Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-10-29


ing the white flannel nightgown over
which she had hastily drawn petit
coat before sallying forth.
He went to the kitchen door and
found Zachariah sitting grumpily on
the step.
"She's still sound asleep" he an
nounced.
"So's dat lazy Hattie over yander,"
lamented Zachariah, with jerk of his
head. "Ain no smoke comm out'n
her chimbley, lemme tell yo"
Fill that washpan and get me
clean towel" ordered his master. He
looked at his watch. "Im going to
awaken her-in hQlf an hour"
1t was nearly seven o'clock when
he stamped noisily- into the sitting
room with towel and basin. He had
thrice repeated his visit to the win
dow, and with each succeeding visit
had remained little longer than be-
FORE Notwithstanding the no uncer-
tain sense of guilt that accused him
OF spying upon the lovely sleeper.
She awoke with start, looked
blankly about as If bewildered by her
strange surroundings, and then fixed
her wide, questioning eyes upon him,
watching him in silence as he placed
the basin of spring water on a chair
and draped the coarse towel over the
back
Breakfast will be ready in ten min
utes, MISS" he announced, bowling
deeply. If you desire to freshen your
self bit after your profound slum-
bers, you will find here some of the
finest water in the universe and
towel warranted to produce blush
upon the cheek Of craven image"
Has mother come homer she In
quired anxiously, as she drew the
shawl close about her throat again.
mo sign Of her. Hurry along, and
as soon as we've had bite to eat I'll
ride down to the courthouse and see II
she's there"
He left her, and presently she came
out into the kitchen, her skin glowing
warmly, her braids loosely coiled on
the crown Of her head, her eyes like
violet stars.
Zachariah marveled at his masters
appetite. Recollection Of an already
devoured meal Of no small proportions
caused him to doubt his senses. From
time to time he shook his head in won,
der and finally took to chuckling. The
next time Marse Kenneth complained
about having no appetite he would
know what to say to him.
Il must run home now," said Viola
at the close Of the meal. TITS been aw-
fully nice-and 80 exciting, Kenny.
feel as If I. had been doing sv1netnlng
, ought not to do. Isn't 1t queer? Hav-
ing breakfast with a man l never saw
until six weeks agol"
1T does my heart good to see you
blush so prettily," said he warmly.
Then his face darkened. "And 1t turns
my blood cold to think that If you had
succeeded In doing something you
ought not to have done six weeks ago
you might now be having breakfast
with somebody else instead of with
me-"
Il wish you would not speak Of that,
Kenneth" she said severely. "You will
make me hate you If you bring 1t up
again." Then she added, with plain
tive little smile: ''The Bible says.
Love thy neighbor as thyself' am
doing my best to live up to that, but
sometimes you make 1t awfully hard
for me-"
He went to the door with her. She
paused for moment on the step to
! look searchingly up the road and
through the trees. There was no sign
Of her mother. The anxious, worried
expression deepened in her eyes.
Don't come any farther with me-"
she said. go down to the courthouse
as fast as you can"
He watched her till she passed
through the gate. AS he was on the
point of re-entering the house he saw
her come to an abrupt stop and stare
straight ahead. He shot a swift, ap-
prehensive glance over his shoulder.
Barry Lapelle had just emerged
from Racheps yard, his gaze fixed on
the girl who stood motionless In front
1 VI OWyuHSS gaze, HuuuIcu lcct
away. Without taking his eyes from
her, he slowly closed the gate and
leaned against 1t, folding his arms as
he did so.
Viola, after moments indecislon
and without a glance at Kenneth, lift
ed her chin and went forward to the
encounter. Kenneth looked in all d.
rections for Lapelle's rascals. He was
relieved to find that the discarded suit
or apparently had ventured alone upon
this early morning mission. What did
1t portendf
Filled with sharp misgivings, he left
his doorstep and walked slowly down
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