The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1919-08-14
THE P0ACHER
BY MILDRED WHITE

picture. She had not fancied, as sh,
often admiringly gazed at the bcauti
ful water color of quaint old house
that the house could possibly be real
More was Il like an ideallzntion OF an
artist.
b. The picture had drawn her from its
, hrst hunging on the walls OF the art
store. Since then, It occupied the Gest
wall space In Dein's own room.
She had ridden far, lost In her dis.
appointed thought fur beyond the
well-kcpt state road into the rough
one Of the outskirts. Its uucycnncss
had passed 10y unnotIccd, as she won.
dcred for the hundrcdth time, why
her latest story had failed to please.
Della had counted much upon that
story. Heretofore she had been for.
tunatc in selling, what did this story
lockI II she might go over It again,
wholly concentrating her thoughts
Della smiled cynlcully; where In the
hubub of her society home might she
Hnd concentrations Now she knew
what had caused her failure, the con.
slnnt call to other things. And as II
In answer To her conclusion before her
suggcstlycly loomcd the Isolated
house.
She was out of the car In bound,
n shrcwd old Scotswomnn coming to
open the deep set door, waited to learn
Dcllu's errand.
ut n 80 rcstful here" she explain.
ed brculhlessly. II wonder II you might
bc persuaded TO take me for few
weeks us n bourdcrT"
The neat Scotswomnn considered
"Wcll now," she suld, "Tll ask
Sandy"
Sandy, her kindly old husband, wus
| quickly agreeable.
what HARM he asked, "when we
are nloncf'
So arrangements were mudc for
Della Ia come upon the following day.
Installed IN her hammock back along
the hollyhUcks, the Scotswoman left
the girl with one injunction:
"lf you see any trcspussers," she
cautioned, "whlstlo for Sandy. There's
been many lutcly, coming 70 filch our
fruit or 10 fish In our stream. The
stream mustn't be disturbed"
"lll WHISTLE" Della promised, aud
she left her hammock 10 examine the
stream
The water color had given no prom.
isc of this stream. II went ripping
mcrrlly on beyond the furthcst trees.
II looked inyltlngly cool on this hot
summer day, Della was possessed of
an unruly desire herself To dunglc
line aud 10 filch the fine fruit. She
sat SIN instead, watching a prize
catch which camo nearer aud nearer.
And Just as IL came very near, u mans
voice whispered roughly:
Don't stnrtle him, I'm going to
throw n line"
The man himself Immediately came
into view; hls khnkl trousers were
covered with mud, an old felt hat
shaded his bold, dark eyes.
Don't you durew w cried Della; she
clnppcd her hands to frlghten the fish.
The man turned on her lmpatlently,
then seeing her flushed checks aud ln,
dlgnuntly glowing eyes. he smiled.
"Well-" he began. "what do you
mean by that"
II mean" Della answered steadily,
"that you are trespasslng aud that you
must have read the forblddlng signs
outside the wall"
Il did," the man admitted
"And yet you deliberately came TO
fish" She decided 10 whistle for
Sandy.
'Dld you intend" she added sar.
castlcally, "to also help yourself to
the frult3"
"ro few Of those choice plums
perhaps" the man replied. lie calmly
suited the action 10 the word.
"Whaf right have you TO objectf"
the poacher questioned, he was smil-
Ing.
81 live here" Della answered brief
ly.
II was the mans turn TO stare. lie |
did so unreseryedly, while the per |
pleXity Of his gaze gave way TO frank
admiration.
"Liye here3" he repeated.
Sandy's burly figure came crashing |
through the brambles.
Girl! e. he muttered. "what scare
ye gave me; thought ye needed help,
But II masters here"
"Hello Sandy" pleasantly greeted
the man, "who may ask, Is this young
lady who Informs me that my house
Is her place of residencef'
Sandy flushed "She's just bit of
boarder," he said, "the wife and
thought It no harm 10 take her in for
u while sir you not being expected
home so soon an ALL"
"Al right" the man answered with
a brusque gesture Of dismissal.
Della came close TO him, raising To
his, her lovely. embarrassed face.
you called II your hOuse3" she
questioned.
The man bowed, his smile was
reassuring.
"Fm an artist" he explained The
old place took my fancy and | bought