Osage Valley banner. (Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo.) 1879-1881, 1880-04-29
-lesn..I LIKE A WOMAN.

Ahlo puotoRTaphF wen, i hardly
y know how to answer you. do not
~ know her name only saw her once
IN my life, then only for a little time,
and the chances are / shall never see
her again. Strange that woman, a
perfect stranger should give me her
photograph? IL does sound strange.
How did | get ita Thereon hangs a
-rs tale. | viii tell you IL. Ii points "a
s moral, is characteristic Of woman, and
furnishes me with a pleasant reminis-
sia.cence OF atoo tleeting visit TO the Scot
tish Highlands. - tt.@
It was two years ago the summer
holidays. had spent them with my
wife's brother. George Nettleford. We
had put into executiona long g-cherishell
scheme. and been up to the Highlands.
One day the sun was setting as we
2 reached the top Of an ascent il had cost
us some pains 10 climb. Sitting on the
bank by theroadside, underline shadow
Of mighty tree, we dotted our hats, so
that the gentle breeze might cool our
heated brows. On a sudden we heard
30 quite close TO usloud cries and shouts,
s-1 as Of some one in distress or danger.
g Whats thatph said 20 George
"Sounds rs though something was
the matter with some one,n said he,
getting up and looking over the hedge
rose and joined him.
=" Why" exclaimed George, there's
q lad drowning in the pooln
Soft seemed. The bank on the other
side of the hedge sank in a sharp de-
scent some thirty feet or more. A lit
iYLle to the left was u stream or piece of
waterof some sort. Generally il was
quite narrow than this room;
you might have jumped across it-but
m one place IL widened out into tiny
lake or pond, tolerably deep apparent
"; for somewhere about the center was
little boy trying hard TO keep himself
alloat, and making a terrible hullabal-
loo.
Without word we got over the
hedge and ran down the bank. Calling
10 the youngster TO keep still, ran into
the water TO help him. II might have
been deep enough 10 drown him, hut il
barely came up to my shoulders; and
when had once hold Of him, il was
easy enough to pull him out, and he
was little damaged; for when had got
him out he stood bolt upright on the
bank, looking at me with large round
eyes,
You're not drownedPn said, smil-
ing at his solemn expression.
lie shCok his head gravely without a
word. He was queer-looking child,
quite little one, scarcely more than
ten years old. SO far, had kept my
81 hand upon his collar, thinking ho might
fall down, or faint, or something; but
relieved of any such fears, / took il
away. No sooner did do so than,
without sign of any such intention,
he was off like a dart, up the bank,
through the hedge, and out of sight
''Well, said George, laughing,
there's gratitude for YOU"
Yes, T" said /, a little nettled, she
might have said thank you"
Or told you how much further we
have TO go, growled George.
- I've got ducking for my palms,
continued, thinking somewhat ruefully
ofmy knickerboeker suit--a recent pur-
chase.
"That won't matter" quoth George,
unsympatheticallyi you'll soon get
dry tE
We climbed up the bank, aud contin-
ued our journey, talking and laughing
over our wayside adventure. After a
time we struck upon charming country
inn. shrined in glorious sweet-smeli-
p1ing frame of honeysuckle and red roses.
We entered together. The very sight
OF the bar was enough 10 do. one good.
Behind the counter sat a female, look
ing quite the lady, about thirty-fiye or
SO, in Widows cap and weeds. She
rose at our entrance.
ave want two beds, = l said, coming
to the point at once.
1--WE can offer sou none she re-
piled, civilly, but anything but warmly;
Eve are already overorowded. We
have no Accommodation Of any sort TO
give you"