Evening star., 1916-06-12

Cd Mrs. Meeker. Il got up enough extra
for Loreny. and I guess tn DO , fcf yora; yo,a
hoss Is a-getting like myself. Lyddy'
fat and lazy in his old age"
where are you going" asked Lydia,
as they left the town behind.
Mrs. Meeker slapped with the reins
and threatened with the limp. crack
less whip. Where the berries are thick
est-up Cat hollow and over the hill a
ways. They say you can Just rake en-
off the bushes in that old slashing Of OF
Darius Hubbard's place" She paused
at Lydia's sudden start and flush
Darius Hubbard" she repeated
TT used to 60 with him some."
why in the world didn't you have
himr' Mrs. Meeker stared in amaze
ment. Say, do you know I never had
but one man spark me in my life, and
me 1 had my yes ready and waiting
My folks was awful put out with me-
They said I was fool to take my first
chance; some one better would happen
along But ! wasn't going to wait for
some one better. Ira was good enough
to suit me-and he always has been.
1 hope you didn't turn Darius Hubbard
down. thinking you could do better if
you waited?"
NO" said Lydia, in a low voice She
was looking straight ahead with wide.
drsary eyes. Til tell you. Mrs Meeker.
I don't know that ever have told any
good while ago. and. anyway. I'll soon
be gone. Darius did not want me. He
never asked me outright. only limited.
but l knew. I don't know whether !
could have said no If he had asked me.
for l thought quite lot of him. But
as it was l gave him to understand
that ! couldn't. He was mad"
Il don't blame him. Why couldn't
you?"
mothers account She was bedridden
and needed a lot of care. 1t didn't
seem right Darius shauld have her to
do for. and l didn't see how l could
leave her. OF course. I knew my
although they have offered me a home
now Lillian never had any patience
with sick folks. l didn't see any other
way 1 could do. Mrs. Meeker. SO / gave
he said il 1 loved and trusted him as I
should I'd be willing to bring my
mother to him. knowing he'd do the fair
thing by her. Mother thought not"
Probably she was right. Lyddy. It's
been my experience that old folks and
about mother-in-law. !
don't care who or what she is, that just
goes against a mans grain.
But it was too bad for you. Lyddy. You
lost a good husband. There amt
better man living than Darius Hubbard.
There, there. don't cry. you poor thing
I'm ashamed to be so curious, but I've
always hankered to know" She sighed
sympathetically.
At the edge of the slashing Mrs.
Meeker unhitched Skinny, put his fly
net on and hitched him to a tree. Then
she and Lydia pumped into the black
berry bushes. At first they talked. then
as they got farther apart they gave up
picking. 1t was good while since
Lydia had gone blackberrying. She
would have been nearly happy there on
that sunny hillside II 1t had not been
for her recent sorrow and the memories
which she had recalled for Mrs. Meek
chanically and often could not see for
the tears that came to her eyes.
particularly rich bush tempted and
she stepped upon log to reach it. The
she lost her balance and fell. AS she
felt herself going she screamed. She
landed with a frightful jar that seemed
to rend her frame. The breath left
her. but returned presently in difficult
gasps. She looked about her. She had
fallen about four feet and had just
missed striking a rock. She tried to
raise herself. but deathly faintness
attacked her. She closed her eyes and
lay still. wondering why Mrs Meeker
Presently she heard a crashing of the
bushes and person burst through
them-not Mrs. Meeker. but a man. She
looked at him and kept on looking as
he rushed to her. knelt down and raised
her upon his arm,
MY God. Lydia. how does this conner
he demanded.
"Blackberries," she whispered and
smiled.
There was another crashing Of bushes
and out jolted Mrs. Meeker. scratched
and wild. Whats the matterf" she
puffed. MY land. Darius, is that you?