The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-19
THE HONORABLE ANNE.
BY EDITH AllANDAlE.

A II GING'S welcome when I came, q
~ bride, to the ranch was not of the
warmest. The dusky adobe wall, throw
ing him into picturesque relief, he stood
on the ranchhouse veranda, his face
full of suppressed excitement.
"You telle me-" he muttered, "who
boss, now Mr.. Allandale get nailed p
"All same as BEFORE" was my ready
rejoinder.
The crafty features relaxed, and All
Cling disappeared kitchenward, his pig
tail having struck the dominant note
in my first impressions of Vaquero
Water.
Cadric smiled at me approvingly.
"Glad you were so diplomatic, else he'd
have left by the morning stage. It's
awfully unromantic, darling, but the
drive has made me beasly hungry. Let's
see what the old chap has for US"
We dined in long, low room, hung
with spurs and sporting prints, SOU
venirs of English days, the happiest
couple in California.
In it's lack of excitement, ranch life
proved disappointing. Lynchings were
unknown - bandits and desperadoes
conspicuous by their absence.
So life flowed on, smoothly, monot-
onously, till after the birth of Billikins.
All Cling then announced his departure.
Better girl cook" he declared. ''No
likee baby. Heap tlouble. Alice time
ely"
The next Celestial left after a hasty
glance at the kitchen wall. me haid,"
he explained, pointing to red hero
glyphic unfortunately unnoticed by us.
"Ah Cling he write: 'Debbil in this
house," ~ res Ta-
"He meant the baby" suggested
Cedric.
HE say debbil. Me go. No China
boy stay here. Heap scared of debbil."
TRY a girl" implored Cedric. cts
no joke driving ten miles a day to the
station
We tried, in turn, Gretchen, who left
within the week to ''learn religion;"
Bridget, who declined working under
an Englishman; the widow, whose
tears, as she recounted her woes, sizzled
over the stove; Dicie, who dislil1ed low
wages, though she found no fault with
me; and Samantha, who objected to
the lack of Scenery" Useless to point
out the Brush Hills mellow charm, dis
tant noun ains, oak-dotted meadows,
Samantha remained obdurate. 1T may
suit you Mrs. Allandale, she commented,
pityingly, ''to see nothing but land. I
like it like it was in Tulare. There you
kin see houses thick as peas in pod
an people passin' all day. That's the
scenery for me, so guess I'll pack my
freight
Which she proceeded to do; and had
barely driven out of sight when a young
girl, tall, slim and neatly dressed,
stepped on the veranda.
IF you plese, ma'am," she quietly
said, II heard that you wanted girl;
can I have the place?''
Iheard her history, which was simple.
The previous year she had come from
England to join her brother on claim,
had fallen ill, had gone to the county
hospital at La Huerta, and had come
thence to me. While hearing these
details, Cedric returned. But one con-
clusion could-be drawn from his utter
detection. mo girl" was stamped on
every feature. Samantha had recon-
mended me to Odessa Green, who, less
exacting in regard to scenery, was will
ling to: leave the family pig-pen for a
months change, provided the washing
was put out, Mrs. Allandale helped
with the dishes, the afternoons were
free, and horse every Sunday was at
her disposal. I knew the type, ignorant,
slatternly, familiar. Contrasting With
It the newcomer, my resolution was
taken. mo, Cedric, have servant al
ready" EE %:<,E f.. j..
''Where did she come from?''
LA Huerta, where she has been in the
hospital"
us she pretty?" ~.
''That's an irrelevant question. Yes,
rather-blue eyes and short, curly, vel
low hair" s1.t. .. .2
you know nothing about her.
whooping-cough. I must nurse him,
and you cannot cook. Help is needed,
and behold Anne"
$50 that's her name.?"
Eyes, Anne; James,
He still demurred.
~ prudence is an admirable virtue
Cedric, but you carry it to an extreme
Cedric yielded, still holding to his
own opinion. Keep her! Keep her!'
he cried "but remember, if anything
happens, be it On your head n
Since the days Of All Cling, life had
not been worth living. Anne came, ane
comfort followed after. Capable, re
firing, a vague sense Of mystery per
vading her, she proved in our monoton
GUS existence q source Of inexhausti
bic interest.
II scent q romance?" Cedric declared
sswhaniAnne draws near. And ont ahou