The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-07-30
so THIS is
PROTECTIVE
CELEBRATION
BY MARTHA WILLIAMS

checked their horses from full run to
hand-gallop. A wild pair, II ever
there was one, said staid neighbors-
but what else could you expect Of or
phans. with q lone bachelor uncle to
spoil them utterly? Elizabeth was
blood kin-her mother had been a
Beard; Dick was merely stepson to
the majors only brother, dead these
many years. But that made no diner
ence to the guardian.
"N-nol You see, Uncle Galahad
would never risk wearing wings-and
wouldn't we feel foolish. Tapping
around and him laughing at us?"
"Surest think you don't know" Eliz-
.abeth laughed back. But, oh, Dick
Richard, times l feel as light as l do
now, it's really painful to stay on the
ground"
"M-m-ml 'Fraid that head Of yours
is too full of-gas," Dick-Richard said
magisterially, then waving his whip
hand forward, where the smooth-beat-
en- clay road began to dip gently: Are
you game, l wonder, for a race, single
footin', down hill, to Eton's spring.
For what?" Elizabeth demanded
CURLY. "Tip-Toe and 1 don't ever do
our best just for glory"
"Mercenary wretchp Dlck-Richard
frowned. what stake do you de-
mand? My money, my life, or-my
freedomY
"Freedoml Freedom" Elizabeth
.chanted joyously. THAT means you
shan't marry as don't choose to have
you do. Such a softly you are, II
don't play guardIan-dragon, you may
turn up some day fetching in a widow
bride. Marse Major would accept her
meekly-but I have more regard for
myself"
"Why don't you talk true talk"
Richard countered, land say you want
to bar my darling Lou? You hate her
tell me whyf'
Because she is she. and you are
you, and am me, my own SELF" from
Elizabeth. "Start Is that next mile
stone; boiler, We're OFF, as we pass
1t. Hope Louvisy sees US riding the
race-even though she don't know
what depends on IT."
Louvisy did see 1t. She had come
to gather early peaches from the
young tree set In a harrow rich bench
just above tho spring. The Elton
orchard ran up the ledgy hillside, rich |
In every manner of fruit. Nobody |
dreamed there were ripe peaches in 1t |
thus early-barely mid-June. The early |
tree was masked by cedar clump |
amid the big rocks from beneath which
welled the spring. She had lined her
basket of clean splints with broad
dark-green mulberry leaves, and as she
laid the peaches upon the leaves she
was visioning them tomorrow. This
was Saturday before basket-meeting.
OF course her people would carry
peaches-she would pick the very
finest a full dozen, set them in a
smaller leaf-lined basket, leave 1t out
In the dew all night and when dinner
time came take it across to the Beard
table, with dads best compliments
and regards" Then, Of course, they
would ask her to stay a while, talking
with everybody, even tasting the IA
nous Beard tarts and plum cake. The
major would insist on that, and Rich
ard, standing in wait to serve her,
would walk back with her to her own
group.
She had cautioned her elders not to
speak of the young trees bearing
dumbly she understood the value Of
AS she reached for the last,
the finest peach, upon the very top
most twig, she heard racing hoof-beats,
and wheeled to see who came. A
glance told her. Tfp-Toes cream-white
name and tan, streaming almost
straight, marked her anywhere, even
the black head of Doo-Dad
etched upon her quarter. Coming like
he wind, she could not hope to get
away unseen by their riders. Des-
,erately she ambushed herself among
he cedars. shrinking into their depths,
md drawing her faded calico frock
light about her. ' s-
Heart In her mouth she heard them {
'ass, pull up, check, turn, get down {
nd dash to the spring. She saw also 1
on her knees, drinking deep {
rom her scooped palms, the while t
richard, prone on the other bank. @
lunged his lips into the dancing wa 6
er-face, drinking thus his fill. AS the u
air settled easily upon the clean
ravel, half-lying, half-sitting. Eliza
eth said airily:
Don't you ever bet with me again r.
Mess you want to lose real bad. Re n
lember, henceforth I'm your managing n
only one you've got-and n
surely shan't let you waste yourself m
IA nobody" r,
mo such intention here!" Richard TT
rotested sitting suddenly erect. D,
Elizabeth's face changed swiftly-lt d,
as kind, even almost tender. al
81 see you are only thoughtless." she
lid. poor Louvisa Sure she I'M
"She must. I've said twenty times 1 m
asnt marrying man-never would di
, till l got on my feet. Marse Major 1