Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-09-03
THE HONORABLE

The HONORABLE NM
All Ging's welcome when I came, a
bride, to the ranch was not of the
Warmest. Thedusky 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.. Allandale 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 a%pprovingly.
Glad you were so diplomatic, else
he'd have left by the morning stage.
It's awfully unromantic. but the drive
has made me beastly hungry. Let's
see what the old chap has for u.s."
We dined in n long, low room, hung
with spurs and sporting prints, souven-
irs of English days, the happiest couple
in California.
In it's lack of excitement, ranch life
proved disappointing. Lynchings We're
unknown-bandits and dcsperadoes
conspicuous by their absence.
So life flowed on, smoothly, monoton-
ously. till after the birth of Billikins.
Al Cling then announced his departure.
"Bctter girl cook" he declared. NO
likee baby. Heap tlouble. ALE time
ely"
The next celestial left after a hasty
glance mt the kitchen wall. "Me naid,"
he exclaimed, pointing TO a red hero
glyphic unfortunately unnoticed by us.
"-Ah Cling he write, 'Dcbbil in this
house,
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. Its
station"
We tried. in turn: Gretchen, who left
within n week to learn religions"
Bridget. who declined working under
an Englishman; the widow. whose
tears. as she r%ecounted her woes. siz-
zled over the stove; Dicie. who dis!ilied
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-dotted
meadows, Samantha remained obdur-
ate. ut may suit you, Mrs. .Mlandale."
she commented pity;ngly. ito see moth
ing but land. l like it 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 1 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 Il 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 n
claim. had fallen i'll. had gone to the
county hospital at In Huerta, and had
come thence to me. While hearing
these details Cedric returned. But one
conclusion could be drawn from his
utter detection. NO girl was stamped
on every feature. Samantha had rec
commended me to Odessa Green. who,
Tess 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 n horse every Sunday was mt
her disposal. l knew the type-ignor-
ant. s%latternly. familiar. Contrasting
with it the new conner, my resolution
was taken. no, Cedric, 1 have n sery-
ant already"
"Where did She come from?''
"I.a Huerta, where she has been in
the hospital"
us 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. 1 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 it on 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 q socrce of inexhaustible in
terest.
81 scent G romance" Cedric declared
"When Anne draws near find out abou'
hers