Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-07-09
A DIVORCE SUIT.

Little Dick stopped short, executed q
sort of pigeon wing, snorted, bumped
his back little rs though about to
buck, then no stood still, putting nerv.
ously, and with head high in air and
his tawny ears cooked forward indicat-
ed danger" as plainly as well train
ed bird dog shows the near presence Of
game III the covert
A sharp thrill shot through Boston S
frame as for fleeting second he thought
Indians" But very brief reflection
told him that under present circum-
stances-the reds having been very re-
Gently thraShed and sent back 10 their
reservation as children spanked and sent
to bed-was impossible. yet he pulled
his winchester from its scabbard with
some celebrity, and his voice was not
quite clear ~ he asked:
What is il, Dick!'
The caynse snorted again and trem-
bled slightly, and then his rider saw
what alarmed him. A big black bear
was just coming from behind sharp
turn in the canyon. at place known rs
"the Elbow" some 90 yards from
where Dick had halted He was not
such very big bear, comparatively
speaking. but there are circumstances
under which even small bear assumes
alarming proportions, and this one, ap-
pearing suddenly rs he did, seemed about
AS big as an OK. He was about rs much
surprised. however, rs Boston was, so
much so that in his astonishment he for
got all discretion. and rearing up on his
hind feet ambled toward the hOrseman,
with the obvious intention Of hugging
him.
Boston was bit ratified" for he
had never before encountered bear
alone. but his nerve did not desert him.
STEADY, Dicky boy, steadyr' he said
gently rs he sprang from the saddle and
rested his rife across its pommeL In a
trice he had bruin covered where he
wanted him. just under the left shoul.
der, and then he began pumping lead.
At the first shot the bear saw his error
and came down on all fours for the sake
Of speed, but he was too late. Boston
had his range. and at the third shot Mr..
Bear fell into the road in heap and be-
gan kicking the dust and biting himself
in his death struggle.
Presently. us his slayer leaned over
him and congratulated himself on his
craftsmanship, there came fresh sur
prise that caused Boston To whirl on
his heel and stand painting, peering all
about to see whence had come that trem-
bling. Enthusiastically feminine voice III
the query:
"Oh, sir. are you sure he's quite
dead:"
Boston rubbed his eyes and looked
again. There she WAS. the owner Of the
voice, standing with clasped hands Oh
the highest point Of 1.-THE Elbow" and
looking down at him appealingly.
"Tenderfoot. Pretty, too, by Jove"
thought Boston. But he said very
sharply, for he did not like sudden
shocks:
"what on earth are you doing mp
there:"
"Are you sure he's quite dead:' the
fair tenderfoot responded irrelevan,ly
ITO be- sure he is. was the short re
ply Us the bear slayer gave his fallen foe
a vicious kick.
The stranger disappeared, coming
again into view just where bruin had
first shown himself TO Boston's star
tied eyes. The latter had somewhat re-
covered himself and repented his seem
ing rudeness, and as he advanced 10
meet her, his handsome head uncovered,
the lady could not help noting what
romantic appearance ne had.
lin so glad you came, she fal-
tered AS he came up to where she had
stopped and was leaning against the
rock. "Ive been up there ever since
about IL O'Clock, and it must be quite .
by now. "
But-er--how"
"Oh, went up there to sketch, and
when started to come down there was
that horrid hear, right at the bottom OF
the rock! Ugh!"
Ibid he see your"
"No; if he had just looked at me, !
should have died, know! Ishan't dare
go out again in that way, all alone.
"You don't seem to have lost your
nerve very badly" said Boston, looking
at her admiringly. How pretty she was,
and what a figure, to be sure! "Er-
pardon me, but where are you stop
ping?" he queried.
"Over at Mr. Wheatley's. am Mrs.
Harlan," answered the fair rescued.
Eyes? l amor was, back in the
States-Mr. Bendixon. Out here, and
he smiled grimly, Il am Boston, be-
cause probably do not come from there.
By the way. where is your horse? am
goiRg to Mr.. Wheatley's to get wagon
to bring in Mr.. Bear, and will see you
safely home, although there's probably
not another bear within 80 miles OF
here.
But Mrs. Harlan had come out afoot,
the Wheatley ranch house being only
about mile distant, SO they walked
over together, Dick ambling along in
the rear with his usual meekness.
When they returned for the bear, Mrs.
Harlan mounted horse, and nothing
daunted rode back to the scene Of her
scare, despite the protestations OF Mrs.
wheatley, who had been worrying about
her ever since she had failed to appear
at the luncheon hour. If she was charm
ing ON foot, she was doubly so ON horse
back, Boston thought, as he compared
this tenderfoot with the Gila girls, who
all rode splendidly in their way, but
were not, as q rule, particularly grace
full in the saddle, or out Of it, for that
matter.
Fred Bendixon was still thinking Of
the charming tenderfoot as, after taking
dinner with the Wheatley's, he rode
slowly homeward through the gathering
darkness. He had been in New Mexico
three years now, and she was the only
civilized being, as he told himself, that
he had talked with in all that time
She was really delightful, he decided.
Were 1t not for her vivacity, she would
be much hks-