The morning call., 1891-05-06
A MISS rs AS
GOOD AS A MILE.
CHAPTER 1


fault Willful Nan was the name given
her when in one of her moUds, and it was the
only punishment melted out to her, for she
was 50 sweet and lovable in every other re-
spect that no one had the heart to scold her,
least of all Ben Clayton, her acknowledged
lover. He loved her with all the strength
of his manly heart, and always had been
very patient with her, but now his patience
was almost exhausted, and the demon
jealousy creeping in to take its place. He
| very earnestly argued against the idea that
he was unreasonable.
Mamie" he said, very soberly, ''yOu
accuse me of being unreasonable Now,
| think, child, of my simple request. Please
| do not 90 on this excursion with j ohm Hill
! ton. He has bUaSted of his ability TO come
| between US; not 10 me, but TO others. You
| surely do not expect me TO take anything
| like that quietly. l would feel that all my
! manlinesS had deserted me. AS far a5 he is
! concerned l treat the matter with silent
| contempt. To you l appeal to stop where
| you are and thus put an emf to any possible
| Ity Of trouble between Us. l know that he
! is better looking and better off in this
| worlds goods than l am, but he could never
! love YOU more truly than |, nor could lie be
more willing TO 90 through IRE and wafer
Tor your Sake!
Nan could not but acknowledge to herself
| that Ben meant what he said and it sent
| thrill through her heart to think that such
love and devotion were hers. But still she
| had always declared that IN spite OF her en-
! gagemeut of marriage she would be Tree TO
/ do as size pleased until her wedding day, lit
| tie thinking in her nineteen years of
| "Reminiscences that there is such thing as
| going a step too far, and that bad TeSOlu-
| ton Is much better broken than kept. She
| loved Ben very truly, and had not an idea OF
| transferring her affections to any one else
hp between
Ben Clayton and John Hilton would be In
! the formers favor, in her estimation, but
| then she liked TO do as she pleased, especial
~ as she knew all eyes were upon her,
! expecting her to give in and acknowledge
her duty to her affla0ced lover Nan never
| thought Of how she would feel under like
| circumstances. However, her gray eyes
| locked Wilfully defiant and she shook her
| curly head very decisvely
Nov, Ben" she said, this is what | have
| decided upon. / wont go at all. 1t IS all
! h0rrid bother, and you can all go on and
| leave me at home. Mother and father are
! much better company than all OF you put
| together, never making themselves DIS
! agreeable, nor worrying the lie out OF me
! by such nonsense. As for John Hilton he
! has c0nceit enough for half dozen of his
| kind and he will probably fud himself in
! very embarrassing predicament some day
! because of i"
Nan turned and quickly walked to the
] mouse WIN all lle ulEullY HGI SLldil person
! could command, never deignlng to notice
| her brother, Roy, who had been Dracticing
| hand-springs on the grass plat and who now
| stood gazing at his offended sister, with his
| hands in his pockets and l0ng-drawn
| whistle Issuing from his lips. Roy was a
! dreadful tease, but Nan passed on TO the
! house and up to her own little room, there
| TO remain until her better nature should Te-
! turn. Poor Ben watched her out of sight,
his wounded feelings somewhat modified by
| Mans criticism Of John Hilton. He knew but
| too we'll that IL would be useless 10 try and
! effect reconciliation with her now, so with
a feeling of sadness he turned toward the
| gate, where his horse was tied. De and
! Nan had been standing in the summer
house during their interview.
81 say, Ben" cried Roy after him, You
are never going to let that precious piece OF
| baggage send you of In that style. Come
| on to the house and see mother and ne
rest of them. WiIlful Nan Will sQGn come
! out OF her tantrum, and be ready to forgive
US all and be as sweet IS peach in five or
| ten minutes frn-i now"
"Thapk you, Roy" said Ben, you are
J very kind, but l have some WORK to attend
to this afternoon, aud l will probably call
this evening to find out the plans for to-
mOTr0w's trip. Ii l am not here by half
past YOU lump on Patsy and come over
and let me know the how and wherefore
he added, with a smile. The last part of
his speech and the smile showed that Ben
had somewhat recovered his usual frame OF
mind, much to ROy's delight, for he was
Ben's devoted admrer, and hated to see
him with "a long lace on, as he WOrded II.
''All right, Benjamin" answered l Roy,
you may depend Ou Patsy and me to do
your bidding as sure as I'm foot high"
Give my regards to the ladies'"
Not forgetting Nan" put IN Roy.
mot forgetting Miss Mamie" grayely
answered Ben, though he WINGED little at
the mention Of Nan. He silently prepared
to mount bis horse, Tom, who stood ready TO
do his duty, Of whatever nature 1t might be.
Tom was Ben's Stanch friend and main
standby, always ready aud always willing.
There was little of tue thoroughbred about
him, but he was a well-built, geneTalpuT-
pose horse, as faithful and trustworthy as
an animal could be, and there was perfect
understanding between him and his master.
Ben treated Tom with the kindeSt care In
return for his faithfulness, giving his per-
sOnal attention to the matter, and never was
horse better fed nor had cleaner and glossier
coat Tom was not OF pretty color, being
what is known of dun color, IN some parts
of the country, with jet-black points. But,
always well fed and well groOmed, Tom
never failed to make favorable impression
upon all good judges of hOrSe-hesh. Hew
used for blowing, heavy teaming on the
road, riding and light driving, and though he
might not be up with the fastest he would
not be far in the rear, making up II eadur-
auce what he lacked in speed.
"Ben, no " much will you take for T0m?"
asked Roy. knowing full we'll what the ans
wer would be.
Tom is not for sale" answered Ben. 81
would just as leave sell my best friend"
And wheeling Tom, with wave of his
hand, he went down the road at brisk can
ter.
NOW, what's to pay2" said Roy, as he
turned hand spring toward the house
with Nan in sulks and Ben in the blues.
npapbpG
rowP"
Roy was u years old, and full to the brm
with boEjsh spirits He danced a dOnble-
shuttle on the porch, and pat juba," as the
darkies say, a few minutes as accompani-
ment to two or three lines OF negro ''hoe-
down."
The old COW she kicked so high,
Hoopan-dOO. h0op-an-doo,
The old COW she kicked 50 high,
Observation-Disclosures
Then he demurely walked into the sitting
room and announced:
Nan and Ben have had an al quarrel
Nan declares she Will not go over to the
peach orchard tomorrow, and Ben has gone
home, leaving his kind regards for the
ladeSP"
"Oh, Roy" exclaimed his mother. "what
has happened TO cause this troubleY Her
motherly heart yearned toward her willful
Nan, and at the same time pited Ben, whom
she admired and trusted so much.
ut seems to me, Roy, you must have
been eavesdrOpping, or how could you know
SO much?" said Lizzie, his eldest sister.
''Not bit of it, Liz" stoutly denied Roy;
but when girl gives her beau a piece of
her mind right out in broad daylight, and IN
a fellows hearing, he can't very we'll keep
from getting an inklng of what's going on.
Pm no end sorry; if don't hate to see Ben
so terribly cut up, you may take my head
for a football" And Roy threw himself
on the lounge, looking quite 'cut up" him.
self.
well, my boy" said Lizzie, 1--WE would
certainly dislike very much to see your head
so abused, so we will believe your concern
for Ben. / AM afraid poor wlllful Nan viii
not give up her wlIfulness until she has re-
caiund o Cad Lesson ] IN not inn Pan |