Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-03-31

peach pies with those peaches, but In her
| present state o. excitement she was quite
sure she would make an utter failure OF
il, and she did not dare risk the attempt.
She got cut her very brightest and new
est calico dress and braided her unruly
| hair for the first time in months. She
did not even scold the sly trooper, whom
she caught stealing some milk, for fear
the Young lieutenant would come around
to tina; side of the house-which would
be dreadfuly embarrassing. And yet
she wanted to see the lieutenant and
hear him talK-oh, so muchl She had
read in novels some mysterious things
about how young people fell In love
with each other and married-and-
well, everything is possible in this world.
1t was at supper time that they really
met. The lieutenant made polite bow.
He was little bit surprised. lie had
heard some Of the other officers of the
garrison say laughingly that the only
pretty woman in Arizona was Batnaby's
Bess, excepting always, from regimental
courtesy, the ladies of the regiment.
But he had forgotten all about it in the
excitement of his first trip in the field.
1t occurred to HIM now, but she was
pretter than he had Imagined she could
be. His ideas of beauty were framed in
West Point landscape, and his dlvin-
tiles had been dressed IN costly stuils
and wore diamonds, and were buds from
| mature New York family trees. But he
had not seen pretty woman in several
| months, and he was Just little bit en-
barrassed, himself He hardly noticed
| the calico. lie was quite charmed by
the white apron. lie conclu led at once
that, perhaps, tins first scout OF his
would not he so awfully dull after all.
He would flirt little-only in fun, OF
course. 1t would be rather relief from
the dulness of the post. So he ate in
! silence, and stared so hard at Bess that
her cheeks flushed a deeper crimson than
they had ever known before. And to her
amazement and delight he insisted on
calling her Mss Barnaby. In her day
dreams she had often imagined some
handsome young man addressing her re-
spcct[ully as Miss Barnaby. Here was
the delightful reality. She spilled the
coffee, and could not eat mouthful Of
supper, aItho lgh she was tired and hun
CRY.
And after supper the young lieutenant
insisted on helping her wash the dishes.
lie said it would be great fun, and quite
a relief from the rough life of soldier.
Poor youngster, he had become so used
to wars alarms. In fact they had be-
come quite a bore. And it seemed to
Bess that he stood awfully close to her
Once or twice their hands touched-au
accident, she was quite sure, Aud, then,
when all her work was finished, the
dishes cleaned, the cows ana horses fed
lin all OF which duties the young lieu.
tenant helped delight of Delights -
he actually asked her to take little
walk with him. Next to taking her to
real ball, where people danced and ATE
ice cream, rs she had read in the b Doks
and story papers, he could have done
nothing more to make her absolutely
happy
AS for him, it seemed like old days in
camp at West Point. She was girl,
and she was pretty. Her calico dress in
the moonlight looked very well, and she
had taken of the apron. They strolIed
up the road little distance and then
brauched off on a winding trail that led
down to a little valley that was flooded
with the rich moonlight that broke
through the clear Arizona atmosphere.
There was an intersecting tail at the
foot, aud when they reached it, Bess
gave little start, and the lieutenant,
with all his old West Point promptness,
took advantage OF tue opportunity to
place his arm around her waist.
"Don't be afraid he whispered very
manIully.
"Ob, am not she answered, de-
murely.
And then she stopped down quickly
and seemed to pick something up from
the trail.
"Did you drop anything3" he asked
with mock politeness. "Why didn't you
tell met 1t was my duty to pick it up,
you know"
~ did not drop anything" she an
swcred. Lets sit down on this rock. y
They sat down on the rock, and the
young lieutenant, with his heart beating
very fast, PIT his arm around her waist
again and took hold OF her hands snd
found himself unconscously looking for
rings, in the manner of young men who
wish to hold q young laiy's hand and
feel in duty bound to offer some slight
excuse to the fair one. They did not
talk very much. There was not much to
talk about. Their mutual friends were
few, and therefore there could be nc
gossip. The theatre, books, styles
about everything was barred, from nc
cessity. Nevertheless, it was not long
before the lieutenants brown moustache
drew gradually near to Bess's pretty lips
and, not long after that, Bess received
| the HTSL KISS sue lldu ever ndu lEOu
young man. She did not struggle. Oh,
was utterly unaware of the arts of hel
fair sisters in the East But she did turn
squareIy around and look the lieutenan
very earnestly in the face.
"Do you mean anything by that1' sh
asked him.
He was surprised at the question, an
he was gentleman enough to pcrceiv
that what was mere evenings diversio
to him might be something intinitel
more serious to lonely girl on almost
Western desert. He took his hand froT
her waist and moved away little.
"No," he answered frankly, "onl
that you are pretty-aud didn't thin
you'd mind"
az didn't mind" answered Bess, ian
l wouldn't mind if thought you care
for me. In fact, she added, with alarm
inu candnr CT would lilo IL If I wn,