The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-08-13

Il don't know" she answered, curl
ing the bare feet under the little ging-
ham skirt which she pulled down over
them. I'VE couldn't stay any longer.
and father says he doesn't see how we
could get away"
| why did you go there in the first
/ placer" George went on.
Because they told u.s." she replied
| earnestly that we should have water
in year. and it has been year and
| half already, and father says they
can't get the water on now before an
| other year unless they put 200 men at
work right off. You see, they've got
! to build a great big dam way up in the
| top of Brush Creek Canyon and fumes
way out round the hill, and lots and lots
of bitches"
George leaned back in his chair, but
did not smile. How is it you know all
| about it?" he asked her.
Father talks about it," she said.
when mother wants him to go away"
II suppose your father is in town to-
day." he continued.
"Oh, yes" she replied, looking around
over her shoulder. He told me not to
go out of sight of the team. That's our
team there she went on, pointing at
a pair of tired-looking horses and ranch
wagon hitched in front of a store.
They're Buck and Spotty. Bucks on
the off side, and / like him best cause
he wrinkles his nose just as funny when
you give him apple cores"
Her smile brought no response from
George. He was thinking of the knoll
overlooking the river and the two big
oaks. She gathered up her pebbles
again.
But you must have some water"
said George, suddenly.
YES" she said, 1--WE have well, but
it's not very good, and it gets awfully
low sometimes She looked up at him
again. do you like to hear about the
water?" she asked. George fairly
blushed when he realized how he had
been questioning her.
There's father now!' she exclaimed
before he replied. A tall, broad-shoul-
dered man in the regulation blue over
alls and gray hat of the region was put
ting some parcels into the wagon be-
hind Beck and Spotty.
The child arose. Il shall keep this,
she said, ito remember you by and you
may have this"-she gave him a pebble
from her sunbonnet-"to remember me
by. Do you live here?"
NO" said George, carefully putting
the pebble in his pocket II live in the
East"
I'm grass country" she asked lorg-
ingly.
In grass country" George assured
her.
Il wish we did," she said, and George
did not reply.
Are you going back soon?" she wen
on.
Il think SHALL" he said; very soon
Will you come with me?"
Il don't think father would let me,
she replied.
Probably not" said George. Blu
l think both of us would enjoy tn,
trip"
She held out her hand. Good bye,
she said, with little smile.
Goodbye" said George, rising ant
shaking hands with her very gravely
Il hope you'll get your water soon.
He sat very still and watched the wagol
far out across the plain; then he ros
and went into the hotel Office.
He sat for some time with blanl
sheet of paper before him, examining
over and over again little water-worl
granite pebble which he took from hi
pocket
Irrigation wins" he said to himsel
at last. THE child of the desert ha
done well by her country" He drew
the paper toward him and wrote:
MeSsrs. Dartell and wan SheH-Gen
tlemen: / am sorry to inform you tina
I shall not need, this year at least, tn
plans for a suburban residence which
asked you to prepare for me. Pleas
accept my apologies for troubling yo
unnecessarily Very truly yours,
GEORGE EXWELL.
Then laconic telegram to his agen
! in Chicago
Send 200 men with tools for grading
and blasting at once. EXWELL.
Robert Palfrey Utter in Youths Com
panion.