Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 276, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1911 — ACROSS THE HEDGE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ACROSS THE HEDGE

By CARL JENKINS

Miss June Freeman had been disappointed in going to Europe for the summer. She had been disappointed ta going to the country for the season. She had asked a girl chum to 'visit her for a month, but had been •disappointed in that. On that hot morning Miss June sat 2 on the frt»t veranda of her father's 'bouse in a suburban village and shed tears of disappointment. She blamed her father, her mother —business — everybody! The parrot in his cage at the end of the veranda squawked at her, and she shook her fist at him. A big bumble bee came humming around, and she gave him a slap with a magazine she had brought out The man of all work came dragging fifty feet of garden hose around ftota the back yard to water the flowers In front "John, you needn't do a thing to the old flower-beds! Just let them dry up and blow away. Everything has gone to the dogs anyhow.” John started to drag the hose back, when Miss June got a sudden inspiration and called out: "You can leave it here. Attach it to •the pipe. 1 may feel like using it my--self by and by.” John walked off, and five minutes later the hose was shooting a stream here and there. Along the front fence was a high hedge, and only the hats of male pedestrians could be seen as they passed on the walk. Presently Miss June heard steps approaching and saw a straw hat passing. She elevated the nozzle to play on that hit, and some one jumped and called out: "Bless my stars, but Til knock that gardener's head off!” Miss June was getting even for her various disappointments. The drenched man passed on. and five minutes later he was replaced by another. The second man was more astonished than the first He was thinking of Niagara Falls as he walked and all of a sudden they hit him. When he had somewhat recovered from his astonishment he called out: “By gum, you dunderhead in there, if ,you are not more careful with that hose somebody will break your neck! What are you up to, anyway?" No answer. Miss June was feeling better tn her mind. She let the next two or three men pass, and then caught sight of a silk hat topping the hedge. She could have directed the stream to hit that hat and knock It clear across the street, but she didn't. She directed the shower Into the limbs •of a shade tree overhanging the walk, •nd was rewarded by hearing the ownter of the hat gasp out: , “The devil, but what does this toman!” The stream ceased, but the showerbath had been very fUir. “Say, you boy in there!" called the •drenched one. There was no boy and no reply. “Boy or man, you had better be careful. If I had you out here ydur neck might be In danger!” Miss June shut off the water and took a seat on the veranda and became complacent. At noon when the father came up to lunch he said to John: "Look here, man, if you can't use that hose in the front yard without drenching pedestrians you'd better let It alone.” “Yes, sir,” replied the loyal John, who knew what had happened, but wasn't going to give anybody away. “You drenched the butcher from head to heel.” “Yes. sir.” “And you drenched a Mr. Fblkstone, • young lawyer who is going to set up in his profession here. Mr. Thomas was passing on the outer side of the street and saw it all.” “Yes, str." “I can't say but what the lawyer may sue me for damages. They are a risky lot to play games on.” “Yes. sir.” After lunch Miss June slipped John half a dollar and a grateful look and sat down and mused: , “So there's a new lawyer In town, eh? And he’s a young man and is swelling around under a plug hat to make folks think he's some pumpkins? I drenched him. and I'm glad of It. and I*ll do it again. If I can't swell around Europe no one else shall swell around the United States. He must be a nice 'specimen of a young man to play the cry-baby just because a few drops of water hit his hat! Sue father for damages will he? Well let him try it on! 1 know every girl In thia town, and if Mr. Folkstone goes to acting too frisky his cake will turn out to be sour dough." Next morning John was ordered to bring the bone around again. He looked at Miss June doubtfully. “Oh. you won’t lose your job,” she replied “If there is any complaint I’ll stand for ft” “You might wet down the butcher’s boy, the carpenter and the cooper, but when you come to wet down a party as wears a plug hat It's different. And i maybe you heard your father say ne was a lawyer and might sue for dam ages?” J “John, If that young swell passes here this morning he’ll run into another summer shower!" said the girl tn a determined way. “Then you are agin him. Miss?” “I am. He ought to have taken it as an accident or a joke. If you got a Mule wet would you play the baby acts •

“No, mum, but you see, the suddenness of it must have astonished him.” “And the suddenness of it will astonish- him again! I don't know Mr. Folkstone from a bean-pole, but I’m down on him. He’s evidently come to town to swell around and be a topbud on a tree. When he came along yesterday he was mincing like a school-girl, and I hate a sissy man. Get the hose ready and then find something to do at the barn. That ping hat is tn for another ducking!” Perhaps Mr. Folkstone had two silk hats—perhaps he had got the drenched one Ironed. At any rate, within half an hour after Miss Junk was on watch she saw it bobbing along above the hedge again, and once more a stream of water shot into the branches of a tree to come down like April drops. No threats from Mr. Folkstone this time. He simply opened the gate and walked in, carrying his soaking hat in his hand. He was smiling as he bowed to the astonished girt “You —you— ’’ she began, but could not finish. Mr. Folkstone was no swell. He was no cry-baby—no sissy. He was a fine-figured, athletic young man, and his face and voice showed character. “Excuse me, please.” he said with a half-laugh and anothet* bow, “but do I speak to Miss June Freeman?” “Y—es, sir.” “I have letters of Introduction to you from several of your girl friends tn Boston, and others to your father from business men. They are a bit damp, and you must excuse it. I had the misfortune to be caught in the late shower!” Miss June Freeman was called an odd girl. She had done one odd thing in. drenching a stranger and believing she disliked him, and now she did another by holding put one hand for the letters and another for a shake and saying: “I ought to be awfully ashamed of myself, and I am, but I am going to face the music. I beg a thousand pardons for my silly conduct, and if you will call this afternoon I will make further apologies.” He called and perhaps that was the very best way the acquaintance could have come about.