Evening star., 1899-07-08

| at her with a singular expresson-which
| was really one of undisguised admiration.
Never having seen this before in the eyes
| of any man who looked at her. she referred
! 1t to some vague ''iarking OF jocularfty for
| which she was in no mood.
Say, Libbyl you're gettin' to be right
/ smart lookin' gal! Seems to agree with
1 ye up here" said Hoskins, with an awk-
! ward laugh. "Darned eff ye amt loolSin'
,, awful purify
''G'long." said Liberty Jones' more than
ever convinced of his badinage.
Fact i07ioskinsenergetieally "why
Doc would tell ye SO, too. See eff he DON'T
AT this Liberty Jones felt her face grow
| hot. You jes geti' she said. turning away
| in as much embarrassment as anger. Yet
| ne hovered near her with awkward atten-
tons that pleased while it still angered
| her He offered to go with her to look up
| the cows: she fatty declined, yet with a
| strange satisfaction in his evident embar-
| rassment. This may have lent some ami
nation to her face, for he drew long
breath and said:
Don't go pertendin' ye don't know yer
| purity. Say, let you an me walk a bit and
| have talk together But Libby had an
| other idea in her mind and curtiy dismiss
ed him Then she ran swiftly to the spring,
| Tor the words, THE doc will tell We SO,
| too were ringing in her ears The doctor
who came with the two beautifully dressed
women. He-would tell her she was pretty.
| sShe had not dared to look at herself in
| that crystal mirror since that dreadful
| day, two months ago. She would now
1T was a pretty place in the cool shade of
| the giant trees. and the hoof marks of
cattle drinking from the run beneath the
pool had not disturbed the margin of that
TRANQUIL sylvan basin. For moment she
stood tremulous and uncertain, and then
going up to the shining mirror, dropped on
her knees before it, with her thin red
hands clasped on her lap. UnconsciouSy
she had taken the attitude of prayer-per-
haps there was something like 1t in her
mind.
And then the light glanced full on the
figure that she there.
1t fell on a full oval face and throat
guileless of fieck stain, smooth as a
chids and glowing with health; on large,
dark eyes, no longer sunk in their orbits.
but filed with an eager, happy light; on
barred arms shapely in contour and
cushioned with firm flesh; on dazzling
smile-the like of which had never been on
the face of Liberty Jones before.
She rose to her feet and yet fingered as
If 10th to part from this delightful vision.
Then fear overcame her that it was some
trick of the water and she sped swiftly
back to the house to consult the little mir
ror which hung in her sleeping room, but
which she had never glanced at since the
momentous day of the spring. She took II
shyly into the sunshine and found that 1t
corroborated the reflection of the spring.
That night she worked until late at the
calico DR.. Ruysdael had sent her and went
to bed happy. The next day brought her
Hoskins again with feeble excuse of in
and she was surprised to find that he was
reinforced by a stranger from Hoskins
farm who was equally awkward and
vaguely admiring. But the appearance OF
the two men produced a singular phase IN
her impressions and experience She was
no longer indignant at Hoskins, but she
found relief in accepting the compliments
of the stranger in preference, ana 1elt a
delight in Hoskins discontinue. Waya,
promoted to the burlesque of chaperon'
grinned with infinite delight and under
standing.
tors arrival he was duly met by Hoskirs,
and as duly informed by that lInpresSl2ie
subordinate of the great change IN Llh-
erty's appearance. But the doctor was far
from being equally impressed with his fac
tors story, and, indeed, showed much more
interest in the appearance OF the STOCK
which they met along the road. once the
doctor got out of the wagon to Inspect a
cow and particularly the coat Of a rough
draft horse that had been turned out anu
put under Liberty's care His skin is IKE
velvet" said the doctor. 1.-THE girl evident
ly understands stock and knows how to
keep them in condition. ..s
II reckon she's beginning to understand
herself, too,' said HoSkinS. rGoly! wait
till ye see her.
The doctor did see her, but with what
feelings he did not as frankly express. she
was not at the cabin when they arrive
but presently appeared from the direction
of the spring, where, for reasons OF her,
own she had evidently made her toilet
DR.. Ruysdael was astounded; Hoski1s
praise not exaggerated; and there was
an added charm that Hoskins was not pre-
pared for. She had put on gown of her
own making-the secret toilet of many
long night-anlateurishly fashioned from
some cheap yellow calico the doctor had
sent her. vet fitting her wonderfully, and
showing every curve of her graceful hSure:
Unaccented by a corset-an article she nad
never known-even the lines OF the SUN,
unyielding calico had a fashion that vas
nynphlike and suited her unfettered mbs.
DR. RuysdaeI was profoundly moved Though
a philosopher, he was practical He FOUND
himself suddenly confronted not only by
beautiful girl-but a problem! 1t was inn
possible to keep the existence OF ms wood
land nymph from the knowledge OF his dls-
tant neighbors; it was equally unpossip'e
for him to assume the responsibility of
keeping q goddess like this in her tsent
position. He had noticed her previous i'm
provement, but had never dreamed that
pure and wholesome living could, in two
months work such miracle And he was
to a certain degree responsible; he had
created her-a beautiful Frankenstain-
whose lustrous appealing eyes were even
now menacng his security and position.
Perhaps she saw trouble and perplexity
In the face where she had expected admira-
ton and pleasure for a slight chill went
over her as he quickly praised the appear
ance of the stock and spoke of her own i'm
provement. But when they were alone he
turned to her abruptly:
You said you had no wish to go to San
JOSEF"
NO" yet she was conscious that her
greatest objection had been removed, and
she colored family.
Listen to me- he said, drily. You de-
serve a better position than this-a better
home and surroundings than you have here.
You are older, too-a woman almost-and
you must look ahead"
A look of mingled fright reproach and
appeal came into her eloquent face: Yer
wantin' to send me away?" she stamm ered
No" he said frankly. ut is you who are
growing away. This is no longer the place
for you"
But | want to stay. I don't wanter go.
I AMI was happy here.
"But I'm thinking of giving UP this place.
1t takes up too much of my time. You must
be provided"
You are going away?' she said, pas
sionatey.
Yes
Take me with you. I'll go anywherei
To San Jose-wherever you go Don't turn
me off as dad did-for I'll foler you as 1
never followed dad. I'll go with you--or I'll
die!"
There was neither fear nor shame in her
words; it was the outspoken instinct of the