The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-08-11
HER ONE
DAY OFF
BY May Everett Glover
Cop. right. lso., by I. G. Mcclure

She was such a little woman. and he
was very large man. He first no
ticed her when the crowd began push
ing toward the reviewing stand. ana
he could not help thinking that II must
be hard for her tn keep OH her feet.
Just then the parade was heard ap-
preaching, and again there was great
pushing. In spite Of the warnings Of
the policeman. The large man found
himself just behind her. When the
disappointed crowd swayed from the
other direction. she was suddenly
crowded against him.
Look out there- he exclaimed to
the man next to her. Cant you see
how you are crowding this LADY,!
Then she felt an arm protectingly
around her. Excuse me. madam. but
/ am not going to let them crush a lit
tie mite like you"
There was such a free heartiness
blended with anxiety In his tone that
she laughed In spite of her indigna ton
at the liberty he had taken.
Thank you" she said when the
crush was over and she had been re-
leased. She looked up for the first
time into the dark. handsome face un-
der the wide brimmed hat. which spoke
30 plainly Of the west. "A cowboy,
she thought. Il suppose that he has
been one Of the rough riders"
mo thanks needed In u crowd like
this. think il is a. Then he paused.
and his dark eyes scanned her ques-
tioningly. She felt her face flush.
Excuse me. have I ever seen you be-
foreT' he asked. .Oh. ! know you!
You are Anna. Beg pardon. 1 mean
Miss Reynolds-Mrs. Bains' cousin"
Mrs. Bains? Oh, Mrs. Bains out In
Washington. Then you must be Phil
I mean Mr.. Edmunds." she said In sur
prise.
"Yes. Edmunds 10 my name. but
am Phil" And there was a twinkle In
the dark eyes. II am glad that found
you today. i have your address and
wanted to call on you. I promised Mrs.
Bains that l WOULD wanted to any
way-but after I got here T. He
hesitated an instant. "Well, I just
dreaded It, am not used to ladies and
never could get along very well with
them" He laughed bashfully.
so you were afraid to call. I don't
think that l should have frightened
you, do your" She smiled.
mo, not ut all, but / didn't know. I
had an idea that you were very indie
pendent and wouldn't want to see
rough fellow like me, and didn't know
how you would treat me-"
Mrs. Bains wrote me that you were
east on business and would call to see
me and tell me all about them" she
said pleasantly. But II was strange
| that we should meet In this crowd and
you should recognize me. / was going
with some friends. but in some way
we missed one another"
You are alone then? Good! I may
take care Of you today. may l notf' he
asked eagerly.
She looked rather surprised.
"You see. we are not strangers" he
said apologetically. IL have heard Of
| Cousin Anna for years. and l have
looked at your picture dozens Of times.
Say. I like that last one OF you with
that fluffy thing around your neck-I
don't know what you call II. wanted
/ that picture the worst kind. but Mrs.
Bains wouldn't give II to me. and
when I took II she made me bring II
back"
She laughed. Somehow she could not
feel provoked with him. ms she would
have done with any one else. There
was a ring of sincerity In his tone that
| made her feel instinctively that she
could trust him. She was rather pre-
pared for his abrupt way. for Mrs.
Bains had written:
"You will find that Phil is like boy
| and blurts out what he thinks. He ID
| not at all used TO ladies' society. but he
has a high opinion Of women. My hus-
band says he is true gold. He Is quite
wealthy. and no one stands higher In
this locality than he does"
"You may take care Of me today. II
will be a new experience. / am moi
used to being taken care Of" she sait
after a pause.
look like Mrs. Bains. and She Is the
only woman that could ever get along
with. She In just like a sister to me
You see our ranches Join, and ! have
known the Bainses for years"
81 am glad that you know them.
have not seen them for so long"
They want me to persuade you Il
come along home with me. You will
won't your
81 couldn't think Of taking such I
long vacation. You know that I am q
business woman"
Couldn't you have some business
out there?" he asked anxiously.
II might herd cattle" she laughed
"what do you think Of New York;"
There wouldn't be much pasture,
he said. glancing around at the push
ing, swaying crowd. Il have not beeI
here for years-not since the year
graduated from college and though
that I knew everything" he laugh
ed "It seems as if I am nearly smoth
cred with all these high buildings ant
crowds OF people. l will be glad wheI
get back on my ranch again. wher
| have room to breathe"
In some way she felt unusually fres
There was something about him tha
made her feel that she was really beinI
taken care Of. Ii was o new sensation
to have some one help her over streets
on cars and pilot her through crowds
They laughed and chatted like coupi
Of children suddenly let loose fror
school They even stopped ut corne
and bought pesnats and munched tho