The Red Cloud chief., 1888-08-17
aid he'd come, rain or shine, n he's got

said he'd come, rain or shine, an he's got
TO-"
The examining committee in her native
village had always been the minister, and
she realized with a sinking heart that this
energetic man determined to nave the 9ues-
Of her eligibility for the school do
cided this very night.
"YOu'd ruther hev him come to-night!"
he asked, seeing something of her feeling
in her face.
"Why yes" she gaspcd, ~ suppose tho
sooner it's over the better"
IL kinder thought you'd sorter ruther hev
him come tonight" he returned. relieving
his easily aroused embarrassment by pOking
the fire vigorously. '.D'you ever read that
cOmical book-derned eff l can re-
member the name Of i'll wish you could
hev read it, you'd died a~-laughin'. I can't
how it all went, but there was
one Teller. he was a-talkin' Il the minister,
and SEE he to himself, SEE he-the minister.
you know-I like you, pard! An I'll lick any
Teller tibet don't. Wal. them's my senti-
ments exactly. I'm an awful homely lookin'
Teller, amt I?' he asked, with sudden irrel.
May looked at him squarcly for the first
time.
He had taken OF his fur cap and coat and
stood before her, a blonde giant. But in his
candid blue eyes and on his large rudely cut
features was an expression 50 akin to the
kindly, hearty tones Of his voice that the
treasured girl felt that he wa no mountain
brigand.
"Why, no. l don't think you are" she re-
piled after conscientious delibcration.
Il think you're pretty as . picture" he
said, boldly. Il do, honest"
Mays face grew hot with shame and in
~dignation.
At last her bold, unmaidenly actions in
corresponding with a stranger was bearing
its bitter fruit She seemed to hear her
aunt's thin, sarcastic voice say: men
know who they can say those things to-"
''Where is this mans wife |" May thought.
as she offended because I wrote to her hus-
band and said nothing about herr She
grew cold at the thought.
81 don't want o to say n more such
things to me-" she plucked up courage to
say.
why, 1 amt agoin' to-" he said, in a lone
Of alarm. Il lain no such thought. Don't
be mad with me-" he added, pleadingly.
''Why. here, l hain't asked you to take of
your things nor hev nothin' to eat. l hain't
got no Manners"
He got her some cake and tea, and then
with real delicacy left her alone until the
minister anne. The minister's wife accom-
panied him. and she came into the front
room to May, leaving her husband and the
Of the house in the kitchen.
Il was determined to come if it did rain"
she exclaimed, kissing May e~ffusively.
''Isn't it so romantic; just like q story, your
coming way up here. Well, I think you've
done well. I suppose you're q little nervous;
I was"
Did You ever teach school!" asked May.
''Why yes. l taught one term once re-
piled the visitor, looking as if she considered
the remark irrelevant.
1T was too bad about your trunk. wasn't
it! Never mind. your dress is plenty good
enough. Well, ifyou're all ready I'll call in
the men. You don't feel faint, do Your
When the minister came in May rose and
stood before him like a child at school. Her
heart beat 80 fast and such u mist came be-
fore her eyes that h did not realize that
her host was standing beside her.
She made q terrible effort to grasp all the
rules Of grammar. arithmetic, geography,
and spelling at once. and felt to her dismay
that her brain was in q state Of complete
chaos.
The minister cleared his throat-.The
State" he began slowly.
Typography b the first thing" she
thought, and tried to get an instantaneous
picture in her mind Of the entire earth and
all its diversions, but all she could think Of
were the names of Mount ~Popocatspetel and
the river Yang-Tse-K iang.
The state of matrimony is n ordained
by God for the purpose of-'The minister
had got SO far, when he paused. arrested by
the look Of horror and amazement on the
girls face. and her companion thinking the
blank wa for him to fill out. CALCULATED in
loud firm tones, Il do"
stop! quiok." cried the girl ''thers il
mistake"
'YOu can't expect me to say it just right
the first time" said her host, realizing that
he hadn't responded in quite the right place,
but you'd 0rter make some allowances, SEEM
l never was married before"
Married :" h cried, ~recoiling from him,
81 cam up here to teach school, and you
l did. know my aunt would have
said it was a dreadful venturesome thing to
but no one has any right to marry me, if
l did"
But, my dear young lady," said the puz
zled minister, ''Ton-Mr. Hunter, has made
u confidant of me from the first and he sure
~ understood that you were to marry him."
Il advertised for q wife, YOU remember"
said the crestfallen Mr.. Hunter, turning to
her, land you answered it"
Il did not" cried May. Indignantly. 81
wrote to Mr. Hlliard. of Huntersville, for
school,"
There is q Mr.. Hilliard at Huntersville,"
said the minister.
This is Hunters Point said the min
ister's wife, who had been trying vainly to
get in q word.
II must have got Of at the wrong station"
gssped May, sinking INTO a chair. II have
q terrible biunder."
1T does seem to b. q dreadful mixed up
mess. but p'raps we can straixhten it out,
said Mr.. Hunter, dolefully. Isn't you name
Maria Smith"
MY name is May Smith," she answered,
shortly.
Now look here, my dear" cried the minis
ter's wife, this is rather awkward. I know;
I think I can find . way out Of tho laby-
rinth. Ny name is Mrs. SeavOr-we'l begin
at the very beginning-and Mr.. Seavor is an
minister come up here to marry
you. May Smith, to Tom Hunter. one Of the
best fellows that eve lived. Now" said
she, clapping her hands enthusiastically,