Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-11-04

which he turned to fish out from the
debris in the corner a dusty gunny
sack, which he held up before him as il
obviously measuring its possibilities.
ut won't do; it is not half big
enough" Dorothy exclaimed, divining
his idea with merry laugh.
II suppose not; and it is so abomin-
ably dirty besides he disgustedly re-
joined, his laugh by no means so gay as
hers, as he threw the thing back where
he had found it. "But you ought to
have something around YOU you will
have your death of cold. am afraid
my coat is as wet as your Dress" anx-
iously feeling the sleeve.
"And could not think of taking it If
it were not" she decidedly returned.
please don't trouble; am doing beau
tifully. It is such a glorious fire.
But still, with all the draughts in
this sieve of a place Oh, I say, why
can't I put the box up on the forge for
you, to the windward of the smoke
So" suiting the action to the words, and
hastily adding small erection of sticks
TO save her feet from contact with the
ashes. Now, Miss Meredith, you won't
find this half bad, j promise you.
hand to assist her.
but ] cannot" the girl protested,
laughing at the idea, even though as
she spoke she yielded the point, meek
ly permitting herself 10 try the strange
construction. 81 feel like Patience on
a monument, smiling at grief" she
laughingly observed, CHANGING about
from the high perch.
"And will do to personate grief?"
he amusedly returned. "Niobe could
hardly have been wetter than I, 1 fancy.
But-heavens!-hear that downpour
We are here just in time, you see, Miss
Meredith"
EYES," she replied, listening with an
awed face to the thunderous beating
upon the roof. "And it is leaking over
there in the corner-see."
but it is all right where you are
he reassuringly returned. "And are
you getting warm? Can I do anything
to make you more comfortable ?"
81 am doing beautifully, thanks
There was n puzzled light in her eyes
as she looked at him with glance that
swiftly took note of his dark brown,
close-cropped hair, showing tendency
to curl at the ends, which lay damp
against his forehead, the clear, gray
blue eyes, the dark moustache, and the
square-cut chin beneath. It was a
strong, masterful face, f1ne-looking
rather than handsome. There was in
telleetual force in the high forehead,
uprightness in the frank glance, which
had a way of flashing in light Of humor,
exquiSitely contagious when he smiled.
In that smile lay his strongest claim to
real beauty. softening and Frightening
the whole face, which expressed some
thing of severity, almost of sadness, in
repose. But even when he was grave
it was q goodly face to look upon, face
to like and remember. II in any part
OF the world she had ever met this man
before, Dorothy thought, it would seem
that she could hardly fail to recognize
him now, even under the partial dis
guise of his rough mining garb, and
yet
Il beg pardon; you were about to say
something's" he asked, as with a little
catch in her breath she looked away,
meeting his glance.
1T was nothing, only hesitating,
with a shy little smile that made her
divinely pretty in the dancing freight,
sit struck me that had possibly met
you somewhere before to-day"
Il think you have. Miss Meredith"
he answered, smiling so broadly that
she must note how even were the strong
white teeth showing under the brown
moustache. but hardly expected
that you would remember it" he added.
She looked at him for an instant in
silence. the puzzled expression sud-
denly changing to a flashing smile of
recognition. az know" she breath
lessiy exclaimed at was at the
worlds fair!-It was you who"
who turned burglar to flch your
jacket from the Colorado building in