Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-12-25


hoof-beats In the sodden ground. Once
he turned to asls II she found the motion
painful for her wrist; and again, when
they came to the point where she had
missed the way, he remarked that II
would have been strange II she had dis
covered trail so hidden by the crowd.
ing, quaking asps; but she answered
him only In monosyllables, and he
presently abandoned all effort toward
sociabllity.
They were equally relieved, perhaps
when they finally came out on the brow
Of the hill at the west Of the Mascot
mine. The constraint was becoming
almost unbcarable. ut will not be
necessary for me to bore you much long
er, you see" the young man observed, n
touch OF satire In his smile. For the
narrowness Of tho way they had been
riding single file, and he had waited
here for her TO come up beside him.
"You are going to stop-there?" she
exclaimed, looking down the wide
draw to where q group Of bare, unpnint.
ed buildings chung TO the hillside.
Eyes. You had already guessed It.
had you not?-that am Harvey Neil,
Of the Mascot?" looking her hardly in
the eyes, with IN assumption Of cool
nonchalance. II did not intrude my
self before, because"
because you knew that I would be
drenched q hundred times over rather
than accept any favor from Harvey
Neil, Of the Mascot" she flashed out
her eyes ablaze with wrath. She was
surprised ut the vehemence Of her feel
ing, at the poignant sense Of disap.
pointment and III usage which was H.
ing her with desire to visit with fierce
punishment his mir Of smiling uncon.
Germ. II suppose II seemed to you n
joke to take me into delude me with
talk of your acquaintance with my fa-
ther-to let Inc 60 on rs though you had
been m old friend, until had been be.
trnyed to such n frankness Of speech
that even you were ashamed OF
the mean advantage you were TAX
ing. I did guess after that; al
least I thought there must be some.
thing; but could not-I would not be.
lieve II could be 80 bad rs this. ! was
so sure that you were gentleman"
"See here, Miss Meredith, you are go.
ing too far" he interposed authorize
lively, light in his eyes before which
her angry glance wavered. II did NOT
force myself upon you; you must re-
member that. I ran across you by acci'
dent, Just Us / did ut the worlds fair.
I found you in q pouring rain, your
wrist sprained and your horse foun'
dered. In common decency could de-
no less than take you to shelter; and
tried to behave like a gentleman; you
must at least give credit for the inten'
ton. did not talk Of any acquaintance
with your father; I merely admitted
that / knew him when you asked me.
As to deluding you into imprudent
speech, It was my fatal blunder that
stopped you at the. very first word IN
the smallest degree compromising. J
could not take advantage Of you In such
a way; and when you are calmer you
will know that could not"
"But It was not honest to let me go or
for moment supposing that you were
a friend" the girl returned, implacably'
gazing straight ahead.
81 was q friend-I am-to you, Miss
Meredith" he impetuously retorted
"Heaven knows we have no quarrel
whatever may lie between your father
and me. did not venture my name fol
that very reason; it was SO sweet &c
meet you again SO nearly on the footing
of an old friend. So long Us / had nc
name you thought me q gentleman
you have said SO; and for just 80 long
you accorded me the same measure O.
kindness that you might have given te
any other man under the same circum
stances. It was stolen pleasure, Ger
tainly; but II has given me one gooe
hour to remember out Of many bad ones
at Windy Gulch. II you grudge 1t u
me, / am sorry; but for the thing 1t
self-my sin of omission, II you please
Il shall not pretend to be sorry in tn.
least. / am glad Of it, and always shni
be, whatever you have to say. Miss Mere
ditb."
The girl rode on for couple of min
utes in silence, with little scornful all
of ignoring his existence; then, a'
though of sudden bethinking herself
she looked around, her cheeks flaming
red, her eyes shining with a brightness
which seemed perilously akin to tears
81 suppose It would be waste OF time
10 discuss the point Of honor in thu
case" she said, tartly. "And I am SURF
I need not trouble you to come any
farther, Mr.. - Neil" bringing out the
name with evident disrelish.
"All right" he ncquiescently re
Joined, checking his horse ut once
"But-I wish we could part friends
Miss Meredith"
"Ah, we can never be friends-never'
Can you not see that"
There was IN odd flash in Harvey
Neil's eyes as he leaned forward, intent
" regarding her averted face for an In
slant, and his voice was exquisitely gen.
tie as he impetuously exclaimed: "Ibe'
lieve you are almost MS sorry to say
that, Miss Meredith, as I am to hear
YOU. And II that Is so, we are friends,
in spite Of everything"
"Neyer!" she vehemently retorted,
giving the horse smart touch with the
whip; and without another word she
dashed away down the hi, leaving him
looking blankly after her.
fro Nm CONTINUED
what Moses Said.