The girl reached through the fence for the golden flower. She
dared not trust herself to look. She knew what was in her lover's
eyes.
"I get ta flower," said Carl, vaulting the fence with one hand.
"No; please don't trouble. Oh, Carl!" she exclaimed suddenly.
"The horrid brier! My hand's all scratched! "
"Ah, Mees Jan, I so sorry! Let Carl see it," he said, his voice
melting. "I tak' ta brier out," pushing back the tangled vines of
last year to bring himself nearer.
The clouds sailed on. The sparrow stood, on its tallest toes and
twisted its little neck.
"Oh, please do, Carl, it hurts so!" she said, laying her little
round hand in the big, strong, horny palm that had held the
life-line the night of the wreck.
The song-sparrow clung to the swaying top of a mullein-stalk near
by, and poured out a strong, swelling, joyous song that well-nigh
split its throat.
When Tom called Jennie, half an hour later, she and Carl were
still talking across the fence.
X
CULLY WINS BY A NECK
About this time the labor element in the village and vicinity was
startled by an advertisement in the Rockville "Daily News," signed
by the clerk of the Board of Village Trustees, notifying
contractors that thirty days thereafter, closing at nine P.M.
precisely, separate sealed proposals would be received at the
meeting-room of the board, over the post-office, for the hauling
of twenty thousand cubic yards of fine crushed stone for use on
the public highways; bidders would be obliged to give suitable
bonds, etc.
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