The St. Charles herald., 1922-12-30

Tuppit's parlor, and the last time sne
had seen him his broad back was dis
appearing down the steps Of the
brownstone house as she looked visit
fully from between the Nottingham
curtains.
He glanced down at her in sur
prise; little wisps Of her hair blew
about her cheeks and her bare white
arms clasped her knees.
"Why, Susan Lawrence, how you've
changed!" he exclaimed, trying to
reconcile this picture with the prim
girl in stiff blouse and sitter manner
he had seen last.
"And how you've changed, Petite
Harris!' she gibed. "With milk
pail on one arm and"
"And you want to be or with the
raggle-taggle gypsies, do your" he
chuckled.
Susy stood up suddenly, poised on
bare feet, and clutching her shoes In
one hand she made little break down
the road. 1t was starlight; there was
something provocative in the way she
laughed back over her shoulder, and
Peter Harris forgot everything but
that she was feet white thing who
was teasing him. He set his milk pail
down, and in few strides he had
caught her, and looking down into her
mocking face he said sternly: Il
came into the city to see you, and
when you sat across the room from
me I couldn't talk to you, and the
way you had-so stiff and cityfieo-
put me off, neyer dared 60 again,
Susyi"
Then very suddenly he leaned down
and kissed her.
She broke away from his arms, and
this time she did not take few feet
steps, but she ran breathless, with
humping heart. through the meadow
grass that cut her feet, stumbled into
q rabbit hole, was up again with q
sobbing breath and down the bach
road to Aunt Names white cottage
The screen door snapped behind her
and she reached the white fastness OF
her room. still unseen.
She, Susy Lawreace. had beer
kissed under the stars by man she
hadn't seen for a year! She knew
all Of sudden why she had come
back to the village. 1t was not the
green hedgerows nor the daisy fields
It was not the white stars nor the
meadow-sweet, but just Petite Harris
with his brown skin and his clear
eyes and his great voice and strong
arms. And he had kissed her under
the stars! She did not sleep vel
that night, and when at dawn she
tossed at last into oblivion, a tiny
teasing thought came to the door OF
her mind. Why had he said. $50
Polly. you thought you could hide
from meT
Susy waited for him all next morn
ing, but he did not come. In the late
afternoon she packed her bag and de
cided to go back to the city at once.
She was saying good-by to Aunt
Name as tall figure pushed open the
gate.
sGoing, Susy? TIL carry your bag, .
was all Peter Harris said.
They walked silently down the vii.
lage street. Once Susy glanced up al
his face, but the set look about the
mouth frightened her. At the tri.
angular common he put down hel
bag.
you're changed again, Susy," he
said, "and / can't get a word"
II suppose you want to tell me
about PollyY' she asked in a re
pressed voice.
''Polly?" he questioned. "Ym NEAR
the little kid on the next farm. No
it's about you"
Susy famed crimson. Then she
gravely took Off her hat, pulled of
her hair net and smiled up at him
ssCan you say it nowT she asked.
"Susy, Susy, you raggle-tagglt
gypsy" he whispered huskily, ''you
know what I want to say!"
sPerhaps," said Susy slowly, q
won't take the afternoon train to the
cityl"
SOURCES OF WATER SUPPL !