Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-05-01

And that was why Lieutenant Bars
tow fumed and fretted, and walked up
and down in front Of the half log, half
adobe house called Freshwater Ranch,
all the long afternoon, and did nothing
more important than to swear at a trooper
much after the manner Of several cap
tairs he knew; and then to apologize to
| the trooper and make himself ridiculous
just because he had some of those higher
ideas of the soldier, even though he were
but few months cut of West Point.
And so Bess caught but few glimpses
of the lieutenant as he occasionally
passed the door, but she saw that he was
young and handsome, and her woma1's
heart was in flutter. 1t was all she
could do to think up something unusu-
ally good to eat for supper. Besides the
| regular menu of biscuits, bacon, beef
| and potatoes she had some carefully
treasured canned corn ana some canned
| peaches. She wished to make some
| peach pies with those peaches, but in her
present state OF 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 aad 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
10 that side of the house-which would
be dreadfully embarrassing. And yet
she wanted to see the lieutenant and
hear him talk-oh, SO much! She had
read in novels some mysterious things
about how young people fell in love
with clch other and married-and-
we'll, everything is possible in this world.
1t was at supper time that they really
met. The lieutenant made a polite bow.
He was little bit surprised. He had
heard some of the other officers of the
garrison say laughingly that the only
pretty woman in Arizona was Barnaby'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
prettier than he had imagined she could
be. His ideas of beauty were framed in
West Point landscape, aud his divin-
tiles had been dressed IN costly stuffs
and wore diamonds, and were buds from
mature New York family trees. But he
had not seen a pretty woman in several
months, and he was Just little bit en-
barrassed, himself. He hardly noticed
the calico. He was quite charmed by
the white apron. He conclu led at once
that, perhaps, this first scout of his
would not be so awfully dull after all.
He would f1irt little-only in fun, OF
course. 1t would be rather a relief from
the dullness of the post. So he ate in
silence, and stared so hard at Bess that
her cheeks flushed deeper crimson than
they had ever known before. And to her
amazement aud delight he insisted on
calling her Mss Barnaby. In her day
dreams she had often imagined some
handsome young man addressing her re.
spcctfully as Miss Barnaby. Here was
the delightful reality. She spilled the
coffee, and could not eat mouthful OF
supper, although she was tired and hun
cry.
And after supper the young lieutenant
insisted on helping her wash the dishes.
He 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 bore. And it seemed to
Bess that he stood awfully close to her.
Once o. twice their hands touched-an
accident, she WIS quite sure. Aud, then,
when all her work was finished, the
dishes cleaned, the cows and horses fed
lin all of which duties the young lieu
tenant elpedj-delight of delights!-
he actually asked her to take little
walk with him. Next to taking her to
a real ball, where people danced and ate
ice cream, as she had read ia the books
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 a girl,
and she was pretty. Her calico dress in
the moonlight looked very we'll, aud she
had taken off the apron. They strolled
up the road little distance and then
branchcd off on a winding trail that led
down to little valley that was flooded
with the rich moonlight that broke
through the clear Arizona atmosphere.
There was an intersecting trail at the
foot, and when they reached it, Bess
gave little start, and the lieutenant,
with all his old West Point promptness,
took advantage OF the opportunity to
place his arm around her waist.
"Don't be afraid" he whispered very
manfully.
"Oh, am not" she answered, de-
murely,
And then she stopped down quickly
and seemed to pick something up from
the trail.
"Did you drop anything2' he asked
with mock politenoss. "Why didn't you
tell me1 1t was my duty to PICK it up,
you know"
az did not drop anything" she an
swered. "Let's sit down on this rock"
They sat down on the rock, and the
young lieutenant, with his heart be ating
very fast, plt his arm around her waist