Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-04-25

BY MARY z. GOODYEAR.

TN OTHER the wind!'' exclaimed
ID Austin Cooke, as he started in
reckless pursuit of his hat. ''It will
carry the thing into the river in
moment. There, 1 knew it would!
Now what on earth am / to do? I
can't walk to my hotel without some
thing on my head-it wouldn't be
seemly-and there isn't a cab in the
place. Goodness, how it blows! I'll
wager, I'm not the only person the
wind has made sport of to-day"
He wasn't, as the exultant March
wind took immediate pains to prove.
Toward him on the river bank came
rolling lady's muff, which he smart
ly stopped with his foot.
"Some poor woman's heart will
break over this" muttered Austin,
eclinging stubbornly to the hedge
while. he inspected the forlorn-look-
mine-and must have cost a pretty
penny. Hello! what's this crisp bit
of. paper inside? A hundred-p pound
bank note, by all that's crazy! This
means visit to the police station,
with or without aahat. Dame Fortune
is trying her utmost to spoil my tenn
per to-day"
He let go his hold of the hedge and
tottsred few steps farther, but
SO strong was the wind that
he had 9 to bend his head to
meet it, and did not see the girl
in black who was rapidly approaching
him from the opposite direction.
It was plainly the winds fault.
With a roar that was like the chuckle
of a mischievous giant it dashed them
straight into each others arms, and
then paused in it's wild stampede,
wishing, perhaps, to watch with quiet
enjoyment their blushing confusion.
'I beg your PARDON gasped the girl,
searching his face with pair of beau
tiful, startled eyes. 81 wasn't looking
where I was going"
Neither was T." said Austin, invol-
unfairly lifting his hand to his head
and looking vaguely foolish when he
found nothing there that he could
raise in sa1utation. eff we are I'M
wise enough to take walks on the riv-
er bank on day like this we must
expect a little excitement, must we
not?" and he caught her gently as a
fresh gust of wind threatened to
whirl her away.
The girl thanked him for the serv-
ice with look, and then her glance
fell upon the muff, which he was
clumsily carrying in his left hand.
so, I am so glad you have found
It'll" she cried, spinning half round
on her heel for very joy. SIT was a
careless thing to do, but my stupid
dress hasn't a pocket in it, and
thought it would be safer to carry
the money inside my muf and keep
my hand on it all the time. Do let
me see if the bank note is quite safe!'
He surrendered the muddy, bedrag-
gled object which had once been a
muff, and she plunged her little
gloved hand eagerly into it. A trem.
bling cry of dismay broke from he1
when her quest for the note proved
futile.
"Oh, sir" she said, sit has gone!'
did you take the number?'' he
asked, with studied courtesy. Tt was
a shame to tease her when the note
was safe in his pocket, but she looked
so adorably pretty in her distress
tnaI ne cou1u uo9 rcSis0 inc tempCa
ton.
"How could I?' faltered the girl
1.-THE wind didn't give me time" She
began to wink her eyes rapidly. ''Un
Gle will be. so ashamed of me-" SHE
continued, on the edge of sob. 81
have never made such q wretchet
blunder before, and s 100 is more
than we can afford to lose"
Austin instantly dived into his
pocket and produced the note. sHers
it isl he said. I'm glad I was lucky
enough to keep it out of the water
Take it back to your uncle and say
nothing about the. trick the vino
played you. Then he'll have nothing
to scold you for-except the muff, o.
course. That will never be quite tn,
same again"
He heard nothing of what she sais
IN reply but he could see her red hp'