Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-08-19
THE HONORABLEAN ANNE


ALI Ging's welcome when l came, a
bride, TO the ranch was not of the
warmest. The dusky adobe wall, throw
ing him into picturesque relief he stood
on the ranch house veranda, his face
full Of suppressed excitement.
"You telle me-" he muttered, "who
boss. now Mr.. Allundale get mallied?"
"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.
Cedric smiled at me approvingly.
Glad you were so diplomatic, else
he'd have left by the morning stage.
It's awfully unromantic, but the drive
has made me bcastly hungry. Let's
see what the old chap has for u.s."
We dned in a long, low room, hung
with spurs and sporting prints, souven-
IRIS of English days, the happlest couple
in California.
proved disappointing. Lynchings were
unknown-bandits and desperadoes
conspicuous by their absence.
50 life flowed on, smoothly, monoton-
Ously, till after the birth of Billikins.
All Cling then announced his departure.
Better girl cook" he declared mo
likcc baby. Heap tlouble. Ale time
CIV"
The next celestial left after hasty
glance at the kitchen wall ME fiaid,"
he exclaimed, pointing to a red HERO
glyphic unfortunately unnotced by us.
"Ah Cling he write. 'Debbil in this
house,"
HE meant the baby" suggested
Cedric.
"He say debbil Me go. No China
boy stay here Heap scared of debbil."
"Try n girl" implored Cedric. Its
no Joke driving ten miles day to the
station"
We tried. i'm turn: Gretchen. who left
within n week to learn religion"
Bridget. who declined working under
an Engllshman; the widow. whose
tears, as she recounted her woes, siz-
zled over the stove; Dicie, who disliked
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, distant mountains. oak-tlotted
meadows, Samantha remained obdur-
ate ut may suit you. Mrs. Allandale,"
she commented pityingly, "to see moth
ing but land. like 1t like it was in
Tulare There you kin see houses as
peas in a 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 dress
ed, stepped on the veranda.
'If you please. ma'am," she quietly
said, Il heard that you wanted girl.
Can have the place."
l heard her history, which was sim
pie. The previous year she had come
from England to join her brother on
claim. had fallen i'll, had gone to the
county hospital at La Huerta, and had
come thence to me. While hearing
these details Cedric returned. But one
conclusion could be drawn from his
utter detection. mo girl was stamped
on every feature. Samantha had rec
commended me to Odessa Green. who,
less eXacting in regard to scenery, was
willing to leave the family pig pen for
a months charge, provided the wash
ing was put out, Mrs. Allandale helped
with the dishes, the afternoons were
free and horse every Sunday was at
her disposal knew the type-ignor-
ant, slatternly, familiar. Contrasting
with 1t the new conner, my resolution
was taken. mo, Cedric, | have serv-
ant already"
"Where did she come from|'
la Huerta, where she has been in
the hospital"
rs she pretty?"
"That is an irrelevant question Yes.
rather-blue eyes, and short, curly vel
low hair"
You know nothing about her"
"But l know that Billikins has the
whooping cough. must nurse him.
and you cannot cook. Help Is needed,
and behold Anne"
$50 that's her name."
"Yes; Anne James"
He still demurred.
prudence is an admirable virtue
Cedric, but you carry 1t to an extreme"
Cedric yielded, still holding to his
own opinion. Keep her! Keep herr
he cried; but remember, If anything
happens, be 1t OH your head"
Since the days Of All Cling life had
not been worth living. Anne came and
comfort followed her. Capable. retir-
ing, a vague sense Of mystery pervad-
ing her, she proved In our monotOnous
existence source Of inexhaustible in
terest.
II scent a romance" Cedric declared
"When Anne draws near find out about
her."
"She is so reticent-a contrast to Sa-
mantha."
Teach her something. Learning I'M
locks a wOmans tongue"
So Anne was instructed in more
housewifely mysteries. and grew more
communicative. But Cedric received
all details Of her past with scornful in
credulity. Papa" was barrister.
Anne herself had been born in the sa-
cred precincts Of the Temple. Their
crest figured as dove. Fancy ones
parlor maid having a crest" he ejacu-
lated. For brlefess barrister he had
done singularly we'll, marrying a niece
Of the celebrated Countess Of Michigan.