The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-07-10

it was the next time flock OF sheep came
through to see the thirsty creatures crowd
and push around the low stone trough,
full to the brim with clear, cold water and
how eagerly the jaded horses dropped their
heads forward to the welcome draught.
And no less satisfied was she to see the
dusty sheepmen lift awkwardly their wide
sombreros as they dismounted and caught
a glimpse of her before they drank ouptul
after cupful from the iron fountain.
All this filled Miss P's queer soul with
intense satisfaction. "Whoso giveth cup
OF cold water'-she thought to herself,
maybe it's just as much deed OF mercy
as to send money to the heathen."
One morning Miss p, as was her custom,
worked among her flowers, digging around
the rose-trees with her little hoe, turning
up the earth with her little trowel and ty-
ing up sagging vine here and there.
Suddenly she heard down the road the
unm5takable herald Of an approaching herd
of cattle the confused lowing of o hun
dred plunging and plodding COWS mingled
with the whistles and peculiar cries and
calls of attendant cowboys, who in wide
sombreros and picturesque attire, rode at
each side of the moving mass of tossing
horns and rough coated bodies.
Miss P. dropped her garden tools and
went up the steps to the porch, 1t was the
way she paid herself for the expense and
trouble of setting up the drinking place
this quiet enjoyment of hers in the eager
ness and satisfaction of the poor creatures,
weary with the travel of many miles Over
dusty roads.
AS she sat thus, looking out across the
cypress hedge upon the surging crowd of
cattle, panic-stricken child pushed open
the gate and ran up the walk "Oh, Miss
p she cried out shrilly, ''let me come
where you are! Pm afraid Of the cows!'
Miss p. rose and went down the steps.
How womanly and tenderly she looked as
she reached a hand down to the little girl
and smiled assuringly. The cattle were
crowdilg around the long stone trough
and dark eyed, weather bronzed cowboy
leaned from his mustang and helped him
self to drink from the fountain. As he
did so he heard the childs frightened cry
and saw the pretty womanly little picture.
AS he drank he studied the woman's face
furtively from the shadow of his wide
sombrero and a sudden look of wonder
seemed to come into his deep eyes. But he
assisted the others in keeping the strug-
Cling herd under control, and finally, a ter
all were satisfied, helped to start them
moving again, in a wide, dark stream of
hoofs and horns, red backs and switching
tails, down the dusty road Then, with a
word to the cowboy nearest to him he
turned his horse and rode back to the
fountain.
AS Miss p, standing at the gate with
the child, glanced up at him he lifted his
sombrero and sprang from his saddle. "Beg
pardon, madam, he began courteously,
"but want to thank you for the great
privilege we have enjoyed. It's rare
thing in California to find Watering place
along the road.'
you're entirely welcome, Pm sure, :"
responded Miss p. cordially. This was
nothing new. Dozens of grateful passersby
had paused to thank her for providing such
refreshment for man and it was only sim
pie act of courtesy in this particular cow
boy to do the same. So she wondered a
little why he did not take his departure
now that his errand was DONE Perhaps he
enjoyed the shade of the mighty fig tree
which spread its great limbs and dense
foliage far out over the fountain and into
the street.
Why should he look at her so? Why
didn't he go? Oh, whom did he look like
and who was he?
At that moment her startled eyes caught
sight of long scar across the mans fore
head, for his head was bare, and in another
instant she found herself leaning against
the cypress hedge quite weakly and feeling
as though it must all be a dream. Then
she gathered herself together and spoke in
quiet voice which trembled little:
''Horace-Horace, is it you, or am |
dreaming?'
"You are not dreaming, Nellie" the
man replied as quietly-''it is Horace and
you are Nellie, come together at last in this
strange way"
Miss ?. suddenly lost her hold upon her.
self and began to cry, soft, nervous, Sob
bling cry-and murmured something
brokenly which the stranger accepted as an
invitation to come in. So he tied the mus
tang to the ring in the fig trees trunk and
followed Miss P. into the house, while the
open mouthed child went on her way
schoolward, stopping often to walk back
ward few steps and wonder at what she
had seen
But old Mrs. Green behind her window