The National tribune., 1900-10-11

You every minute that you've been in the
wagon. and was ready to grab you. .tha
minHte I'd seen you fan"
''When you'd seen me fall?" she re-
peated, scoi hfully. 'That'd been too late.
But you don't know how quick I am
Miss Maria"
"Quick?" she echoed, snappishly. y
think you're just too slow for anything
There was painful pause, during
which Shorty's face showed his sinking
heart.
She looked up presently, and said quiz
zically:
you aint used to riding with girls, I'm
afraid"
NO" said Shorty, soberly. You're the
very first girl l ever rode with, Miss Ma
| ria"
Il thought so,0 she said. and then there
was period of silence, which gave Shorty
an opportunity to wonder what new gawk-
cry he had committed. There came an
other and still worse lurch of the vehicle,
and Shorty caught her arm to save her.
There it is again." she said, Grossly, and
then in softer tone, When boys go out
riding with girls in the evening over a
rough road, equently-put-their
-girl's-waist-to keep-her-
steady"
| There was nothing slow about the way
| that Shorty's arm assumed the Indicated
| position.
There" she mnrmured, as she pressed
closer to him, I'm not afraid of falling
out now. By the way, you said that you
were very sorry TO leave US" she contin-
ued.
lawfully sorry" responded Shorty,
promptly, and unwittingly emphasiz-
| ing his words by tightening his arm
| around her. He did not intend to,
and was startled at his boldness.
She did not resent it, though, and
draw away from him, as he expected,
tsrested in the conversation. "Well, we're
very sorry to have you CO." she continued.
Mother likes you, and SO does Mandy.
though she does tease you. Pap, of course,
dotes on you. BE has ever SINCE
But I'm sorriest of all to leave you."
Shorty plucked up courage enough to say.
Il like them all-like them better'n any
people l ever knowed-but the hardest
thing ever done is to go away from you,
for
She was pressing very close to him now,
possibly because the roadbed sIanted lit
tie that way. A voice called out of the
darkness:
Hello, Deacon, is that you?''
eyes, Mr.. Hornbeam. What are you
doing out at this time o night?"
Il got a dispatch to go to Vincennes
to the depot l had to attend meeting of
the Trustees this evening, and so could
not be at your house, as l very much want
ed. When l got home l found the dis
patch awaiting me, and started as soon
as l could pack my valise. I'm afraid
I'm late. When 1 heard you coming
recognized your horses gait, and hailed
you. in hopes that you'd give me lift"
Very gladly" responded the Deacon:
though we're purity well crowded already.
You take that seat back with Maria.
Shorty, you come forward and sit on this
luggage with me. Them back springs is
purity weak for this load, and I'd rather
master don't weigh as much as you By
40 pounds, which counts for something
with them half springs"
If wishes could be deadly in proportion
to their intensity, the schoolmaster would
have been a corpse by the side of the
road. But Shorty said nothing for pub
licatiOn, as he took his arm from around
Maria's waist and seated himself by the
side Of the Deacon.
Maria and the schoolmaster entered into |
lively conversation, while Shorty replied
in monosyllabes to the Deacon's remarks |
AS they jolted over rough piece of road |
Shorty looked anxiously around, and saw
TO his horror that the schoolmaster's arm |
was around Maria's waist, to prevent any
danger Of her falling. He firmly decided !
to throw the schoolmaster under the loco
motive as soon as the train came in.
They were just in time. The train |
came in with a rush and roar that shook |
the sensitive nerves of the horses, Just /
as they drove up to the depot, and Shorty. |
ever mindful of danger to Maria, sprang /
out to their heads to assist the Deacon /
in controlling them.
He then looked around for the school
master, to execute vengeance upon, but |
that gentleman had sought the seclusion
of the ladies' car. 81 pressed last hasty
kiss on Annabel's lips, sprang out and
gathered up his things.
II saw that schoolmaster's arm," began
Shorty, as he reached into the wagon for
his traps.
"Humph, what if you did?" answered
she. '.That spider-legged pedagog. He's
only the school teacher. He hugs all the
big girls whenever he gets a chance.
That's part of his pay-like boarding
round. But at least he had sense enough
to do that without being told" she added,
resentfully
''All aboard" shouted the conductor.
"Good-by, Pap; good-by, Maria" called
81, and they climbed onto the cars
The partners adjusted themselves upon
he seats, and fell into deep sleep, from
which they did not awake until they had
% change cars in the morning I
freight train came up while they
waited, and shrill voice called from the
engine:
Hi. there, saFgjint Klegg, Hi, there,