Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-05
BY JEFFERY FARNoL
shadow in the hedge may not have been
Black George, after ali.


long legs to match the short one7"
That is really an excellent idea"
Then why didn't you before7"
Because, to be frank with you, II
never occurred TO me-"
suppose you are better as a black
smith than a carpenter. aren't you,
PeterY' And, seeing could flnd no
answer worthy OF retort she laughed
and, sitting down, watched me while I
| TOOK my saw. forthwith, and shortened
| the three long legs as she had suggested
Having done which. TO our common sat
lstaction' seeing the moon was rising, we
went and sat down on the bench beside
the cottage door.
And-are you a very good black
smithY' she pursued. turning to regard
mo, chin in hand.
i can swing a hammer or shoe horse
with any smith in Kent--except Black
Seorge, and he is the best in all the
And is that very great achievement,
ut is not a desplcable one"
Are you quite satisfied TO be able to
shoe horses well, sir7"
1T is far better to be a good black
smith than bad poet or an incompetent
Prime Minister"
Meaning that you would rather sue
ceed In the little thing that fail In the
great?"
With your permission will smoke"
said l.
Surely" she went on. nodding her
permission, surely IL is nobler TO be q
great failure rather than a mean sue
cess?"
Success is very sweet, CHAIRMAN, even
in tho smallest thing; for instance" said
l. pointing to the cottage door that stood
open beside her. when built that door,
and saw It swing on its hinges, I was as
Fa1 Of .sr1a 10 l..
"A really good door," interpolated
CHAIRMAN, instead OF n bad one!"
"A bad one, Charmian?"
1T is very clumsy door, and has
neither bolt nor lock-"
"There are no thieves hereabouts, and,
even If there were. they would not dare
to set foot in the Hollow after dark"
And then, unless one close It with
great care, It sticks-very tightv'
That, obviating the necessity of a
latch, is rather to be recommended" said
Besides, 1t is very rl-ftting door,
Peter"
'I have seen worse"
And will be very draughty in cold
weather.
"A blanket hung across will remedy
that"
"Still 1t can hardly be called very
good door, can 1t. Peter?" Here I lighted
my pipe without answering. 81 suppose
you make horseshoes much better than
you make doors?" I puffed at my pipe in
silence. you are not angry because 1
found fault with your door, are you,
Peter?""
Angry" said 1 mot in the least"
~ am sorry for that"
"Why sorry?'
tAre you never angry, Peter?"
Seldom, I hope"
chould lilxa n aaa WIN SO-ii;St Once ~
Finding nothing to say in answer to this,
I smoked my negro-head pipe and stared
at the moon, which was looking down at
us through a maze of tree trunks and
branches.
referring to horeshoes," said Char
milan at last, ARE you content to be
blacksmith all your days?"
Yes, l think I am"
"Were you never ambitious, them"
ambition is like rain, breaking itself
upon what 1t falls on-at least, Bacon
says. and"
"oh, bother Bacon! Were you never
ambitious Peter?"
81 was a great dreamer"
"A dreamer!' she exclaimed with fine
scorn; "are dreamers ever ambitlousY'
Indeed. they are the most truly ambi-
ticus," / retorted; their dreams are so
vast so infinite, SO far beyond all puny
human strength and capacity that they
Epictetus himself"
II wish" sighed Chairman, 81 do
wish
what do you wish7'
THAT you were not
THAT l was not?"
"Such a-pedant"
"Pedantr said /, somewhat discon-
certed.
And you have a way of echoing my
words that Is very Irritating
"I beg your pardon" said !, feeling
much like a chidden schoolboy; "and L
am sorry you should think me pedant.'
And you are so dreadfully precise and
serious" she continued.
"Am I, CharmianT"
and SO very solemn and austere, and
SO ponderous, and egotistical, and calm
yes you are hatefully calm and placid
aren't you, PeterY
And, after had smoked thoughtfully
awhile, ] sighed.
Yes. fear l may seem So"
''Oh, i forgive you?
Thank you"
"Though you needn't be so snnoyingly
humble about IT," said she. and frowned.
and. even while she frowned, laughed
and shook her head
And pray, why do you laugh7"
"Because-oh. Peter, you are such a
boyl"
30 YOU tOlQ OhSC bCAciNt -
biting my pipe-stem viclously.
Ibid ], PeterT"
''You also called me a-lamb, ! remem-
ber-at least, you suggested IT,"
Ibid l, Peter7" and she began to laugh
again. but stopped all at once and rose
to her feet.
"Poterl" said she, with a startled note
in her voice. don't you hear some-
thing"
YES" said I.
Some one Is comingP'
Yes"
"And-they are coming this wayl"
"Yes."
"oh--how can you sit there 30 quietlyY
DO you think she began, and stopped
staring into the shadows with wide eyes
"I think" said l. knocking the ashes
from my pipe, and laying II on the bench
beside me, that. all things considered.
you were wiser 10 80 into the cottage
for a while"
'No-oh. couldn't do thatP'
You would be safer, perhaps"
II am not a coward. I shall remain
here. OF course"
"Dut / had rather you went inside"
"And much prefer staying where
am"
''Thsu / must ask you to so inside.
CHAIRMAN"
mo, indeed. my mind Is made up"
''rhen I insist, CHAIRMAN" -
"Mr. yibartt' she exclaimed. throwing
nm her head, "you forget yourself, 1