The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-07-05
III b. PATIENCE STAPEET0N.A|
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Oliver looked at her in wonder. was
she child or woman? A slight, girlish
figure, but beautifully formed, tiny
hands and feet, mass of short reddish
curls around the neck, parted smoothly
in the middle, hazel eyes with dark
lashes, nose retrousse, piquantly so,
and a rosebud mouth that showed
small white teeth of dazzling brilliancy.
Her skin was almost unnaturally pale;
and dimple in her left cheek drew
attention to its soft roundness. Her
gown OF yellow China SILK chung TO ner
beautiful curves, and the wide rufde OF
the yellow around her throat was like
the petals of a flower. He looked at
her left hand; there was no ring; in
fact, all the jewelry she wore was a
bunch of silver bangles on her right
arm.
"Do you live here?" he asked, lamely,
as she knelt again on the rug to pat
his dog, Skye in her arms.
Instead Of replying, she made her
dog sit up on its hind legs and began
accomplishment Skye disliked show
ing, as he desired getting acquainted
with the new dog, and this circus busi-
ness seemed derogatory to his dignity.
''Seew said the young woman, breath
lessly; ''isn't he cunning? But he does
it better when there is not company;
he never will show off. Can your dog
give his paw"
IL don't think l ever asked him."
stammered Oliver, who was thinking
what pretty picture the girl made.
"Well, he is too tired to tease now.
OH" jumping up and standing by the
fire, ''you asked who I was?"
mo; if you live here?"
"Do you think" half sadly, "a person
could live here%'
ell don't know"
81 do," said the young woman, en-
phatically. II have tried it two years
and winters, all the long shut-in
months. l eat, sleep, breathe, but l
don't live. am called Minny-chris-
tened Minerva, after my fathers ship
"a funny name, that does not suit me.
Children ought to be allowed to name
themselves, don't you think so?" - {
'It might be better, but Minny is y
pretty name. and," with a smiling
glance Of admiration. for Oliver liked q
pretty woman, "suits delightfully."-. I
was named Peter-think of that!-but
luckily had middle name. Allow me
to introduce myself: Craig Oliver, of
Denver, and your neighbor in the val
ley of the Troublesome"
II am"-she hesitated moment and
looked at him defantly-"Mrs. de
Restaud. knew you'd have to know.
put it off on purpose. Now please
don't look at me out of the corner Of
your eye and wonder 1 am not more
dignifled and stop being pleasant to
me because am married"
81 don't see," said Oliver, uncon-
sciously becoming more distant, ''that
your being married makes any differ
ence."
81 am glad; for up here they daren't
talk politely to me because of monsieur;
in fact, for weeks only have Skye to
talk to. know run on foolishly; but
am like an exile meeting neighbor
from the home country. No gentle
men come here; Lord Morris was not;
he might have been once, but liquor
changes everybody. Since Aunt Han
nah was sent away, six months ago,
there has not been living soul here I
even endured. BY the way" smiling
again. ''are you hungry"
IT breakfasted this morning." an
swered Oliver.
swell, I'll get You something to eat.
Please let me; it's such fun to have q
visitor. And don't you mind If you
hear growls from the kitchen"
She ran out before Oliver could OBJ
ject; 30 he sat and watched his steam
ing coat, wondering If the proprietor
would shoot on sight. He remembered
now seeing the ''crazy Frenchman," as
he was called in the valley, small,
wizened creature, looking as II he
took morphine, from his strange color
and the unnatural brightness of his
eyes. The pity of it! the girl-a
child, almost-was his wife. ''This is
odd" he thought, IAN adventure, and
Doctor John will never believe word
of it." Unfortunately, Mrs. de Restaud
had left the door ajar, and Oliver be-
came painfully aware of her converse
ton:
annette dear-how wish the Utes
would carry you off! how tired they'd
be, though, of their bargain!-let me
get that tea. Don't you touch me.
Witch! they'd hung you in Salem
days. am getting this for the
stranger who looks like a hero out of q
book-a big, broad-shouldered man;
not little, evil thing, like your dear
monsieur or your own pet Louis with
his Sing Sing manners. Such q
charming stranger, with the kindest
smile, and eyes that smile too, and q
gentleman like I used to know before
was shut up here. Cat, let the waiter
alone! hate your monsieurl his own
father called him a coward. Oh. wait.