Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-05-28

| her Inferior, but | fancied that Doctor
| Clayton would also observe the differ
ence between us when he saw us togeth-
er. After offering her the seat of honor
the splint-bottomed chair--I proceed
ed with my duties as composedy rs pos
sible. When | cast a wistful glance over
the long hill, she said: You seem TO be
constantly on the lookout. Are you ex-
pccting any oner
lnvoluntariy my eyes sought hers,
but | quaied beneath their quizzical ex-
preston, and scarcely knowing what
said, replied, mo, a'am," repentng the
falsehood the moment it was uttered, and
half resolving to confess the truth, when
she rejoined, oh thought you were"
while at the same moment little girl,
who had been asleep rolled from her
seat, humping her head, and raising such
an cutlery that for a time l forgot what
had said, and when 1t again required to
me | thought 1t was too late to rectify
1t. Slowly the afternoon dragged on,
but 1t brought no Doctor Clayton; and
when, at a quarter of four, l called up
my class of Abecedarisns to read, what
with the lie and the disappointment my
heart was so full that | could not force
back all the tears which struggled so
fiercely for egress; and when 1t came
Willie Randall's turn to read two or
three large drops fell upon his chubby
hand, and looking in my face, he called
out in loud, distinct voice, You're
cryin', you be!'
This, of course, brought a laugh from
all the scholars, in which | was fain to
join, although I felt greatly chagrned
that | should have betrayed so much
xpa hafn no1
referring to it when school was out. said
she supposed | wanted to see my moth
er-or somebody"
That night Mrs Ross called at Mrs.
RandalPs, and after sitting awhile, ask
ed me ito walk a little piece with her"
| saw there was something on her mind,
and conjecturing that it might have some
connection with me, obeyed willingly.
Twitching my sleeve when we were out
side the gate, Mrs. Ross asked if sit
were true that l cried because Doctor
Clayton didn't come as he promised
why, what do you mean?'' said. TO
which she replied by telling me that she
just ran into Cap'n Thompson's minute
or two, when, who should she find there
but Doctor Clayton, and when Dell told
him she'd been to visit the school, he
said, "Ah, indeed l was intending to do
so myself this afternoon, but / was nee
essarily detained by very sick patient"
That explains why she cried co.
said Dell, and then" continued Mrs.
Ross, "she went on to tell him how you
| loked out of the winder, and when she
asked you If you expected anybody, you
said No, and then at last you cried right
out in the school"
1.-THE mean thing!' l exclaimed. did
she tell Doctor Clayton that"
Eyes, she did," answered Mrs. Ross;
land it made my blood bile to hear her
60 on maxim fun Of you-that is, kind
er maxim fun. The doctor laughed, and
said 1t was too bad to disappoint you
If 1t Affected you like that, but he couldn't
help It,"
| l hardly knew at which I was most
Indignant, Doctor Clayton or Dell, and
when | laid my aching head on my pill
low, my last thoughts were that "it Doc
tor Clayton ever did come to the school
I'd let him know l didn't care for him
he might have Dell Thompson and vel
come!"
| l. changed my mind, however, when,
early the next afternoon, the gentleman
himself appeared to vindicate his cause
saying he was sorry that he could not
have kept his appointment, adding, as he
finally relinquished my hand, you had
company, though, | believe; and so, on
the whole, | am glad | was detained for
| had rather visit you alone"
Much as l now esteem Doctor Clayton.
| do not hesitate to say that he was
then a male fiirt, species of mankind
which l detest. He was the handsomest.
most agreeable man l had ever seen. and
by some strange fascination, he possess
ed the power of swaying me at his will.
This he well knew, and hence the wrong
he committed by working upon my feel
ings. Never passed hours more agreeably
to me than did those of that afternoon.
And / even forgot that l was to go home
that night, and that in all probability
father would come for me as soon as
school was out, thus preventing the quiet
talk alone with Doctor Clayton, which
| so much desired; so when, about four
o'clock, / saw the head of old Sorrel an
pearing over the hill, my emotions were
not particularly pleasant, and l wished
l had not been so foolish as to insist up
on going home every week. The driver,
however proved to be Charlie, and this
in measure consoled me, for he,
KNEW was Boou at taxing nlntS, and
would wait for me as long as l desired !;
so welcomed him with tolerably good
grace, introducing him to Doctor Clay
ton, who addressed him as Mr.. Lee,
thereby winning his friendship at once
and forever.
When school was out and the scholars
gone, | commenced making preparations
for my departure, shutting down the win
dows and piling away books slowly and
deliberately, while Charlie, who seemed
in no hurry, amused himself by whipping
at the thistle-tops which grew near the
door. At last Doctor Clayton, turning
to him, said And so you have come to
carry your sister home, when l was
promising myself that plessuref"
Charlie glanced at my face, and its ex-
preston, doubtless, prompted his answer
You can do so now. if you choose, for
| like to ride alone"
OF course l disclaimed against such
an arrangement, but my objections were
overruled, and almost before | knew
4 | yhat I I a