The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-08-09

4yeT4 near bn6k virginia r1ne. IHey
had called herr the Witch there. and
now Turkey-Foot folk hadSa aiken il up
Jim pondered it, stretched at full
length. At last
EFF witch jes' thsowsf spells,~ he
murmered, on don't halter be OIL u
ugly, then eisho's one Nv 'em!"
With this compromising reflection,
he fell asleep.
Next morning found him breasting
the slope of steep ridge which lay
between his cabin and the home Of
Juney's folks. At the beginning of an
inyigorating autumn day, with the
ccmpanionable daylight spread about
him, Jim was inclined to think lightly
OF the incident which had kept him
prisoner the night before.
He was still unable to locate a pos
sible origin for the shot, and had come
to believe that it might have been ac-
cideNtal This lenient mental atti-
E-tude was no doubt engendered by the
thought that he would soon be in the
presence of the girl he loved He saw
her quicker than he anticipated, and
he stopped and stiffened like q setter
dog at the smell Of quail. He had top
ped the ridge and was more than half
way down its further side. walking
catfooted along an all but invisible
trail which some wild animal had
made AT the bottom of the deciiyity
Little Minnow Greek rushed along on
its journey to Elkhorn River; beyond
the creek at this point the land rolled
gently for half mile before rising alb
rrptly to form another mountain spur.
The cabin he was seeking was lo-
Gated in this comparatively level spot;
already he had noticed pale blue wood
smoke rising over the trees. A little
later, happening to send his keen eyes
flying down the slope, he saw Juney.
She was on the other side of the
creek, kneeling on big, flat rock
which abutted on the streams edge.
Fer brown dress and red squirrel hair
blended so with the early fall back
ground that probably he would not
have noticed her if 1t had not been for
the simmer of something white.
He stopped and grew as rigid as
mesmerist's subject; then. lilsea,som
thing controlled by wires, Stiffly
raised one arm and put his hand out
to great oak, steadyine himself.
Juney had come to this quiet spot
back of her home to make her toilet.
With dress unbuttoned and tucked
well back on her shining shoulders,
she knelt and dashed the cool running
water over her neck and face. Swift
ly she piled her round bare arms,
flinging the refreshing element ever
her by the handfuls. seemingly care
less IL her garments were wetted. And
Jim Cant stood watching her.
He felt guilty. He wanted to shut
his eyes, to turn his head, but he
couldn't Hadn't he thought of this
hidden beauty? Hadn't he dreamed
OF it,, Then the forces within him
" hich had been temporarily suspend
ed when he first saw her there were
released IN a moment. and the blood
came thudding in his ears. dimming
his vision. Another instant his eyes
cleared.
The queer red hair loosely knotted
On her head, suddenly came tumbling
down as hts gaze focused again. She
Fat on her heels and then threw up
her face, lifting the encroaching locks
with the back of each wFist and fling
ing them behind her. jim ,quaked fer
fear that she saw him. But another
moment she had picked up towel
i. ing near and begun to use it. Then
Jim slipped behind the oak. while lit
tie shivers 4 over him,
After a minute or two he ventured
to peep. Juney was standing now,
her dress buttoned, and she slowly
ccmbing her long hair. Thereupon her
lover left the tree. and advancing sew
eral yards sent forth hail.
The girl looked up quickly, saw him.
smiled, waved her hand. and went on
with her work.
Presently the man drew up on his
side of the creek.
s'Whut yo' doin'?' he asked, let
ting his rifle but slip to the ground
and leaning upon the barrel,
The question was not more silly
than many we hear every day.
"Churnin'!" she retorted instantly.
flashing her teeth at him in mis-
chievous smile.
"Awi Go on" returned Jim.
He picked up small piece of brok-
en- limb and flung 1t at her playfully.
She replied with sweet toned STAG
cato laugh Then as the man stared
with sober eyes at her operations. she
deliberately shook her abundant tress=
es to one side, thrust her hand be-
meath, and held them out for his adj
niration, The sight would have stir
red an anemic. 1t brought gutteral
sound from healthy Jim. and an in
voluntary forward movement.
"Ain't it purty?" she tainted across
the stream.
jim twisted one shoulder and his
-anoxxr - rlf pr.fr.