The Lamar register., 1915-10-27

tude when he chose Green Center in
which to complete his story.
Linda waited upon tho table. de-
mure in white frilled apron, with her
bonny brown hair breaking rebellious
waves over her ears.
It was a well-cooked meal, and II
was daintily served. Bill enjoyed
every crumb of it until Linda's voice
cooed in his ear. win you have rice
pudding or prune pie, Mr.. Vain
right?"
Billy looked up defiantly.
IF you please" he said decidedly.
I'll take piece of cherry pie!"
"Pie?" repeated Linda. Yes, sir"
and she tripped away.
Billy's eyes were dreaming over the
roses in the garden when suddenly he
dropped his glance to his plate.
Before him were a cup OF coffee and
piece of prune pie
1t was a rather delectable looking
piece of pie and the top was piled
with whipped cream.
Billy's face went red; his eyes
flashed angrily. Then a smile APP
peared at the corners OF his well-cut
lips. He tasted the pie. 1t was good
served in this fashion prune pie be-
came a toothsome feast. Billy ate it
all and then waited for Linda to re-
appear. There N,ds no bell on the
table and he must perforce wait
patiently until she came again.
When she came and saw Billy's
empty plate he surprised a puzzled
CLEAN in her eyes.
Please. may I have another piece
OF pie?" he pleaded. Il never tasted
prune pie before It's simply great"
I'm glad you like it," fibhed Linda,
as she sped away to bring him a sec
ond piece.
After that, as she few about the
kitchen. her pretty eyes flashed
dangerously.
Il wonder II he really liked that pie
or II he ate 1t to tease me-" she
thought. We'll. he won't get one
crumb of cherry pie while I'm here.
How cross he was this morning when
l sangi How surprised he was when
l didn't prove to be a servant! He
called me Melissa. l suppose he thinks
it's clever to call all country girls
Melissa or Hannah"
After dinner. Billy tried to go on
with his work, but he found it diff
cult Try as he would that tantaliz-
ing. Can she make a cherry pie?"
kept obtruding itself and he could not
Danish 1t. Finally. he brushed his pa
pers into a drawer and went out into
the open.
Ill Les ha haA oNa cd
4 blue heron from the rushes down
at the brook and was watching its
awkward flight into the blue.
Green Center isn't half bad" he
admitted. but l wish its presiding
divinity were a trihe more agreeable
to a lone chap like myself. Wasn't
she hateful about the cherry pie.
though? I'll bet 1t was good stun If 1t
was anything like the prune pie. All
That was a dreami"
Later he strolled slowly toward the
house. Nightfall was at hand, but
the insistent Can she make a cherry
pie?" was still ringing mockingly in
his ears.
Billy passed the kitchen. but saw
nothing OF Linda. He saw something
else, however, that interested him not
little. The pantry window was open
there was sliding shelf and on that
shelf in plain relief was three-quar-
ters OF luscious cherry piei Beside
the pie was a silver knife. as II to
make the temptation complete.
One brief moment he paused. and
then-he fell. With swift movement
he captured the pie and the knife and
bore his booty in triumph to a rustic
bench under a nearby apple tree
Uncle Ben. on his homeward way.
saw him thus engaged paused and
eyed him humorously:
Can she make a cherry pie. Billy
Boy. Billy Boy?" he quavered in q
cracked voice.
She sure can" returned Billy un-
blushingly. but never for a moment
halting in his work OF demolition.
Uncle Ben trudged on laughing,
into the house. and presently Linda
appeared in the kitchen door. the
supper bell jingling in her hand.
Billy was disposing of the last seq
mont of the pie when she discovered
| him and stood mctionless regarding
i'm with an expression which was
ar from hostile.
Billy. his lips stained cherry red,