The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-07-17

lengths like fringe, with which she fes
TONED her graceful shoulder and her
dainty blue skirts.
Her slim, dimpled hands were full of
the wild buttercups as she arose at last,
laughing softly at herself for this de-
cidedly childish and nonsensical pastime.
"What must | resemble, | wonder 2
she murmured, ''but what magnificent
model this would be for fancy ball cos
tune. Blue and gold from head to foot
azure silk, topaz iewelry and yellow
buttercups. Like Eve. must make
the brook my mirror, if l would see
myself"
she was standing BY low stone
wall, the stream before her and the pas
ture behind.
AS she stood there idle, happy, she
heard sound as if troop of cavalry
were dashing over the fields.
Startled and scared, she turned round
to see what need not have alarmed her
had she only known. Several young
horses, which had been grazing in a
distant part of the meadows near the
track of the railroad, had been fright
ened by the noise of passing train, and
they were coming in mad rush directly
toward her.
The girl uttered shrill cry of terror,
and sprang toward the narrow opening
in the stone wall. As she did so some
one threw an arm about her like Il band
of steel apd drew her back with such
swiftness that the sky and the meadow,
the trees and the earth, seemed to rock
and reel around her.
"Would you be trampled to death by
those terrified brutes? said voice so
masterful and so assuring somehow that
she became calm instantly.
The same moment the untamed and
mettlesome young beasts, snorting and
curveting, half in fright and half in
frolic, plunged through the opening and
galloped onward across the fields
Sisley shuddered and uttered Il cry.
She knew that only for him who had
drawn her back so OPPORTUNITY, she
would be lying there among the butter
cups lind clover, trampled, crushed, and
perhaps dying or dead.
"Those wild creatures would not
have gone out of their way to harm
you" said the gentleman; "but if you
had taken one step forward you would
nave been killed" And then before she
could speak he added quietly: 81 am
glad | was here. was sitting under
the tree reading when you came, and
should have gone away only"
He stopped abruptly, quizzical smile
on his bearded lips, and quite as much
amusement as admiration in the dark
handsome eyes that were fixed upon her
fantastic adornment Of buttercups.
You would have gone away only it
amused you to see me making a child of
myself" Sisley faltered, her cheeks as
crimson as the daisies, tears of nervous
ness and vexation in her blue eyes.
Frankly, l was amused" he &C
knowledged, but he had so suddenly be-
come so serious that she knew he had
not thought her altogether silly. "But
your pretty face pleased me. When
saw you there, sitting on the long grass
in the sun adjoining yourself with but
sercups and singing so joyously, l almost
forgot that | was no longer child"
That this stranger was quite gentle
man, was entirely evident, and Sisley
found him so pleasing that she was glad
to think that the incident of the day
might make them friends.
"To whom am | indebted y she asked
timidly, as they stood together at the
garden gate.
And may / know whom 1 had the
honor OF servingl' he returned, giving
her card inscribed with the name of
"Guy Bardolph."
For one instant the lady was mute
with surprise.
" You serve one who is more grateful
than she can say" Sisley faltered finally.
And shall | never see you againp
he asked, looking rather hurt.
perhaps" she returned with smile
that puzzled him, and then with a
glance that certainly was not discourage
ing, she bowed and Was gone.
But they met again, and often, and
not always accidentally. Indeed, Mr..
Guy Bardolph seemed ubiquitous.
One day when tho great ascanS;ou