The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-01-16
A BELLE OF
CANADA CITY,
c,nrinneI FROM Sixth Page

l,ir. and 4ifted nm gently to
NM n~ .Ia him. her soft breath fan
N sitting POSITION. :,
49, dome it before she laughed
~ ,.,d his Wcpder, with his graft
1t nj, eyes. The horse was al
' stiff. and you were nearly 50 by
a.. .ime ! came UP 10 you and got
H., jsuqhed ugain-"the other Chlflaman
hrrp me pull You ont Of that hole.
II know | owe you my life he said,
his face flushing.
III was lucky | was there, she re
tnrned ~naively, perhaps lucky You
were chasing me"
I'm afraid Of the many who would
,r1n after YOU | should be the least
Irckv" he said, with an attempt to
I,1ob that did Dot. however, conceal
Ais modification, hut | assure YOU that
only wished to have an interview with
nm farhcr-a business interylew-per-
maps as much in his interest as my
own
The old look Of audacity came back TO
ra,. face. Il guess that's what they
IN can,c here f~or-eNcept one-but il
Inln't keep them from believing ana
.,vinr ne was Il thief behind his back.
VII tLn, an wanted his-contidence,' she
added bitterly.
Mastcrton felt that his burning cheeks
wore rnnfc>~iu4 the truth 81 this. You
excepted one he said. heSitatingly.
-Yc>-the deputy sheriff. lie came to
hclp me
You"
Yes, me- \ coquettiSh little toss
rr her mead added to his confusion. He
threw up his job just to follow NE With
out my knowing it, to see that | didn't
come to any harm. He SAW me only
once. t0o-at the house when he came
10 take possession. He said he thought
was clear grit to risk everything 10
lind father. and he said he saw it III
me when he was ~there-thats how he
guessed where | WAS gone when ran
away. and followed me
He was as right as he WAS lucky
said Mastcrton ~gravely. But how
did YOU get here
She slipped down on the floor beside
him with IN unconscious movement that
her masculine garments only made the
more quantity girliSh. and clasping her
knee with both hands, looked at the fire
as She rocked herself slightly backward
and forward as she spoke.
1T viii shock Il proper man like YOU,
| know" she began demureIy, but I
came ulonc with only 4 Chinaman 10
guide me. | got these clothes from our
Iaundrymau 50 that | shouldn't attract
attention. | would have GOT q Chinese
lady's dress. but | couldn't walk in their
Nh0cS-Shc looked down at her little feet
cncasCd i'll wooden sandals-"and | had
a lonG way to walk. But even if l
didn't look quite right to Il Chinaman,
uU white man was able TO detect the
difference. You passed me twice in the
..,.., and ,-,, ,l3Intt 1-,naC- ma I'M yalaI
night and day most of the time walking.
and being passed along from one China
man to another. or when we were alone
being slung on Il pole between two coolies
Ike Il bale Of goods. | ate what they
could give mt-for ! dared not go into
Il shop or Il restaurant: | couldn't shut
my eyes in their dens, so | stayed awake
all night. Yet | got ahead Of YOU and
the sherifr-thouGh l didn't know at the
time what YOU were after she added
presently.
He WAS overcome with wondering ad-
miration Of her courage and Of ~self-re-
preach at his own short-siglltedness.
This was the girl he had looked upon
us Il spelled village beauty. satisfied with
her small triumphs and provincial elevu-
ton. and vacant of all other purpose.
Here was Shp-thc all-unconScious he
roinc-and he her critic, helpless at her
feet. 1t was not Il cheerful reflection,
and vet he took Il certain delight in his
expiration. Perhaps he had half believed
in her without knowing it. What could
he do OF say: | regret to say he logged
the question meanly.
And Won think your disguise escaped
detection:" he said. looking markedly
~ her escaped braid of hair.
She followed his eyes rather than his
words, half pettiShly caught up the
lgoscned braid, swiftly coiled it around
The top of her head, and ~clapping the
weather beaten and battered conical hat
back again upon it, defiantly said:
YES, Every body isn't as critical as
YOU are, and even YOU wouldn't be-of
a Chinaman."
He had never seen her except when
she was arrayed with the full intention
/" affect the beholder> and perfectly
conscious Of her attractions: he was
utterly u~nprcpared for this complete
ignoring Of adornment now, albeit he
was fcr the first time aware how her
real rrettincSS made it unnecessary.
She looked fully as charming in this
@rVtesque head covering as she had Ill
that paragon of fashion-the new hat
which had excited his tolerant amuse-
ment.
I'm afraid I'm Il very poor critic" he
sand %bluntiy. II never conceived that
this sort of thing was at all to your
taste"
Il came to see my father because |
wanted to-" She said with equal blunt
mess.
"And | came to see him though /
didn't want to-" he said with Il cynical
laugh.
She timed and fixed her brown eyes
l~nquiringly upon HIM.
Why did you come. them"
Il was ordered by my directors"
Then you did not believe he was q
thief she said, her eyes softening.
1T would i'll become me to accuse
your father-or my directors" he said
AUTOMATICALLY.
She was quick enough to detect tho
suggestion Of moral superiority III his
tone, but woman enough to forgive it.
- You're no friend of Windibrook,' she
said, Il know"
Il am not he replied frankly.
IF YOU would like to see my pepper
can manage it." She said. he>itatin"ly.