The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-16

 dusty brown boots seemed like a child's- Between moments of avoid ing roots and branches, Peter watch ed her strong young figure as it fol- lowed their leader. Yesterday, he had thought her small; today she seemed to have increased in stature-I so uncertain is the masculine judg- ment upon any aspect of a woman. But his notions in regard to her grace l and loveliness were only confirmed. There was no concealing them under her absurd gaarments. Her Hanks were long and 1.-the. like a boys but there was something feminine in the way she moved, a combination of ease and strength made manifest, which could only come of well-made limbs carefully jointed. Every little while she flashed a glance over her shoul- der at him, exchanging a word, even politely holding back a branch unti The caught it, or else when he was least expecting it, letting 1t fly into his face. From time to time Shad Wells would turn to look at them and Peter could see that he wasn't as happy as he might have been. But Beth was very much enjoying herself.
 They had emerged at last into the road and walked to ward Black Rock. Beth in the center and Peter and Shad on either side.
 i've been thinkin' about what you said yesterday" said Beth to Peter. "About-?"
 Singing like an angel in heaven" she said promptly aware of Shad's bridling glance.
 "Oh we'll" repeated Peter you do-you know"
 a musician"
 'Musician!" growled Shad. He ain't musician
 "Oh, yes, he is, and he says I've voice like an angel You never said that, Shad Wells.''
 ''No. Nor I won't" he snapped surlily.
 Peter would have been more anus ed if he radn't thought that Shad Wells was unhappy. He needed the mans allegiance and he had no wish to make an enemy of him.
 Musician" Shad growIed ''Then | it was you the men heard last night" ''I found a piano in the cabin. I was trying it, said Peter. Shad said nothing in reply, but he put every shade of scorn into the way in which he spat into the road. "A piano." Beth gasped | Where? What cabin?''
 ''The p1ayhouse-where I live" said Peter politely.
 "Ohi"
 There was a silence on the part of both of his companions, awkwardly long.
 So Peter made an effort to relieve the tension. commenting on the new arrivals at Black Rock House At the mention of Peggy's name Beth showed fresh excitement. Miss McGuire! Here? When" This morning. Do you know herr"
 'No. But I've seen her. I think she's just lovely
 ''Why?"
 She wears such beautiful clothes and-and hats and veils" Peter laughed. And that's your definition of IoveIiness" Why, yes," she said in wonder Last year all the girls were copytn' her, putin little puffs of hair over their ears-I tried it, but 1t looked funny. Is she going to be here long. Has she got beau with her? She always had. It's a wonder she doesn't run over somebody, the way she drives"
 She nearly got me this mornin'," growled Shad.
 T wish she would-if you're going to look like meatax, Shad Wells"
 
 now, and when Beth's home was reached, all three of them went diff terent ways. What a rouge she wasi And poor Shad, who was to have talk en Peter at a gobble, seemed a very poor sort of a creature in Beth's hands,
 She amused Peter greatly, but she annoyed him a little too, ruffled LID the shreds of his princely dignity. not yet entirely inured to the trials of social regeneration And Shad's blind aooratlon was merely a vehicle for her amusement. It would have been very much better if she hadn't used Feters compliment as bait for Shad. Peter had come to the pofnt or liking the rough foreman, even if ne was a new kind of human animal rom anything in Peters experience. And so was Beth. A new kind of animal-something between a harrier ! aand skylark, but wholesome and 1 human, too. denim dryad, the spirit Of health, joy and beauty. a creature good to look at. in spite of her envy of the fashionable Miss Peggy Mo Guire, with her modish hats serisa veils and ear puffs. her red roadsters and her beaux. Poverty sat we'll up- on Beth, and the frank blue eyes and resolute chin gave notice that what ever was to happen to her future she was honorable and unafraid But If there was something very winning about her. there was some thing pathetic too. Her beauty was so unconscious of her ridiculous clothing, and yet Peter had come to think of 1t as part of her, wonder ing indeed what she would look 1il-a Tn feminine apparel, in which he could not imagine her. for the other girls or Black Rock had not so far blessed his vision Aunt TiIlie Rer- gen had told him, over his late break fast. of the difficulties that she anc l Beth had had to keep their little place going and how Beth. after being laif off for the summer at the factory l had insisted upon working in tn | Gaskills vineyard to help out wit | the household. There ought to b something for Beth Cameron, bette