The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-07-25
SO THIS is
PROTECTIVE
BY MARTHA WILLIAMS
q. 1924. Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

wish had W1ngSt O0ut your
Elizabeth painted to Dick as they
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 a lone bachelor uncle to
spoil them utteTlyi 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 differ
ence to the guardian.
s'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 / feel as light as do
now, it's really painful to stay on the
ground"
ssM-m-ml 'Fraid that head Of yours
ID 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, wonder, for race, single
footin', down hill, to Eton's spring."
"For what?' Elizabeth demanded
CURLY. "Tip-Toe and don't ever do
our best just for glory
sMercenary wretch Dick-Richard
frowned. "What stake do you de-
mand? My money, my life, or-my
freedom?"
.sFreedoml Freedom!" Elizabeth
chanted joyously. THAT means you
shan't marry as I don't choose to have
YOU do. Such softly you are, If
don't play guardian-dragon, you may
turn up some day fetching in widow
bride. Marse Major would accept her
meekly-but / have more regard for
myself
"Why don't you talk true talk"
Richard countered, "and say you want
to bar my darling Lou? You hate her
tell me whyY'
because she is she, and you are
Won. and am me, my own self" from
Elizabeth. "Start Is that next mile
stone: holler, We're off as we pass
ii Hope Louvisy sees us riding the
race-eyen though she don't know
what depends on it."
Louvisy did see It, She had come
t5 gather early peaches from the
hung tree set in narrow rich bench
~ above the spring. The Elton
Xorchard ran up the ledgy hillside, rich
In every manner of fruit. Nobody
dreamed there were ripe peaches in It
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, full dozen, set them In q
smaller leaf-lined basket, leave 1t out
In the dew all night, and when dinner
time came take 1t across to the Beard
table, with dads best compliments
and regards" Then, of course. they
would ask her to stay 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
surprise. 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. Tip-Toe's cream-white
name and tail, streaming almost
straight. marked her anywhere, even
without the black head of Doo-Dad
etched upon her quarter. Coming like
the wind. she could not hope % get
away unseen by their riders. Des-
perately she ambushed herself among
the cedars, shrinking into their depths,
and drawing her faded calico frock
tight about her.
Heart in her mouth she heard them
pass, pull up, check, turn, get down
and dash to the spring. She saw also
Elizabeth on her knees, drinking deep
from her scooped palms.. the while
Richard. prone on the other bank.
plunged his lips into the dancing wa
ter-face, drinking thus his fill. AS the
pair settled easily upon the clean
gravel half-lying, half-sitting,. Eliza
beth said airily:
Don't you ever bet with me again
unless you want to lose real bad. Re
member, henceforth I'm your managing
mother-the only one you've got-and
I surely shan't let you waste yourself
on-a nobody"
@No such intention herew Richard
protested, sitting suddenly erect.
Elizabeth's face changed swiftly-it
was kind. even almost tender.
II see you are only thoughtless," she
Said "Poor Louvisal Sure she un-
.a-..-.<..~ lie.