The Western outlook., 1915-10-16

into the next yard.
ooh, dear" she gasped. 81 mustn't do
that!"
why not?" he inquired
They're your roses"
mot at ALL" declared Ned unblush-
ingly. "The law on partition fences
out here in the country, is that half Of
1t belongs to each adjoining tenant
and all that hangs over it."
Then I can pick all the roses
want?"
why, certainly, and come over and
get as many more from our SIDE"
"Oh, couldn't do that without ask
| ing mother" demurred Edna, and ran
into the house.
Ned was charmed More than that,
he was smitten. He managed to be at
his post In the garden Immediately aft
er breakfast. He observed Edna look
| ing wistfully towards the cherry trees
at the back of the Perkins house.
81 never saw cherries grow before"
| she said wistfully.
why don't you get basket and
| pick some?" he insinuated, "in your
own orchard?"
Our orchard?"
why, yes. That strip back of you
Is free to you. Lot law out In the
| country. you know?"
Edna regarded him keenly and sus-
piciously, but her face was an inno-
| cent blank. The audacious fellow did
not explain to Edna that it was con-
tinuation of the Perkins lot that went
around the new neighbours domain.
She went wild with delight as he
got stepladder, held the basket and
let her pick the ripe, bursting globes
in "her orchard" In fact, up till near
forgot all about his fishing.
Later that day coop of chickens
arrived Edna called over the fence
| to know If Ned couldn't come over and
get the new arrivals into the chicken
house. This led to an introduction to
Mrs. Purtelle, who showed herself
we'll pleased with the young man.
"And when will there be some eggs?
When do the chickens lay most?" flut-
tered Edna.
"Why-well, night times mostly" re-
ported Ned unflinchingly.
Then there will be some fresh eggs
| for breakfast In the morning." cried
Edna delightedly
There were, Notwithstanding that
Ned had discovered that the imported
brood consisted mostly of ROSTERS. In
| the morning with a scream of wild Joy
Edna discovered nearly two dozen
eggs, surreptitiously placed in the
nests before daylight by the obliging
| Ned.
Cuprd forging rfe- CHAINS c1oser air,
closer as the sunny hours went by.
Then Edna was full of the theme OF
the little chicks. A setting was duly
provided for by Ned.
"And when will the little darlings
be ripe?" inquired the eager novice in
rural ways.
well" responded Ned slowly with
/
weather, by morning"
| ooh, shall be awake at daylight
declared the excited enthusiast.
$50 will T." vowed Ned, and was
At the weird hour of midnight he hat
substituted a new brood of their OWL
for the setting.
Mr. Purtelle arrived at the end O
the week. He stared hard at Edna, a:
she introduced Ned, as if he wer'
some old-time chum. Then there wa
closer acquaintance of the member
of the family all around. One day TIT
truant pair came home consciousl,
fiustered.
"I've asked her and love her." Me-
told Mr.. Purtelle promptly.
"Humph!" growled Mr.. Purtelle
good naturally enough" and wha
about the false pretences Of cherries
eggs and the like?"
ooh, that shows his kindly dispos
ton, papa!" chirped in Edna. 81 say
through the humbug of his lot law
and twelve hour chickens all the time
but he was so obliging-so-so anxiou
to please me, that l led him on b.
cause-why, because" acknowledge
the blushing maid, II loved him."