Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-06-16
A GIRLS MISTAKE.

@Well ROllin, what do you say71
Annot Brunson's liquid brown eyes
searched her lovers face wistfully.
.ROllin Dracut frOwned slightly.
where is the use Of my saying any
ithing7 You've made up your own
mind"
II don't know why | should always
stay just here" pouted the girl, but Of
course | shall stay If you wish It,"
Would you rcallyT' the young man
questioned, putting an arm around her
and drawing her to him. II believe you
would, and won't vex you by saying q
word against your going. You mustn't
forget me, though"
"Indeed / slant; you know, Rollin,
couldn't if | tried"
Il hope so but | don't know it," Rol-
lin said, with an involuntary sigh. ''The
first city beau you have you'll be asham-
ed Of me-"
Annot colored. She was pretty, and
in spite Of her love for Rollin she could
not help a throb of pleasure in the
thought Of being admired by city eyes.
The next week she went to the city
with her Aunt Bella Prescott-to stay a
month or two. But the month or two"
sweiled to six, and there seemed no more
prospect of Annot's quitting the city
than during the first week after her mr.
rival there.
The truth was that, aside from the
fact that Mrs. Bella Prescott-agay and
somewhat attractive widew, and young
still-had taken a decided fancy for her
lovely little niece, she found that she
added 81 much to the charm Of her ele-
gantly appointed drawing room that she
did not know how to spare her from it.
One morning as Annot finished read
ing u letter from Rollin, Aunt Bella said
TO her with n laugh:
"Rollin won't be coming here to see
you. | hope"
Annot blushed without replying. In
deed, ia this very letter Rollin had an
nounced that he was coming, and An
not did not know for the life of her
whether she was glad or sorry.
Mrs. Prescott looked seriously annoyed
when she understood the state Of the
case. Annot saw her displeasure, and
her own uneasiness was increased.
DOAA AAAHhAf hON0NAA h1NGo RdAgA any
anxiety concerning Rollin Dracut.
He had brown hands and a bronzed
face, but he was a large, splendidly
made man and carried himself easily.
Neither Mrs. Prescott nor Annot, l an
sorry to say, met him with quite the
cordially they ought. He had antici
pated something of the sort from the
toneof Annot's letters, and he had come
Ito the city to see for himself just what
tho mischief amounted to and whether
anything could be done.
If he could have remained his COO.
sself, content to rest the matter patiently
on his own merits, Annot might have
seen in time how infinitely superior hl
was to most Of those who surrounded
her and returned voluntarily to that al
legiauce which was really considerably
shaken by the batteries that had of lat,
turned her pretty, silly head completely
But no loved her too well. He wa
TOO impulsive and impatient to be abb,
to stand calmly by and behold his PURE
little blossom tossed upon the bosom o.
such a stream as this which bore hel
now.
Annot. too, in her foolish vanity
could not forGpar showing of for hi
benefit some OF tho new and fashionable
airs she had acquired. She laughed ant
chstted with licr various admirers ant
threw arch, smiling. cnticing glanceI
This way aud that, just as she had seer
the city bellies DO. Ia snort, R0llin Ora
cuts love. his emblem Of daintinoss and
pure simplicity, Airted iust as any beau
tiful %coquattish wording might have
done in her third season.
He was terribly shocked and very
angry. he demonstrated quietly. BuI
.Annot had been petted too long to taxi
rebuke quietly. above all from on,
whom she had expected such unhesitat
ing adora on and Indulgence as from
hini. Tie went home without seeing'he
again. and never so much "a wrote t
her afterwnrl. flo considered her com
Qletely lost to him. aud Annot, though
scared at first. felt rather relieved L
have everything got along with 81
easily.
About this time appsaseh upon tn
scene the "cOnqueringhl m'0" IN the per
son Of one Raymond st. dves. n hand
soine young Englishman'df superior in
tellect ard fascinating address, Ammo
dad been isftered and admired 10 tn
extent u her desires. but. strangel
enough, sue had not'once imagined her
self ia love with nnysnffhose gentleme
who adOred her seglsoaEully.and dresse'
so unexceptiopally.
II was quite , diiferent thing who
this young Englisl man came. He cor
itrived 10 impress her with a vague ide
that he was some great parsonage q
other in disguise, aud he certainly NJ
sumed naughty enough airs for a grea
aord 1t the very least.