Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-06-07

And you say that she is the prettleSl
girl in Thornshire," observed Miles, moi
wishing to enter upon a discussion of the
little episode of the previous evening with
the loquacious Augusta.
Il don't say it alone; everybody says
it. When we go into a room everybody
looks at her; she is what you would cal
the cynosure of every eye. And so far sc
good, but once men begin to talk to her
their enthusiasm cools. She is so stiff
and cold and stand-off; and if they pre-
sume in spite of this, to pay her compli-
ments, or to make sweet little speeches,
she smites them so numerically that they
go away nearly crying, and, l need
scarcely remark, never more return. Oh,
never, never more"
"a lively lookout for me, isn't itY' ex-
pressively.
"Oh, you must not mind her. Don't
seem to notice her or admire her, and
treat her quite in an everyday manner,
as if she were nothing at all out of the
common, and she will be as pleasant as
possible. She says herself that the mo-
ment any man seems disposed to be extra
civil-you know what L mean" nodding
her head expressively-"she can't help
|
But it's nearly all shyness, nothing else.
She has been to one or two small par
ties; very slow affairs they were; and do
you know that the first time she was go
ing she was just trembling all over, and
cold with fright? Now, I'm quite differ
ent. l delight in society from first to
last. l love dressing, driving, dancing,
ETC."
| Etc, / suppose, means firting?' slight
| ly elevating his eyebrows.
''Never mind what it means. can go
into room with my head in the air, a
kind of female Occur de Lion"
'EXclaiming, come one, come allr' add
ed her companion with quiet suggestive
ness.
''Now, Miles, l won't have you chaff
me-yet; and you must not interrupt But
Esme's courage is of a different descrip-
ton. She's awfully brave in accidents,
and would face tramp or a savage dog
just like a man; while l would be cow
ering behind her, my knees literally
knocking together and my teeth chatter
ing in my head. And she is the only one
of us that dares brave Mrs 3. now"
The last word was suggestive, and sud-
denly recalled to Miles the gap in the
family circle
''Oh, by the way, Gussie," he said, Il
was very sorry to hear about your young
est brother. l never knew of it till last
night. Annie never told me. l suppose
it happened some time ago?"
YES" she erturned, looking rather red
and embarrassed; but to her cousins dis
gust there was not trace of regret in
foo
about him; above all to Esme or Mrs. b.
What had this young fellow done,"
Miles asked himself, that his name was
thus tabooed, his memory consigned to
oblivion?'
During the afternoon Miles paid a for
NAL visit to his Aunt Jane. The three
young people set out for the village to-
gether, Gussie and Florian being en- route
to tennis party at the Rectory, and
the former impressing most eagerly on
her cousin that he was not to stay long
at the White House, but to be sure and
follow them in a quarter Of an hour.
which will give you five minutes for the
weather, five minutes for Burmah and
five for Esme. Mind you come. will
never forgive you if you don't turn up!''
Miles resolved to go for a long walk
to sort his ideas and to make up his
mind which at present was in some
what chaotic condition He was not. if
must be confessed, in a particularly ur-
bane or genial humOr as he strolled
through the fields that lovely August af-
ternoon, cane in hand, viciously decapi-
tating harmless meadow sweets. After
walking for some time along a deeply
rutted, sandy, shady bride path, q sud
den turn in the lane brought him in sight
Of closed wooden gate right across his
present track, at the other side of which
he beheld, with thrill of unaccountable
recognition, the figure of a girl in blue
habit, riding large dun pony. He could
see, even at distance, by the gestures
of the young lady, and the shape of the
pony's back, that they were having
serious difference of opinion. The human
being wished to open the gate from the
saddle, without dismounting. and the
dumb animal positively declined to enter
tain the idea for one second. They had
been contending thus for quite ten min
utes, and Esme was getting hot and an
CRY; and the words, 'hideous beast hate
full imp of a pony" were borne to Miles |
ears by a gentle little afternoon breeze |
that daintily rustled the ash trees and
the hedgerows.
In her all-absorbing struggle with |
Jacky, Esme had never noticed that she |
and he were not alone, that there was a |
spectator on the scene-a slight, dark |
young man, in a tweed suit, with a daisy |
in his buttonhole, rapidly coming to her
assistance. No, the stiff-necked quadru-
ped occupied her whole attention. She
the struggle, and jumped off |
his back, and was hastily proceeding to
unfasten the hasp, when her obstinate,
lnruly animal backed suddenly, threw his
head with a violent jerk, and, wrenching
The bride out of his mistress hand, lash
ed out playfully, and galloped down the
ield, a loose and triumphant pony.
"Oh, you demon of the deepest dyew
,ried Esme passionately. Then suddenly
catching sight of a gentleman at the 9TH
er side of the bone of contention, she ex-
claimed eagerly: "Oh, do please help me
% catch him. He will knock the saddle
III to pieces, and perhaps break his
lnees;" and gathering up her skirt, with
,ut waiting for. an answer, set laudable
Example by starting off at once in hot
pursuit.
OF all the cunning, tiresome animals
hat ever was shod, Jacky must have the
recedence. They would succeed in hunt
ng him into a corner, and he would
ause, and leisurely crop the grass, with