing people.
She was tripping lightly through the
tall grasses Of a meadow humming a
lifting melody when she gave a scream
and drew back suddenly.
A man lying fiat on his back and with
telescope pointed at the pale stars that
were appearing tlmidly in the twilight
sky had startled her
Her scream had the effect of displacinE
the telescope from the mans eyes and,
turning, he looked at Anne. E5e sat up
then and the girl scarcely refrained from
laughing, so odd picture did he Aesent
there in the tall grasses with that JOCK
OF establishment on his face.
IT am sorry to have disturbed you"
Anne said, being the first to recognize
| her employer. Never before had she
seen him in any save rough farm clothes.
She rather facied the white fiannels
Surely you are not my-er-my straw
berry girl" he returned scrutrnizIng the
wonderfully changed Anne. the one
with the pink sunbonnet?' His ewes held
much in them that made Anne blush.
Yes, I am" she made answer, and
sank, unlimited, down in the grass be
side him. Il am tired talking to berry
apology. DO you mind a short distrac-
ton from the stars" She smiled at the
alacrity with which he accepted her pres
ence.
TT is my hobby-star gazing" he said
strawberry growing is only a means to
an end and that end must be an observa-
tory"
since you engage good pickers."
laughed Anne, 1T cannot be long I'M
3 go
was so evident q desire to question
her as to her reason for being among
his pickers that Anne told him her
story.
"Reastly kind of man" said David
Guthrie without even considering the
fact that Anne had told him she was
engaged to marry the man. IF he
thinks women inferior he should have
enough sense to keep II to himself"
And your" questioned Anne realiz-
ing that she had not taken ofrense at
his criticism OF Jim Dalton.
Il think" Guthrie said with a short
laugh, that in this case the woman
has proven herself far too courageous
and independent to tie herself to
man who cannot appreciate the fact
that women are progressing" He
looked long and earnestly at Anne.
He did not for the moment think II
necessary to tell her that many an
hour he had sat in his turret room
gazing through his telescope at her
while she picked Strawberries in the
sun. That she was the pick OF the
pickers he had told himself. and one
day he would tell her the same. Il
had not hoped" he said. carrying out |
his trend of thought. that you would |
tell me your story so soon. felt that
you had one"
Anne had not heard his last SEN
tence. Somehow she found It impos- |
sible to wear the engagement ring
longer, and unconsciously she drew it /
on.
Does strawberry picking. then, |
coarsen the hands so that rings are
out of placer" asked Guthrie, only
half concealing the glad light in his
eyes.
Perhaps" said Anne with a swift
glance from beneath her lashes. And
as they walked home together through
the long grasses that exhaled wonder
full odors Anne was unconscious Of all
save the fact that she was happy
more happy than she had even been
before.