The state herald., 1915-04-23

| gou
Suppose we leave the car here.
began the general argumentatively
I'VE can't" sighed Henrietta. Such
a supposition would be impossible
with you the owner of the car"
The Watermelon laughed. Jaw. cut
out the conversation" said he. 81
will be right back
so will l." said Billy.
Now the Watermelon objected. He
did not feel equal to tete-a-tete with
the adorable Billy. adorable still
though bit cross.
"Cut out the conversation" MIN
licked Billy, and scrambled with more
speed than grace under the broken
bars of the worm-eaten fence.
The Watermelon leaped the fence
after her Henrietta slipped under the
| fence after the Watermelon. Bartlett
hesitated one moment, glanced guilt.
lily at the deserted general and then
followed Henrietta.
Billy and the Watermelon were
young and light OF foot and soon out
distanced the stout Bartlett, who did
his gallant best to keep up with the
nimble Henrietta, but found that the
years of good living told against him.
Henrietta waited politely for him at
the stone wall which Billy had Just
scaled and the Watermelon jumped.
Henrietta sat down on the wall and
Bartlett leaned beside her. gazing over
the field to the distant woods. He felt
thoroughly comfortable and contented.
No matter what happened now. Bat
chelor could not reach the city by Sat
urday. The cotton ring was saved.
Henrietta drew quick sigh of
pleasure and fell silent. with dream
ing eyes wandering into the mysteri-
Gus shades OF the distant woodland.
her hunger for the time forgotten.
Bartlett broke In upon her reveries.
See that hill7" and he waved toward
the slope ahead OF them.
Henrietta nodded, still wrapped In
her dream. "The hill Of life," said
she. with glory at Its top"
"A railroad" said Bartlett. prosa.
icaiy matteroffact. "a railroad has
been cut through the hill. See. there
go the children. suddenly out Of sight"
Henrietta came back to earth.
How do you know? Maybe there is
Just a steep incline the other side
and that is why they disappeared SO
quickly"
NO. there is cut up there. Don't
you notice how abrupt It looks. and
there are no trees or bushes. They
haven't had time to grow since the cut
was made. And those big Jumps. see.
covered with grass. they are the earth
thrown up out OF the cut"
Henrietta nodded and frowned.
There is no more romance" and she
threw out her hands with graceful
gesture OF hopeless disappointment.
1T went when the first steam-engine
came"
Bartlett looked at her. amused. with
mans tolerance. What do you
want romance for7 A railroad pays
better"
Pays, pays. pays" cried Henrietta.
81 want something that doesn't pay
that isn't associated with returns. You
men have nothing but bank. book for
heart. It's so lovely here, so quiet
Don't you feel II, with the shadows
creeping across the pasturel was
young and beautiful
And a princess"
"No. o goose maid My hair was
brown and thick and hung over each
shoulder In two long braids. was
bare.headed. with sleeves rolled TO the
elbows OF my shapely arms"
You would have got malarik," said
Bartlett. Its very damp here.
think there must be pond over there
In the woods. You can hear the frogs. =
"oh. yes" agreed Henrietta 81
would have had malaria and rheuma
tism, but wouldn't have cared. thou
for you see. ! had come after the
geese. and down here In the tiny glen
with the hush OF the evening over all
| had met him"
"who1 Met"
MY lover" said Henrietta.
Me" said Bartlett softly. and tc
Benrietta's surprise he laid his hMnt
gently on hers.
Henrietta bluHhod and looked away
Her lover, this stout. grim. hard.eyet
man OF busincss7 Had romance com,
to her thus late. in this gulae7 Was q
middlenged member a the New yorl
Stock Exchange her prlncc7
Henrietta" he asked gently. lcanln,
toward her. shall finish the story 2
Why. no." said Henrietta. "thor,
was 90 finish, Il had Just begun"
"Juh, begun" whispered Bartlett
and took her suddenly into his arms
"oh. please" begged Henrietta. feel
Ing that modcaty called for SONS RI
monHttanoe.
"ploasc." he tauntcd. when yo,
we're the goose Girl and was IN,
prince, you didn't nay please"
Henrietta laughed. And ncithc,
DID the prince" abe dared him.
NO decent lovs would" said Bart
lett. bending and kissing her full OF
her whimsical mouth.
After some little time thsy saw III,