Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-06-14
CHAPTER VII.

OI1AE lEIC v IL.
But Miles still held the bride, and de
elined to accept this broad hint, wallin:
beside his cousin, till Jacky suddenly
came to a violent halt at the back gate o.
a large farm yard, surrounded by high
redtiled, dcep-roofed barns, and a noise
Of lowing and barking and clucling anC
growing.
"Oh, Miss Esme dearr' cried ruddy
checked, elderly woman, in large check
ed apron. who was in the act of feeding
mob of ducks. She's been asking fol
you the whole afternoon. Go in and see
her like a dear young lady. You've
brought the w0ol?"
YES but I've 10 time to stop, Mary
Jacky has kept me hours on the road. He
went halfway into the horrid green pool
near the Belle rising, and was going to
lie down, only boy rushed in and drag
ged him out; and he got loose in the hay
field, and l thought he never would have
been caught. I'll give you the lingering,
and I'll come in again." evidently anxious
to be gone.
oh but here is Tom to hold the pony,
and you must Just run in for minute,
dear She's been awful irritable all day,
and maybe you'd put her in a good humor
for us; you know how she takes to you.
Do nOw," coaXingly. Tom, go to the
pony's head!'-to a youth with shock
of red hair.
Thus adjureG, Esme jumped off Jacky,
and hastily went into the farm house, fol-
lowed by Miles, who found himself in
long, low, tiled kitchen, with small lat
ticed-paned windows and well-stored raft
ers, and in the presence of little old
woman, who was sitting near the fire in
a kind Of beehive chair, with glittering
dark eyes. lighting up face as wrinkled
as roasted apple and as sharp as
needle.
"Well, so you were not for coming in
missy.' she cried, in high, reedy voice
Il saw you. Ny sight is spared to me,
though it would be as we'll sometimes if
1t wasn't, tc see the waste going on all
around" glaring at her daughter-in-law
and lifting, as she spoke, a large ear
trumpet to the ear nearest Esme.
Il would have come in, only I'm late,
granny" returned that young lady down
the trumpet, in her most apologetic tone
of voice, and here is the WOOL" placing
a packet in the old Iady's lap.
It's gray!" she exclaimed. 81 don't
want gray wooL l said brown" she re-
turned, ungratefully, as she held it up
and felt it critically between her claw
like fingers, her eyes all the time fixed on |
Miles.
I can change it" said Esme, making
animated signs.
No no, no; then 1 would not get it for |
another long spell. 1t will have to do.'
very GROSSLY. And now, suddenly sitting
up quite erect and still staring hard at
Miles, she nodded her head confidentiaIly.
And so this is the young man that has
come all the way from the other end of
the world, hasn't he" Esme made
quick sign Of assent, unprepared for the
sequel, Ito marry you"
No, he hasn'tr' she shouted down the
trumpet.
Its no use you screaming to me,
missy" she returned shrilly. Il never
can hear what you say, and it just goes
through my poor head" now planting the
trumpet in her lap, and thus cutting off
any possible reply, ''and it's no good
shaking your head like that What's he
come for else|' demanded this very ter ]
rible old person. She's a good girl''-
IN patronizing staccato-"and You'll
get. a pretty wife," she cried, raising a
high, chirruping voice, and addressing ,
herself specially to Miles, who. now that
le had seen Esme, was by no means so +
lyerse to congratulations as he had been r
-wo hours previously. c
As for his unhappy cousin, who knew :
rom years of experience the extraordi- ,
cary loquacity of Granny Hogben, and +,
he liberties she allowed her tongue. she .
yot herself-how she never exactly knew =
once more out into the yard, and ,-as =
Don IN the saddle. Jacky was stepping !
lomeward at 4 rapid, consequential walk, /
when Miles overlook them running, say E
ng, as he got up to them: {
Surely you are never going to be so y
nhuman as to desert me and leave me :
o my fate in these outlandish lanes? 1t i
you'd be ungrateful, to say the least of :
"Oh. answering him very reluctantly, 6
l will point you out the road, and you },
an easily make your way home You =
o up this lane, pointing with her whip, :,
and take the first turning on the right,
len the second on the left, them
'Hnen,' he interrupted emphatically, a
shall have lost my way, and shall be .
lmbling about the fields all night. PRAY
pare me this fater' It
Miles was amazed at his own persist
ace and his own few of language. but |
le rude avoidance of an exceedingly "
'etty girl is occasionally a sufficient in III
'ntive TO put young man on his met d
Come, then, if you like" was the nl il
.udging answer; but you must walk kI
st, or we shall be late for dinner Sc
'I'll run the whole way. IN be your al
es, as if you were in India,'} he return III
eagerly. Only don't leave mel" ia
To hear you, one would imagine you 70
ere one Of the babes in the wood.' re- lo
rned his cousin, contemptuously. glanc- M
2 down on her companion as she spoke he
What an amiable person Mrs. Hog ca
ms aged parent seems to be- he re- sh
irked, irrelevantly. Il quite love her" of
DO you? You must be susceptible in to
ed. Yes, he certainly had a look of oh
ddy when he laughed th'
i wanted to say something to you" da
ltiuued Miles, nervously fourishing his sts
le about in a manner that excited the fiji
of Jacky; "and all the way up from to
fields / was cudgeling my brains, but fut
ould not ssy It. / wanted to speak to an
1 bout-about-this will, and yonder fal
rthy old woman broke tho ice for me
one plunge You know" inc
l know" interrupted his companion, got
'tily, with averted face. that if ever EN-
! break it any further. ! shall never