The Red Cloud chief., 1900-09-28
Ar lmpetuous Greeting.

Along a deserted country road n
dark night In May. a solitary wayfarer
was leading a disabled bicycle. He
oame to a place where two roads
crossed, and paused undecided. He
glanced about in the gloom and found
that he was near a house. "Ill ask
there" he said, and walking up to the
door. knocked boldly.
Hardly had his kuuckles left the
panel, when the door burst open and
a young person in a dark skirt and
= light waist hurled herself upon him.
The force OF the blow caused him TO
stagger backward. ~Involuntarily he
elasped her close in his arms while he
regained his equilibrium, then he re-
leased her.
"Oh. oh, OH" she gaseped. IL
thought IL was a May-oasket." Then,
As suddenly as she had come, she dart
I'D into the house and the door went
20 with a bang behind her.
The man picked up his bicycle from
the ground where he had laid 1t and
.ent back to the corners. Here he
stood meditating. He looked in all
four directions, then glanced at the
house and shook his head. L guess
I'll take my chances on the road" he
said. and started down the southern
one.
As he won't along. the blinking OF
the chain as 1t passed over the sprock-
ct teeth sounding plainly in the still
ness, he eogitated thus:
Il have just made a most interest
ing discovery. How by accident We
sometimes stumble on these scientific
facts. Now, If hal not punctured
my tire just as dark was coming on.
and her lost my way, | never should
nave known that during the month OF
Nay the houses in country places are
80 many ~catapults. You have merely
to knock on the door and a beautiful
arms, instead of into a net, as they do
it at the circus"
Mrs. Jameson's was considered a
very pleasant place to board, and va
9ancies We're waited for eagerly by
those who knew Of the quiet and
homelikeness OF her peaceful dwelling.
She never would have more than -four
boarders at a time, SO it did not seem
like a regular boarding house.
Il can't take care Of more than
that number" she often said. III
had more I'd be obliged to keep a cir
and that won't do. | get along very
well with what help Jamie can Civ,
me about dishes and on wash days
This habit of calling her HUSBAND
Jamie" led to the boarders calling heI
Mrs. jamie"
1t was a day in September, and thu
newest boarder sat looking across
Mrs. Jamis's table ut the oldest board
err. She was the new school teacher
her predecessor in both school a n
boarding place had been married tn
previous summer-and he was a younI
bachelor whose work was in a dow
town law oAce. She thought that h
had a good face, and he thought ther
was something strangely familia
about her voice. though at the sam
time he was sure that he never ha
heard those tones before.
AS tho weeks and months went by
n friendly liking grew between thes
two. haeh felt free to call on th
other for any little help that was need
ed. and many and long were the dis
!. Sussions indulsed In by them.
During tho short Christmas an
spring vacations the oldest board'
missed the newest one, and whe
school days began again there was
noticeable rise in his spirits,
One evening in May these two an
Mrs. Jamie were in the sitting roor
Mrs. jamie sewing patchwork, M
Savward looking at the evening p'
per and Miss Stewart resting In a b
chair, her hands lying idly on its arm
There came a ring at the door-be
and Mrs. jamie went to answer
La an instant she appeared again en-
rying something in her hand. ITS
May basket for you. Miss Stewart
she cried excitedly. Sayward sprai
to his feet and rushed from the rcol
Miss Stewart following after.
II was a very dark night and 4
children who had hung the bask
really did not wish to be caught,
after a vain search and a fruitlo
,sGhase the two came back unsucces
fut.
what a beautiful basket" cri
Miss Stewart, and Mrs. jamie broug