Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-03-10

IT EWHl HN HENNNN"AH "H 90 AN|NA vi NAAAA
chief She drow ont from her boxes tho
elaborate and very unsuitable toilet
which had stirred Mrs. Hinkley's soul
to its depths, and sho appeared at tho
breakfast table as a vision of lOyelincss
and freshness. nt which tho shy old
farmer ga2ol entranced and at which
Aunt Matilda cfiod out i'm severe disap-
proval. She coaxed and smiled and
wheedled until every one grew into q
good humor, and as sho started Of fot
her walk even that grim Hpinster rela
tive babe her goodby with Arelenting
heartiness, realizing now effectively the
fin do siccld figure would come into the
landscapes Of the kodak.
Mary walked along with the pale dust
gathering on the little white shoes and
the pink lining of tho white parasol
deepening She bloom ON her dimpled
check. Mary was trying to settle a
weighty question in her mind. She
knew its truthful answer well enough,
but pride and stubbornncss made her
willfully blind.
The sun beat down eercely upon tho
leghorn hat "a &c neared the summit OF
the little hill. A largo oak tree crowned
the height, with q seat beneath its
boughs, upon which Miss Grinnen seated
herself like W atteau shephordess. Start
ing up hastily she gave o cry Of surprise.
Before hor, gazing with great. nloprnful
eyes into her own, stood a pretty calf.
apparently not at all frightened by the
intrusion of q stranger upon his feeding
place, aud, like Mrs. Hinklcy, regarding
Doucet's musln with approval. At first
the city bred damsal was startled. but
in a second she saw that he was fastened
to an iron stake near By and that his
orbit was limited So she laid down the
white parssol and began to pat the in
truder on the head, talking to him the
sort of nonsense with which women al
ways address babies and animals.
He seemed quite won by these atten-
tons, and Mary was charmed. She rose
and walked about, calling him to her.
He followed obediently, and she began
TO think seriously Of buying him from
tho farmer to take back with her for
o pet, when suddenly something sent
him into q panic. He started back and
ran around and around her, frightened
her half out Of her senses, and before
she realized what was happening Mary
found herself wound mp tightly with the
calf and tho rope and the stake. At first
her sense Of the ridiculous got the better
Of her terror, and she laughed aloud at
the cddity OF her position. But in a mo
merit She cav it's a~wkwardness audhope-
lessness as well, and she struggled to
free herself, while tho poor calf, in blind
bewildernent, RAJ to aud fro, drawing
the tangle tighter and making escape
less possible.
At this critical moment q cool, we'll
bred voice behind her broke in. Good
evening, Miss Grinnell, 4" it said as y o
litely as If she had been walking down
Fifth avenue instead of in such IN alb
surd plight. All, me! The pink lined
parasol was nowhere in comparison with
tho blush those few words brought out.
ooh, ROb!' she cried. Save lac,
Where did you come from? Can't you
take me away from this dreadful beast?'
mot until you answer me the ques
ton l asked you the other night. Do
you think il was right TO run away and
leave ne in the lurch as you did, witt,
no address, and did you suppose l should
not hunt You up directly? No, Mary
Come, which is il. to be-yes or no? ]
viii drive away the calf whichever it is,
but you must answer me n way or Tie
other at once
Tho young man had not smiled, a.
though the picture was funny enough to
have sent a stole into fits Of laughter
poor Mary, flushed and fearful, Fastened
mp against the stake, with her white
ruiios crushed and ruined, and the in
nocent calf, rinioued at her side, still
fastening lis big, wistful eyes upon her
face.
"Oh, Rob" she said again, "you know
/ meant yes all the time. We women
always do when We say no."
Wen, they forgot all about the poor
calf. Hours later they strolled ia to
supper, having confdcd in Aunt Matil-
da, who bestowed a blessing upon them
and announced in majestic tones to the
Hinkleys the arrival Of her niece's fanco.
HE may be a fyansay," thought Mrs.
Hinlley TO herself, nodding sagely, "but
II he amt keeping company with her /
miss my guess"
Somehow the supper did not strike
Mary as being so dreadful that second
night The farmer thought lie had
seen a girl 70 pretty before, and
tried to make conversation.
"Mother," ho said, what DO Won
Think Ycu know that calf Of Spotty's
that was fastened upon the hin? WAL.
WOW Of the critter hadn't contriyed TO
git onhitched somehow or other, and
there twas strollin round down Tie
road. Lone Briggs man fetched it
back this altnoon. Curious, amt ill.,
"N hy, want you up ON the hill, Miss
Grirnell:' asked Mr.. Hinkley sud
denly. "Tou didn't sec nothiu Of the
calf, did you, while you was therc?'
"Wch, it seems TO me I did sec one
when 1 first reached the top, but / don't
remember noticing it when l came
down" said Mary, dimpling and laugh
ing. Tho Young nan laughed too.
81 guess twas soaret. / guess them
hounces and FUNNY diddles scaret it,"
Nr. HiuEleys greet bulk shook with
Amusement. lie found himself q real
wit. Neither Horace Walpole nor
George Selwyn ever felt any greater
satisfaction in a bonnet.
81 guess they did, responded Mary,
and fha Kv1o1o fablo 1nuohn1 ooof,