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

ranch-house ver-
anda, his face full of suppressed ex-
citement.
"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 Va
quero Water.
Cedric smiled at me approvingly.
''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 us.
We dined in 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. Lynchings
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 q hasty
glance at the kitchen wall. "Me f1aid, :"
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 day to the
station"
We tried, in turn: Gretchen, who
left within the week to '1earn relig-
ion;" Bridget, who declined working
under an Englishman; the widow,
whose tears, as she recounted her
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. like it like it was in Tulare.
There you kin see houses thick 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 90, aud
had barely driven out of sight when
a 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 a
girl; can have the place?"
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 to
Odessa Green, who, less exaoting in
regard to scenery, was willing to leave
the family pig-pen for q months
change, provided the washing was put
out, Mrs. Allandale helped with the
dishes, the afternoons were free, and
horse every Sunday was at her dis
posal. 1 knew the type, ignorant,
slatternly, familiar. Contrasting with
it the newcomer, my resolution was
taken. "No, Cedric, have a servant
already"
''Where did she come from?"
"La Huerta, where she has been in
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 l know that Billikins has the
whooping-eough. 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.