Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1918-02-06

Since the nOleS did not occur Simu1ta ne.
ously IN the two garments, by wearing
both she was amply covered. For a
waist she wore q red crepe dressing
sacque, and about her hair she tied q
broad, ragged ribbon of red to protect
the soft waves from the ruthless twigs.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
Nothing daunted by the sight of her
own unsightliness, she took a bucket
and went into the back yard.
Gingerly she climbed into the tree,
gfngerly because Connie was not fond
! of scratches on her anatomy, and then
began her task. It was a glorious
morning. The birds, frightened away
by the living scare-crow in the tree,
| perched in other, cherryless trees
around her and burst into derisive
song. And Connie, light-hearted, free
from care, in love with the whole wide
world, sang, too, pausing only now
and then to thrust a ripe cherry be-
tween her teeth.
She did not hear the prolonged ring
ing of the front door bell. She did not
observe the young man in the most i'm
macu!ate of white spring suits who
came inquiringly around the house. But
when the chattering of saucy robin
became annoying, she flung cherry at
him GROSSLY.
"Oh, chase yourself!" she cried. And
nearly fell from her perch in dismay
when a low voice from beneath said
pleasantly:
II beg your pardon! Miss Starr?'
Connie swallowed hard, to get the
last cherry and the modification out of
Aer throat.
eyes," she said, noting the immacu-
late white spring suit, and the hand
some Shoes, and the costly panama
held so lightly in his hand. She knew
ne panama was costly because they
lad wanted to buy one for her fathers
birthday, but decided not to.
II am Andrew Hedges" he explained,
smiling sociably.
Connie wilted completely at that.
"Good night" she muttered with a van
shing mental picture Of their lovely
preparations the day previous. e.
mean good morning. I'm so glad to
meet you. You-yOu're later, aren't
,'Ou? mean, aren't you ahead of your
self? At least, you didn't write, did
7ou?"
mo, was not detained so long as I
,ad anticipated, so I came right on.
But I'm afraid I'm inconveniencing
5ou.''
"Oh, not bit, I'm quite comfort
| 'ble," she assured him. "Auntie is
zone just now, and the twins are away,
100, but they'll all be back presently"
She looked longingly at the house.
IN 4,ave to come down, suppose"
LET me help you," he offered eager.
y. Connie in the homogeneous clothes,
with the little curls straying beneath
|. the ragged ribbon, and with stains of
cherry on her lips, looked more pre-
sentable than Connie knew.
"Oh, +" she hesitated, flushing.
mr.. Hedges" she cried imploringly,
twill you just 60 around the corner un-
til get down. 1 look fearful"
"Not a bit of it, he said. LET me
take the cherries"
Connie helplessly passed them down
to him, and saw him carefully deposit
ing them on the ground. "Just give me
your hand"
And what could Connie do? She
couldn't sternly order millionaire's
son to mosy around the house and
mind his own business until she got
some decent clothes on, though that
| was what she yearned to do. Instead
she held out slender hand, grimy and
red. with few ugly scratches here
and there, and allowed herself to be
| helped ANONYMOUSLY out from the shell
tering branches into the garish light of
day.
She looked at him reproac hfully. He
never so much as smiled.
Laugh If, you like" she said bitter
about it."
run along" he said, "but don't be
gone long. will you? Can you trust me
with the cherries?''
Connie walked into the house with
great decorum, afraid the ragged skirts
might swing revealingly, but the young
man bent over the cherries while she
| made her escape.
1t was another Connie who appeared
| little later. typical tennis girl, all in
| white from the velvet band in her hair
| to the canvas shoes on her dainty feet.
| She held out the slender hand, no long
er grimy and stained, but it's whiteness
still married with sorry scratches.
II am glad to see you" she said
| gracefully, though can only pray you
| won't carry a mental picture Of me
very long"
|'I'm afraid I will, though he said
| teasingly.
"Then please don't paint me verbally
for my sisters ears; they are always
so clever where I am concerned. It is
too bad they are out. You'll stay for
luncheon with me, won't you? I'm all
| alone-we'll have it in the yard"
1T sounds tempting but-perhaps
I had better come again later in the
afternoon
ttVO11 nav ID fhot f00 said Connio