The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-09-01

anda, his face full of suppressed ex
citement.
''You telle me" he mutfered, "whc
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 Va
quero Water.
Cedric smiled at me approyingly
"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 beastly hun.
cry. Let's see what the old chap has
for u.s."
We dined in a long, low room, hung
with spurs and sporting prints, SOU
venirs of English days, the happiest
couple in California.
In its lack of excitement, ranch life
proved disappointing. Lynchingf
were unknown-bandits and despera.
does conspicuous by their absence.
So life flowed on, smoothly, monot.
onously, till after the birth of Bill
kins. All Cling then announced his de.
parture. "Better girl cook, ;" he de-
clared. "No likee baby. Heap tlouble.
Alice time ely"
The next Celestial left after hasty
glance at the kitchen wall. "Me faid, .
he explained, pointing to red hero.
glyphic unfortunately unnoticed 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 deb.
bill"
TRY girl, "implored Cedric. 'It's
no joke driving ten miles q day to the
station"
We tried, in turn: Gretchen, who
left within the week to 'Iearn relig.
ion;" Bridget, who declined working
under an Englishman; the widow,
whose tears, as she recounted hei
woes. sizzled over the stove; Dicie,
who disliked low wages, though she
found no fault with me, and Saman
tina, who objected to the lack OF
scenery" Useless to point out the
Brush Hills mellow charm, distant
mountains, oak-dotted meadows, Sa.
mantha remained obdurate. ''It may
suit you, Mrs. Allandale," she con,
tinued, pityingly, ''to see nothing but
land. l like it like il was in Tulare
There you kin see houses thick al
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
young girl, tall, slim and neatly
dressed, stepped on the veranda.
"If you please, ma'am," she quiet
ly said, 81 heard that you wanted Q
girl; can have the placer"
/ heard her history, which was
simple. The previous year she had
come from England to join her broth
er on claim, had fallen i'll, had gone
to the county hospital at La Huerta
had come thence to me. While hear
ing these details, Cedric returned
But one conclusion could be drawn
from his utter detection. ''No girl,
was stamped on every feature. Sa
mantha had recommended me tC
Odessa Green, who, less exacting il
regard TO scenery, was willing to leav,
the family pig-pen for q months
change, provided the washing was pu
out, Mrs. Allandale helped with the
dishes, the afternoons were free, anC
a horse every Sunday was at her dis
posal. 1 knew the type, ignorant
slatternly, familiar. Contrasting Will
it the newcomer, my resolution wa
taken. mo, Cedric, 1 have a servan
already"
"Where did she come from?"
''La Huerta, where she has been il
the hospital.
''Is she pretty?"
''That's an irrelevant question. Yes
rather-blue eyes and short, curly
yellow hair.
''You know nothing about her"
''But 1 know that Billikins has tn
whooping-cough. I must nurse him
and you can not cook Help is needed
and behold Anne"
$50 that's her name?"
Eyes, Anne james"
He still demurred.
prudence is an admirable virtue