San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-13

he dropped hrmsen sonuIy TO the earJn
with an ear splitting howl and grabbed
tight hold Of Pocohontas' dress with both
grimy paws: the sheep meanwhile came
hurrying up at sharp trot, pushing
against each other in their haste, and
bleating in glad anticipation of treat.
Some Of the boldest ventured near
enough to sniff the girls dress, gazing
up at her expectantly with their soft,
pretty eyes, a proceeding which evoked
redoubled yells from Sawney. They
were perfectly harmless; even the rams
were peaceful, which made the child's
conduct the more provoking.
In vain Pocahontas coaxed, threatened
and commanded; in vain she assured
him solemnly that the sheep would not
hurt him, and acrimoniously that If he
did not hush Instantly and get mp she
would leave him alone for the sheep to
eat up. Sawney would not stir. The
more she talked the louder he howled
and the more obstinately he chung to her
dress. Then she took off her hat and
waved it at the animals, who sprang
aside, startled at first, but returned in
closer ranks with more insistent bleat-
ing. Losing patience at last, Pocahon-
tas stopped and caught the boy by his
shoulders and shook him soundly. She
was about to proceed to more violent
measures when voice at her elbow said
quietly:
Perhaps l can be of service to you"
She started and glanced round quickly.
A slender, dark, young man, a stranger,
was standing beside her, glancing, with
uncOncealed amusement, from her flush
ed, irate countenancc to thesulky, stream
ing visage at her feet.
"Oh, thank you: you can indeed" &C
cepting his proffered aid with grateful
readiness. "If you will kindly drive these
sheep away I'll be much indebted to you.
This provoking little boy is afraid of
them, or pretends to be, and | can't in
duce him to stir, Now, Sawney, hush
that abominable noise this instant! The
gentleman is going to drive all the sheep
away"
With perfect gravity, but his eyes full
of laughter, Nesbit Thorne flourished his
cane and advanced on the flock menace
ingly. The animals backed slowly. "Win
that dor he called, when he had driven
them about hundred yards
"a little farther, please" she answer
ed. mo, great deal farther; quite to
the end of the field. He won't move
YETI Her voice quivered with suppress
ed mirth.
Feeling like Little Boy Blue" recalled
to sense of duty, Thorne pursued the
sheep remorselessly; the poor beasts, con-
WINGED at last that disappointment was
to be their portion, trotted before him
meekly, giving vent to their feelings in
occasional bleats of reproach.
Meanwhile, Pocahontas lifted Sawney
forcibly to his feet and led him across
to the opposite fence, over which she
helped him to climb, being determined
that no more scenes should be inflicted
ON her that morning When she had put
barrier between him and danger, she or
dered him to sit down and calm his shat
tered nerves aud recover his behavior.
She remained within the field herself,
leaning against the fence and awaiting
the gentleman's return, that she might
thank him.
By the time he rejoined her, Nesbit
Thorne had decided that his new &C.
quaintance was very handsome and
unusually attractive woman. The ed.
venture amused him, and he had mind
to pursue it further. AS he approached
he removed his hat courteously, with a
pleasant, half jocular remark about the
demoralized condition of her escort, and
a word indicative of his surprise at find
ing country child of any color afraid
of animals.
"Yes: it is unusual" she assented,
smiling on him with her handsome gray
eyes. 81 can't account for his terror, for
I'm sure no animal has ever harmed him.
If he were older I'd accuse him of trying
to earn cheap notoriety, but he's al
most too little to pretend. He's trou'
blesome monkey, and if I'd noticed he
was following me I'd have forbidden
him. I'm much indebted for your kindly
service: without your assistance Sawney
would have sat there screaming until
they organized an expedition at home to
cruise in search of us or the sheep had
retired of their own accord"
mot as bad as that, Iguess," he re-
turned, extending his hand to aid her in
mounting the fence, noticing that the
one she gave him was delicate and shape
ly, and that the foot, of which he caught
glimpse, was pretty and well arched.
He would gladly have detained her talk
ing in the pleasant sunshine, or even
as time was no object and all ways alike
have liked to saunter on beside her,