The Forrest City times., 1903-12-11

spare tune very pleasantly. Notnlng like a little irritation to add spice to life. She's a simple little thing. She's been away to school and seems 10 have an idea that she knows it all. I'll have to put on a little city flnesse and take a fall out of her nerve. Hope she won't take it too hard. as I'd hate to pass a cold deck to these good people, who are certainly using me white"
 So Joe began his summer filtration, but before he had gone very far he ceased to waste any sympathy on the girl and began to wonder if he really amounted to as much as he had sup posed. after all All the arts of small talk and airy persifage which he had found 10 be the expected and effective thing with the city girls of his experi- ences he found to be of no avail with this western maid. except to leave himself with the uncomfortable eonvic- ton that he was an object of amuse- ment. if not of contempt. As to the more ardent love-making he made one attempt one moonlight night on the broad veranda-but no more. The response was so un- expected and decisive that he re- ceived what he termed the jolt of his life" They became very good friends. however. and enjoyed many ride on the hardy little ponies over the rolling prairies and many an animated talk on the veranda. He began to see new life of which he never had dreamed and to catch a glimpse of things which had hitherto had no place in his scheme of life.
 Finally he discovered that the girl had made a place in his life never oc- cupied by any human being before and that his life before he met her had been hollow and gray. and the thought of future without her became intol- erable. Being given by nature and training to prompt action he proposed to her and was not much surprised when she refused him with a good deal of emphasis
 T do not know how serious you are. MT. Mason" she said Tn fact. your sincerity always is a matter of some doubt to me-because you are so d:f- ferent, you know. If you are thor oughly in earnest am very sorry: if not you are trifling with a very sacred subject and should be ashamed"
 He protested his entire sincerity and spoke with so much less flippancy than usual that she begged his pardon for the suggestion and said
 iC ifnpnocihla nnr l;,an ideals are so far apart that wonder that you do not see the impossibility. l could not live in your world and you could not live in mine. I am very sor- ry. because l like you so much as friend and l hate to lose you"
 "Oh, you can't lose me" replied Joe but his face was rueful and he did not regain his cheerfulness for many days. In fact he took to cow with vigor that did won ders for his health.
 Spellman, at his request, put him on regularly with the rest of the punch CTS and insisted on paying him full wages. He worked like demon and soon mastered the art He still occu- pied his old apartments, when not too far 10 return at night and saw con- siderable of Dora. He plunged into reading with Zest he never had felt before and he followed her suggestions closely in the matter of a choice of books. new world began to unfold to him and the narrowness of his old life and the futility of all the rush and feverishness of the city grew upon him. His health and strength inn proved apace. He was better than he ever had been. but still he fingered on.
 One day he received a letter from his old firm urging him to return and of fering him a largely increased salary with a promise of a partnership in the future. He took it to Dora and she was delighted with his good fortune.
 But l don't want to go without you" he said.
 Don't. please" she replied Tt can not be"
 So he went back 10 the city. but he carried with him new impulses and bigger ideas of life and ideals very diff ferent than he had brought with him. His friends maryeled greatly at the change.
 After he had gone Dora was sur prised to find how lonely the ranch was. She missed his cheery, bright breeziness. She had been greatly in- terested in watching his nature unfold and had felt fiattered. quite naturally. at his submission to her as a precep- tor. Then, too, the honest love of a good man is not displeasing to any woman. In fact. she thought of him a great deal-rather too much for her peace of mind
 One day about six months after he left she was surprised and not wholly displeased to see him dismount at the door
 What. broken down again already" she said. greeting him.
 No" he replied. Am better than ever. But there's no use trying. l simply can't stand it. I would rather be cowpuncher where I can see you now and then, than to be a merchant prince where you are no part of my life. I'm going to strike your father for a job. Would