Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1918-07-12
One
Afternoon

b. RALPH HAMILTON

Ill
tcepyr.sht. 1919. w.s.~. 1,s.,si,kvsss1
Leisure" pronounced II. Deslie
Burr, comfortably loIling In d big
porch chair. 'is the festive nets 6 ma
ture. The bee gathers It's st1ge Aud
loafs. I have been fortunate III ny
accumulattons. Rest Gays natafa
I rest" .---..- 81 i.
"You do, for fact" voiced Cyrus
Dean. -'
"You see ne cool and comfortable,
enjoying life. At peace mentally, for
I don't worry. Work I don't have to.
You see me, rotund, plump"
Eat. you mean," suggested Cyrus.
Have it so-and you scrawny."
'Lithe and active, that's ALL" in
sisted Cyrus. Il love work and it
brings results. What is life without
ambition?"
Il have one," pronounced Burr with
satisfied smile, "a helpmeet. She
must be a brunette, with silky hair,
nut-brown eyes, age-oh, say about
thirty"
(Which means Miss Marcia Lane"
translated Cyrus. :s-
II have that estimable lady in my
eyes, yes" assented Burr. "Does that
interest your
Perhaps" replied Cyrus. "Pi say
this much you have good taste"
'Thanks."
"And envy you-if you succeed in
winning her."
"Ah!"
"But-the best man wins. So leRg."
what does that mean" soliloqaized
Burr.
It meant so much he considered
after due reflection, that he reluctant
~ prepared for an elaborate toilet.
Cyrus started direct for the Attle
. woodland cottage and reached it to
locked. He sat down on the front
steps. A young lad, rolling hoop,
paused on the street sidewalk. 4
'Waiting for Miss Laner 4ues-
toned the urchin. "She's gone to
town."
'Indeed?" -
Eyes; to do some shopping with my
mother"
Cyrus arose to depart, but nAtiaed
pair of small but heavy canvas
gloves lying on bench and resting
against lawn mower. A short strip
of the lawn only had been cut. -
"I'll save her toiling over Tie bal
ance," resolved Cyrus, and for full
hour he did not grudge .qufckened
breath and perspiring brow in the
service of the lady Of his affections.
Then his eye fell upon pile of
screens, newly mended and varnfshed.
A stepladder near by led him to be-
lieve that Miss Lane was ready to set
them in place. ~,
II might as well call it a full days
work." chuckled Cyrus. "Handy and
handsome" he added admiringly, as he
observed how neatly and methOdfcal1y
| the screens had been put in order. In
a brisk, enjoyable way he started In
at the new task of putting the screens
in place.
1t was at just about that time that
Miss Lane started homewaM from
her shopping tour. Similarly Leslie
Burr left his bachelor abode, inlnlac-,
ulate in a well-fitting summer suit.
His mind was duly excited over his
mission, for he was in serious earnest
as he regarded Miss Lane.
The spirit was willing but the flesh
was weak. Half the distance to his
prospective destination accomplished,
| his theory of leisure oyercarle him.
He sat down on a convenient tree
| stump by the roadside and famed him.
self with his straw hat.
He was half inclined to drowsiness,
| but he reused up as he saw coming
| down the road two ladies. One Of
them was Miss Lane.
Burr struggled to his feet and
smoothed out the wrinkles In his
matchless attire. He posed 10 make
a due Impressions He looked his best
and knew it. Alas!
From the side Of the tree stump
there proceeded an ominous buZzing
sound and then an uprising stream Of
bees. They must have identified him
as the obnoxious intruder who had in
vaded their domicile. Burr backed
and Used his hat as a weapon use.
Suddenly he yelled and slapped one
ear. He dropped his hat add en-
ployed both hands and then he yelled
outright and took to his he4fs, As
the pestiferous insects pursued him,
sting armed, his yells grew Is = series.
He tried to brush them off By pene-
trating the dense brush, he sought
to crush them off by rolling upon the
ground. They stung the harder. He
was near a deep ditch. Into n he
dropped. When he rose to his feet
his enemies were gone, but he was
! dripping with slime and clay from
! head to foot. A hasty glance appFized
him Of the near approach Of Miss
Lane. Frantically Burr darted for
cover and the amazed lady saw him
! disappear, filed with q mystifying con-