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Show is whispering and your girl Is blushing, those are both good signs. But. New And Old Love. and whatever is the matter, my dear, are Every window la the Assembly you not well?" Rooms at Davyhulme blazed forts "It's a little oppressive the room is so hot,"-- said Mrs. Slade faintly. "But light and welcome. " ' , .Noting the general air of festivity, I wanted to introduce to you She turned round. Jack Shrewsbury one turned instinctively to look forth 9 bad red of disappeared. customary carpet and tht atrip v canvas awning at the entrance gates, and found them both. Then, perhaps, Dora and her former lover were gild If the passer by were, a philosopher or ing aroundjthe room to the dreamllko a woman, be or she might stay to music of a waltz. Round and rouud look on for a few moments. (hey Bwept and circled, in and out ' Cab after cab rolled up to ths among tbe crowd. rooms. The porter whisked the door Dora was enjoying this dance better pea. and mysterious figures, hooded than any other during the evening, for and cloaked most tantalizing, stepped Ridgeway waltzed to ..perfection. As daintily to the ground, ran nimbly over for him, the dreamy rhythm of their the red strip, and disappeared in a movement and the fact that bis arm twinkling. The porter slammed the encircled one he had formerly cared door and the cab rattled forward into tor so much, produced a kind of glorthe darkness to make way for the next ious Intoxication in his heart. Arrival. He surpassed himself in his dancing To Jack Shrewsbury, who presently and. his enthusiasm reacted on his arrived with his fiancee and her moth- partner until suddenly she caught a er, this was the proudest evening of glimpse through the crowd of Jack, sithis life. ting patiently beside her mother. She In the first place he bad only been felt somehow that she was not behavengaged to Dora Slade for three "days, ing altogether fairly to him. Not that and, a? everyone knows, the first de- the could have given any reason for lirium of the love fever lasts for at the sudden compunction it' was an least a week. After that time the intuition, that was alL . "Do you mind if we forego the reet love continues, but the tev.er abates of this dance?" she murmured. omewbat. This was their first appearance In "Certainly. I am sorry you are not I hope?" since As the unwell, public they engagement hurried across the red strip be felt "Nc; a little tired," she answered. convinced that the eyes of the crowd and turned toward the end of the room were fixed upon her In overpowering where she remembered to have Been admiration. Every young man who is Jack and her mother. worth his salt passes through this 'Don't go back yet," he pleaded. stage, and indeed it must be admitted There is such a cozy corner In this that some do so more than once. bay window and I want to ask you jU Jack, having taken off his hat and something." overcoat and stroked his hair three The strength of his enthusiasm over times once over each ear and once ber, as enthusiasm generally over his forehead was waiting for the powered does in these cases. And perhaps she ladies, a friend of bis named Beesley, bad a premonition of what be wished. came toward him, accompanied by a to 6ay and thought it better to have it v "P T a , stranger. "Good evening!" said Beesley. settled at once. '"May I Introduce two particular friends of mine to each other? Mr. Ridgeway Mr. Shrewsbury." They shook bands, muttering the usual commonplaces. Beesley beamed upon them both, as one conspicuous of a good action. "You two chaps ought to be good friends." he added, "for you're both mad on books." After this he hurried away, probably to seek some saner companionship, and the two new acquaintances fell :o comparing cotes on the subject of their madness. Hidgway, who bad formerly lived In Davyhulme, bad been stationed In London at the headquarters of his firm, for two years. He had now returned to take up the at the office where be had started his business life. By a strange coincidence tbe literary tastes of tbe two men were tbe same, and their friendship throve on this common basis. Then Rldgeway's sisters came to claim him, and he made tz appointment to cat! on his new friend the f evening. Shorty afterward Dora Slade and her mother appeared, and Jack hurried to meet them, with a guilty sense of having absolutely forgotten Dora for more than 10 minutes Tbey danced the first dance together, more as a matter cf duty than any thing else, for Jack was an Indifferent dancer. Theo Dora was whisked away for a bewildering succession of lancers, quadrilles and barn dances, while Jack sat Leside ber mother, and realized that for one who despises dancing and yet becomes engaged to the best dan cer In the district, the course of true love will certainly not run smoothly. To add to this discomfort. Just after Cora bad been claimed for a waltz by his new friend, Ridgeway, he became sn unwilling listener to a conversation between the mother of the latter and L as mother. Mrs. Ridgeway. who bad returned to Davyhulme with ber son. greeted Mrs. Slade as id old friend, and took a scat beside ber. "'l)ora is here, I suppose?" "Oh. yes!" After saying this Mrs. Slade g'anced nervously over her shoulder, and tarn turned partly round, Intending to But Jack to Mrs Ridgeway the latter plucked eagerly at her old friend's sleeve. ""Wouldn't it be nice." she said. "It tny won and Dnra would only mak up their lover's Mrs. Slade interposed burledly In a vain endeavor to prevent fur.her c a ip st to' Cdrncps. "Allow me continued "And really. my dear, Mrs. Ridgeway. gazing across the rovta toward a qnirt rornef. "it almt Bp- pears as though n.y wish will be gratl fled. Do you see tlero sitting together in the recess of the window? My boy "Do you remember the time when I left Davyhulme, two years ago?" he said. curious how girls try to avoid a proposal of marriage, even in cases where they have looked forward to It for months. "Yes yes, you obtained a better po sition in your office," said Dora. "No, I aon t mean that 1 mean " "You went to the headquarters, of your firm." "I don't allude to business matters at all. but to a certain engagement wHioh formerly existed between you and me!" "My mother and yours are watching us." murmured Dora, and felt to her dismay that she was blushing shame fully. "I don't care If all the world watches us," he growled, "so long as 1 am with you. But you are cot listening!" "I beg yo'jr pardon," said Dora In sudden distrc . "but I saw a friend going out of tbe room." "A friend?" 'Yes, and I want to tell you "In one moment." he whispered In petuousiy. "But rude or not, 1 cannot wait any longer. You know what mean. I've thought about our quarrel many a time since going to London and would have written to yvu from there, only I thought I didn't like-thought there might bt some one else since we parted "There .a some on else," said Dora aal rose to her feet as the muii ceased. "Will you take me tack lo mother, please?' It Is ROCKY FORD MELONS. f any man who had dared to suggest, even one of the items to him. After all, Dora was not to blame. It How the Famous Colorado Product Is Grown and Shipped. was that tel.ow Ridgeway Ridgeway The first basket of Rocky Ford canwho would arrive at any moment in pursuance ox ue invitation ae aaa taloupes this season was consigned from Rocky Ford to Chicago. The given to him last night. A wild idea of springing out upon basket contained fourteen melons and brought ?20 in Chicago. There Is a hia arrival with sword and buckler or possibly poker and tongs he baa friendly rivalry among the growers as lshed regretfully, as being somewhat to who will produce the first basket Tbea he scribied a hur- and the first crate. Messrs. Aylor & this year, ried note apologizing tor bis absence Long were the were and handed $14 for their fourteen but be tore it up as auon as he hi. melons men .who the commission by written it. their shipped early product Two wo ft was already 7 o'clock, and Ridg men growers, Mrs. G. W. Cundlff and way might arrive at any moment lit Mrs. M. E. Owens, took second and decided to go out for a three hours third place, following with a basket walk without leaving any explauatiox which were shipped to Denver. apiece, for the expected viBitor. It was the 18th of August before the It was not that he feared to meet first express carload of "cants" left for him, rather the reverse, but he had New York or Chicago. Last year the feeling that the first explanation was first express car shipment was made due from Dora, and he preferred it to August 22, this car being consigned to come from her. So he thought, as ha Chicago, bringing 52,500, followed th pulled the street door to the latch and next day by a second car to New York hurried along the dark, City, which brought $2,100 road. melon will slip from the stein with 4 slight pressure. While nature has provided abundant ly toward the successful growing ol these toothsome melons, still the are very careful in the seleo of the seed, the preparation of the 'tlon followed soil, by the "man with the hoe" during the entire growing season i "hoe them early and hoe 'them late, prize-winne- rs crack-grower-s being a maxim. In the meion line Rocky Ford is also famous for her watermelons, having set aside for the past fifteen years the first Thursday after the urst Monday la Day,' September as "Watermelon when melons are free to all who come. Watermelon day came on September this year. These watermelons are commercially known as the improved; "Kleckley Sweet," the average weight of which is twenty pounds. One hundred carloads of watermelons were shipped from here last year, the grower receiving 6 to 10 cents a melon. t Denver Post badly-lighte- d Dora and ber mother lived scarcely three minutes' walk distant, in the next street In fact, but, anxiously as he longed for ber explanation, he was not going to beg for it As for leaving them whilst they were In a measure under hia charge at the Assembly Rooms last night, his friend Beesley had pledged himself to offer bis services to escort them to the cab whilst apologizing for Jack's absence So his conscience was quite clear on that account Probably he would receive a letter In the morning, or she might call at lodgings that evening, with ber moth er, to play propriety, of course. Thev might arrive while Ridgeway was there! 7"ae mere possibility of this brought him to a sudden standstill, and next moment somebody bumped against him in the darkness. "Confound I beg your pardon." "Why. don't oh, quite right" "Mr. Ridgeway." "Mr. Shrewsbury! I am on my way to your rooms." Jack's anger boiled over In an instant "I'm afraid I can't have the pleasure of entertaining you," he said abruptly, "certainly not until I know what you were saying to Miss S.ade last night." .s . "What!" "You were sitting together In the recess of one of the bay windows." continued Jack, speaking with a kind of explosive calmness, "and you were very confidential together." "Far more confidential than I shall ever be with you," retorted Ridgeway. "By what right do you make such an impertinent request?" "The best of all rights," said Jack "1 am, or was, engaged to the girl w are discussir.g." "If you s;iak only of the past I can make the tame claim. I was engaged to Miss Slade myself two years ago." "Two years ago?" "Good evening." said Mrs. Slade suddenly, affecting wisely not to have noticed any signs of disagreement "We were Just coning to see you. Jack, bu as we've met you so opportunely. wt!l you come with us and be our visitor Inxtead of h st?" Jack bowed awkwardly, and glanced, st Dora, who was with her mother. "Dora has something special to sav to you." continued the good lady, "so you two bad better walk together, and perhaps Mr. Uldgcway will also favor us for an hour or two?" said Ridgeway, who "Very i"T.s-d.a general explanaof saw a prospect Whatever Jack's dally remuneratloa led he way with Mrs. the and may have worked out to, he ceruin.y tion, to follow. the lovers Slade. leaving did not earn it on lbs day after lbs remembered the long InThen Jack dance. drawn had he up again' dictment His bead ached badly after a sleep It at bt-launch to and Dora, prepared less night, hla heart ached still more; forthwith. be thought of everything but bis work. "If you had cnly told me," he our and was glad when & o clock came at toured reprrarr fully. last, and when he was alone la bis "Next titr.e I'm engaged I will." said lodgings. "At least t don t Dora penitent At one moment he fell a prey to viomean that rvtly. But I do think 11 lent despair, aad then suddenly he the way you went cl would eie ncavy ruler ..u biiug . wa? shame! trust in me In a and all lost your down with Urrilic force oa the head tt an imaginary Ridgeway. would have c'e-.-r "A simple He d.d Out kaaw how lung the latter a.nd 1 think if at ed once, everythlrtr bad been away from Davyhoitne, ao la Head of two yean be took it for vou had rra' tared for me you woald Lots of ar.d asked me. granted that Diras former engage tave waited tnor bad have wouldn't reanything girls tccnt bad been determined quite come to su; into do with you; :pr cently. Froubly she only accepted flow, acl perhaps l li frgl . Jack out of pique. The Idea jnce suggested, he forth- you " n Sony," ce said, as they t with transferred it in his own mini into the tin". Somehow, whcrnv Into a stubborn fact, as aa Jealous lovIfcra wat wrong It was always p ers would Lave done under sitiiar cirha tc beg pardon. But tbu Jack who cumstances. And then upon this sandy ! the customary Lhlag. as ai. quite ground he built up a most imposing it. kr.ow." couple? diclment against Dora, a. though he engaged ' uld certaiaiy have punched the head Game laws Pokei rules. Although but three oasuets and two crates of Rocky Ford cantaloupes bad up to August 5 last actually been shipped, still genuine Rocky Ford been upon the marhave cantaloupes ket since tbe middle of last May, when the lirst muskmelons are shipped from Florida, followed consecutively by "Rocky Fords" from Georgia. Texas. North and South Carolina and Call fornla.vhere the Imitations are grown All of these melons' were no doubt grown from Rocky Ford seed, which commands a price of $1 to $2 a pound for fancy. But not until the simon pure Rocky Ford cantaloupes actually appear does the epicure enjoy that indescribably rich and melting flavor alone characteristic of the melon which has made Rocky Ford famous. Tbe United States department of ag rlculture docs not recognize any such vegetable product as a cantaloupe; they are known as muskmelons to Uncle Sam, and that is really what the Rocky Ford cantaloupe la an improvement upon the original "Burpee's Netted Gem" muskmelon. There Is no questioning the fact that the soil of the Arkansas valley Is peculiarly adapted to the implanting of tbe saccharine matter especially Into the melon, sugar beet and sweet potato, and nowhere else can the cantaloupe or muskmelon be produced to the perfection that It is so-call- her. The cantaloupe acreage for 1904 was first estimated at 12.000 acres, but this estimate has been reduced which Is probably a fair estimate and a 1,500-acrIncrease over last year. "Tn 1303 the output amounted to 800 carloads, each consisting of 350 btind melons each ard crates of forty-fivwhich, with the small local shipments added, would make a total of close to 300,000 crates. This record will no doubt be considerably increased this year, as present prospects Indicate a larger yield. Tbe Federal Cantaloupe Association, composed of eleven individual or local associations, averaged for the last season tbe sum of $1.24 a crate net to the growers, the early shipments netting them $5 to $6 a crate. This Is considered a very good prof t when It Is noted that from 100 to 209 crates art usually produced upon one acre. Sevtracts last yaf eral owners of an lu 1902 and $200 acre, averaged newcomer from way back East pr duced the prize acre of that Reason, receiving $312.25 from tbe product of s one-hal- f, e e ten-acr- e A Way Men Have. "It's a very queer world," said the business woman, "and any dealing one nay have with a masculine creature but complicates It The other day,' for instance, I was going to change my. otllco and take a new one in the building owned by my firm. At 1 o'clock one day I received word to come down and select my new abode. I went. "We have a charming manager, ant 1 felt that I could express myself t him without reserve. "He took me first Into a large front room, very much out of repair. 'It would take several days to get this into repair for you, you see," said ha 'It would be quite a long while before you could be located. It would be exceedingly uncomfortable for you to have to ery wait until we could get It fixed uncomfortable. It wouldnt do at all, in fact Now, here,' throwing opau the door of a small room, nicely painted and papered, 'Is a room that you could have at once. I am sure you would like it It Is the very thing for you. We will move you In tomorrow. Now, which will you have?' " 'I will have the smaller one, thank you,' said I, meekly. "The next day I was sent for to come and advise whore I would have my desk In the new room. "It was another man this time wko awaited my orders (?) Where do you suggest?' he 'asked, with the air of one reserving the right to disagree with me. " it would be well to put it right at this window, don't you think?' " 'Not at all. It would be much too cool there in the winter.' " 'Then suppose we say against that wall on the left?' " "The light won't fall properly II ...... uu . .!... i milt. jruu ' 'Weil, where would you suggest?' said t then, suddenly becoming wise. " 'Why, right here, of course, with the light falling over your left shoulder, and far enough away from the window tm that a draught won't fall upon you. "Oh. yes; how cleverly you arranged that and bow quickly! You must hava been thinking It over." " 'I have.' said the man, modestly. "It all reminded me immensely of tbe time when I was five, aad used to be allowed to select what 1 wanted for breakfast, and was then given bread and milk after all by the cruel nurse. It's the way men have of allowing woman s mind of their own and the only way." Baltimore News. up-v- 11 slnale acre. . Couldn't Scare Sam. Already the representatives of twelvs Jim Webster was being tried (or or more Eastern commission firms ire getting their shipping shed) In order bribing s colored witness. Sam John-linto testify falsely. and distributing their cra'es among lb "You tay the defendant offered you growers. One firm has already recelv d material for 135.000 crates, which, (SO to testify Id his behalf?" " g, f "knocked down." required cars to transport These crates were manufactured y mber firm Is Albuquerque. N. M.. from Mm Trer grown in the mountain! tast of Santa Fe. The crates are supplied t V growers it cost by their reapec'Ce a sociatlons. and many boys and yrins men are now employed In finishing them at 1 cent each, an expert beifj able to put together 200 to 29 crates day. n&ch of the associations owns a registered label, one of which Is pist?1 or branded on one end of every crate before the material Is banded to the If 'consumers would take grower. look for these labels, aubstltu pafns to tion would not be so easy. Tbe mHnn patches are gone over carefully two and three times a dv during the shipping season bv expert, pieker.t, who know at a glance when a melon has reached Just the right sta? to pluck, which is at tlic time wh. r. ilw although twenty-sevr- n -- -- mo-nefT- i 1 i "Yes. tah." "Now repeat what he said, using his fxact words' "He said be would give me "lie didn't speak did In the $50 if third person, he?" ' N'o. sab; he tuck good care dat oar were no third persons around; dar was "nly two us two " "I Know that, but be spoke to you in th first person, didn't he?' 1 was the first pusson myself." "Yoi don't understand me. When fieo was talking to you did he say, I will pay you fjo?" " 'No sah; he didn't say nothln' Toit you tayin' trie $50. Your name wasn't menUonoed, ceptln he told me ef ebr 1 cot Into a scrape you was de best lawyer in San Antonio to tool de lfdice art de Jury la fact you was de best In town to cover up rascality." TrVr a brief breathlr?? rrmmpnt the ial waa suspended. Chicago Post |