The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-12-05
BIT OF GREEN
BY ELSIE COLBY.

copyright, 1918. Western Newspaper tnioa.j

say, girls, i near ROD Gordon Il
home. and they say he has enlisted and
expects to be called away any time
said Betty.
Mrs. Dale, with her three girls, Ann,
Betty and Kate, were seated at the
supper table. Her husband died many
years before. leaving a comfortable
farm, by which the Dales managed to
earn their living.
Robert Gordon, whose father owned
the next farm, half aspile away, had
been a great chum with the girls IN
their early school days, but when school
had ended he had gone West to live
with an uncle. 1t was rumored that q
lovers quarrel FASTENED his departure.
II should think he would have been
over to see us by this time" remarked
Mrs. Dale. "He always did enjoy
roaming around our farm" with a
glance at Ann.
Hell be over, don't worry" Ann
said aloud, and to herself, 'but Ill
manage not to be at home"
"You bet he WILL" declared Kate.
"'Cause I'm going over to see him to-
morrow"
After the dinner dishes were washed
and everything cleared away, the Dales
always settled down in their comforta-
BILE sitting room. The conversation
drifted to Robert Gordon and to vari-
Gus other topics of the day.
Finally Ann spoke up: SIN going
blueberrying tomorrow morning. Any
body want to go with met"
81 wish 1 could" answered Betty,
"but I've got some ironing to do"
"And I've got to finish making that
blue dress of NINE" answered Kate.
We'll, 1 guess you will have to go
alone, Ann" said Mrs. Dale. "You
know l never GO"
The next morning Ann was up bright
and early, but not before her mother,
for Mrs. Dale was always up early.
With two good-sized pals Ann
started off.
"Look out for snakes" was her
mothers last warning.
It seemed to stay right in AIMS
mind, for she was always thinking
about them.
1t began TO get late. Ann was pick
ing a few berries to have the pals
brimful, when she spied something
moving. 1t was green.
"A snake !" screamed Ann.
She turned and ran just as fast as
she could go, looking back every now
and then to see If the reptile was
pursuing her, when suddenly-bump !
What was that? Turning her head
Ann saw a ine-looking young mar
looking down at her.
"Why-er-er, 1 beg your pardon,
Rob. Er-I mean Mr.. Gordon" she
painted.
"Oh, that's all right, Ann. Er-Miss
Dale. But why the sudden rush?
ooh, I don't know; I'm so fright
enedl / was picking blueberries back
there, when I saw a big green snake
coming right at me, and Iran, that's
all. Please don't call me Miss Dale,
Rob. Ann, If you please. Oh, / was
so frightened r'
Ann swayed, but Rob caught her and
by tanning her with his hat he soon
brought her back to her senses again.
In her rush Ann had spilled most of
her berries and Rob helped her to I'LL
the pals again, and then accompanied
her home.
AS he left her at the gate he whls-
pered: "We're all made up, aren't we,
Ann?"
81 'spose So" laughed Ann, and she
tripped into the house.
"What makes you look so happy?"
questioned Betty as Ann entered.
"Oh, something" she answered.
swell, keep it," Betty pouted. "Kate
went over to see Rob, but they said
he had gone blueberrying. You didn't
see him, did your"
didn't ], thought sang Ann as she
sailed into the next room.
A week later as Rob and Ann were
strolling along the country road, arm
In arm, and after the one word of all
words, "yes," had been said, Rob ques-
toned Ann.
swell, dear, what do you want for
your engagement giftf"
"An emerald ring" piped Ann.
"An emerald Don't you want a
diamondf"
mo, an emerald. You see, 1t was a
green snake"
"Ohl" laughed Rob. $50 that's it?
Well, you shall have IT,"
"Well, you see, If 1t hadn't been for
that little green snake (Ann had fully
decided 1t was little) why our friend
ship would have been broken forever,
and now everything is mended. The
little green snake was responsible,
Rob-"
Rob agreed, and true to his promise
One night some days later the Dale
family was again seated at the supper
table.
whats that you've got on your
finger there?" asked Betty. At the
same time pointing to the ring on the