The Dolores star., 1923-11-02
THE BERRY PATCH
BY FANNY RICHARDSON
-'..s.ssssssss
NS. w.. oy McCIurs NeM.psp.r axnnnc.r.
I THE age Of eighteen one .noul,

oiSsiuhy huppy, even in u
stuiiy train-especially when one is the
| proud possessor Ot two boxes of choco-
i"tes, roses and four magazines. But
isaDelis usually smiling mouth was
pucAered into an unhappy little twist.
Inc ticket she had put in her glove
read 'Lesterville," where, Isolated from
suItofs, theaters, dances and good
times, She was expected to spend AL
e'ehtiess vacation away from the city
Win her aunt, who was to strictly see
10 IL that she did nothing else but eat
good food, fresh from the farm. and
rest.
Perfectly ridiculous, wasn't it. that
such an attractive girl as Isabel, with
absolutely nothing the matter with
her' should be made to spend her vaca-
ton in such ii placer Her aunt had
sara there We're no young people in the
neighborhood. Isabel laughed as she
recollectad. Who even heard of
neighborhood without young people?
However, her aunt was true to her
word. After Isabel had stayed four
days in Lestervile she had not seen
anyone her own age except the tawny-
haired, frecklefaced farmland. Isa-
bell, craving companionship, thought
the boy better than nothing" and
they spent many half-hour together
When Isabel had been week in
Lesterville she heard there was going
to be a costume party in the village
Her freckle-faced friend told her of it.
She began making plans for it, having
made up her mind she was going.
Arriving conspicuously late at the
party. there was nothing for them to
do but watch the games which were in
progress on lantern-bedecked lawns
a young man dressed as Captain Kidd,
evidently their host, offered Isabel his
place In a game Of croquet. But
don't know how" she had objected.
Tom, at their hosts suggestion. eager
ly took his mallet and joined in the
game.
I'm sorry you don't play" said the
host, but there are six or seven other
games you could join. They're dane
ing the Virginia Reel in the barn.
Come, let's do that"
Smiling. Isabel took his arm. "It's
quite while since I've done 1t, but
I'll try"
And few moments later Isabel was
doing It." She little knew what
gay picture she made In her Egyptian
costume, dancing in and out, clapping
and bowling to her unknown escort,
whose tiercely grotesque costume
seemed to enhance the beauty of his
little partners outfit.
Lets play IT," said Captain Kidd.
, after the dancing was over.
Then followed q period of explana-
tions. In spite of the fact that Isabel
knew very few Of the games, she found
her host more than eager to explain.
He took her to this group and that
group. introduced her, but never once
let any of the other men be her part
ner.
was Tom. "Hurry, we got to go now,
or we'll get caught. The things most
over!"
Dismayed, Isabel looked at her san
dalless foot. 81 can't, Tom, until he
finds my sandal"
1--WE can't wait" he said. "Come
with me now-easy, this way-so they
won't notice"
1t was ten o'clock, the day after the
party. Isabel was getting ready to go
blueberrying. In a sunbonnet, hardly
to be recognized as the dazzling Egyp-
tian princess Of the night before, yet
certainly as desirable, she was soon
walking in thicket of berry bushes.
From time to time she wondered how
she had been able, as she recalled last
nights experiences, to get home ahead
of her aunt, hustle under the bed
clothes still in her costume, and wear
the innocent expression she had worn
when her aunt had opened her door
to see If all was we'll
For an hour Isabel picked, humming
snatches of a gay little tune. Then
there had been slight rustling in the
bushes, a scream from Isabel, and the
berries had been scattered in hun
dred directions. Then she had run and
her. Instinctively he held out his
arms and she ran right into them.
Absurd, isn't 1t, to try and work
against fate? How hard Isabells aunt
had worked to keep her niece away
from parties and excitement. And she
had only to send her niece out to a
blueberry patch where there wasn't
supposed to be a soul around for miles,
and young man dropped right out OF
the clouds at her feet.
It was Captain Kidd who carried 1sa-
bell back to the road. He took long
time about 1t, going around longer
way than necessary. you say you
only saw his horns7' he asked.
"Yes. But don't think I'll ever be
able to go berrying again."
He looked down at the pale face
"He wouldn't hurt you. He probably
rap faster than YOU did.