The Red Cloud chief., 1880-05-27
LIKE A WOMAN.

THIS photograph? Well, / hardly
know how to answer you. / do no
know her name. / only saw her one,
in my life, then only for a little time
and the chances are ] shall never Sc,
her again. Strange that a woman,
perfect stranger, should give me hel
photograph? 1t does sound strange
How did 1 get it? Thereon hangs /;
tale. / will tell you it.. Il points ,
moral, is characteristic of a woman, ant
furnishes me with a pleasant reminis
d of a too geeting visit to the Scot
fish Highlands.
1t wrs two years agO-the summer
Holidays. | had spent them with m,
w:fe's brother, George Nettlcford. W.
had put into execution a long-cherished
scheme. and been up to the Highlands,
One day the sun was setting as We
reached the top of an ascent Il had COS,
us some pains TO climb. Sitting on the
bank by the roadside, underline shadow
of a mighty tree, we DOTTED our hats, SO
that the gentle breeze might cool ou,
heated brows. On a sudden We heard
quite close TO us loud cries and shouts,
as Ut some N i'm distress or danger.
Whats thatP" said I to George.
"Sounds as though something was
the matter with some one," said he,
getting up and looking over the hedge.
1 rose aRG joined him.
Why" exclaimed George, "there's
a laI drowning in the pool"
So it seemed. The bank on the other
side of the hedge sank in a sharp de.
scent some thirty feet or more. A lit.
tie to the left was n stream or piece of
water of some sort. Generally it was
quite narrow-narrower than this room;
you might have jumped across it-but
in n place it widened out into a tiny
lake or pond, tolerably deep apparent
ly; for somewhere about the center was
a little boy trying hard to keep himself
alioat, and paking a terrible hullabal-
loo.
without a word we got over the
hedge and ran down the bank. Calling
70 the youngster to keep still, I ran into
the water to help him. 1t might have
been deep enough TO drown him, but it
barely came up to my shoulders; and
when | had once hold of him, it was
easy enough TO pull him out, and he
was little damaged; for when l had got
him out he stood bolt upright on the
bank, looking at me with large round
eyes.
You're not drowned?" 1 said, smil-
ing at his solemn expression.
He shook his head gravely without a
word. He was a queer-looking child,
quite a little one, scarcely more than
ten years old. So far, / had kept nv
hand upon his collar, thinking he might
rail- down, or faint, or something; but
relieved of any such fears. | took it
away. No sooner did l do SO than,
without a 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" said /, a little nettled, "he
might have said thank you"
"Or told you how much further we
have to CO." growled George.
: i've got a ducking for my palms," l
continued, thinking somewhat ruefully
of my knickerbocker suit-arecent pur-
chase.
THAT won't matter" quoth George,
unsympathetically; you'll soon get
dry"
We climbed up the bank, and contin-
ued our journey, talking and laughing
over our wayside adventure. After a
time we struck upon a charming country
inn. sbrined in a glorious sweet-smell-
ing frame of honeysuckle and red roses.
We entered together. The very sight
of the bar was enough to do one good.
Behind the counter sat a female, look
ing quite the lady, about thirty-five or
SO. in widows cap and weeds. She
rose at our entrance.
1--WE want two beds" l said, coming
to the point at once.
I'VE can offer you none." she re-
piled. civilly, but anything but warmly;
W are already Overcrowded. We
have no accommodation of any sort to
give YOU"
Thea where shall we find another
innP"
"The next inn is about"-she paused
=" eight or nine miles farther on"
She might as well have said eight or
Line hundred.
+; Out we staggered from that delicious
bar into the gathering night. There
was a man, a laborer of some sort.
standing in the bar; and as we went
out, l I noticed him lean over and whis-
per to the hostess. As we went, how
ever, YEARLY dragging our legs along.
some n came running after us. 1t
was a girl, apparently a servant girl,
young, pretty and neatly dressed. She
seemed in a great furry.
please, SIR" she said, stopping us,
1--WE brought a message. Mistress
says you're to come back at once. And
she wished me to say she is very sorry,
but she did not know YOU"
Know mel OF course not. How was
she to, seeing she had never seen me
before, nor l herP The ignorance was
mutual.
"Let's CO." said George. cutting
further conversation short.
When we reached the inn, the hostess
bowed. Il am sorry, SIR" she said,
in q stately way, "to have sent YOU
away. but / did not know YOU"
Did not know me? What did she
mean by she did not know me? Of
course she did not know me. How was
she to? But l had no time for refiec-
ton. The servant showed Is into an
inner room, the neatest, contest, pref
test little room / do believe / ever saw.
George threw himself on the sofa; while
l sat on q chair, my feet apart, my
hands on my knees, staring into va
cancy. feeling a little mysti6ed.
In a few minutesthe servant returned.
please. will you step this way. sir?:"
said she to me.
George was asleep on the sofa. and
did not notice her entrance.
1 followed her up stairs; we were evil
IDENTITY among the bed rooms. She
stopped at a dooc, and opening it
showed me in. 1t was sleeping apart.
ment, quite small, but so neat, and
clean and pretty, so unlike the usual
thing You expect in hotels and inns,
that / looked IN the servant in amaze.
There were a suit Of clothes laid out On
the bed, black and seeming quite new,
and q clean, white shirt hanging on q
chair; a collar, necktie and socks on