The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1903-10-30
HER ONE
DAY OFF
BY May Everett Glover



Ing toward the reviewing stand. ana
he could not help thinking that II must
be hard for her 10 keep on her feet.
Just then thu parade was heard mp
pronChug. 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 swaycd from the
other direction she was suddenly
crowded against him.
Look out thcrcv he exclaimed to
the man next 10 her. cant you see
how you are crowding this LADY,!
Then she felt nn arm prot ,ctIngly
around her. Excuse me, madam but
am not going TO let them crush n lit.
tie mite like you"
There was such n free hCartincss
blended with anxiety In his tone that
she laughed in spite of her Indignation
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 brlmmcd hat, which spoke
so plainly of the west. "a cowboy"
she thought II suppose that he has
been one of the rough riders"
"No thanks needed in a crowd like
this. think II Is a. Then he paused,
ind his dark eyes scanned her ques
tionIngly. She felt her face flush,
EXCUSE me, have | ever seen you be-
fore2" he asked. "Oh, | know you
Ycu are Anna! Beg pardon. | mean
Miss Reynolds-Mrs. Bains' cousin"
Mrs Balns2 oh, Mrs. BaIns out in
Washington. Then you must be Phil
mean Mr.. Edmunds," she said in sur
prise,
Yes. Edmunds is my name, but l
am Phil" And there was n twinkle in
the dark eyes II am glad that found
you today l have your address and
wanted to call on YOU. promised Mrs,
Bains that | would-I wanted to any
way-but after got here r. He
hesltated an instant. "Well l Just
dreaded 1t. am not used to ladies and
never could get along very well with
them" He laughed bashfully.
80 you We're afraid to call. don't
think that should have frightened
you, do your" She smiled.
"No, not Mt all. but didn't know.
had m idea that you were very inde
pendent and wouldn't want to see Il
rough fellow like me, and didn't know
how you would treat me-"
Mrs. Buins wrote me that you were
east on business and would call to see
me and tell me all about them" she
said pleasantly. "But 1t was strange
that we should meet In this crowd and
you should recognize me. l WAS going
with some friends, but in some way
we missed one another"
you are alone then? Good! | may
take care of YOU today, may l noty' he
asked eagerly.
She looked rather surprised.
"You see, we are not strangers" he
said apologctically. II have heard of
Cousin Anna for years, and | have
looked at your picture dozens of times.
Say, | like that last one of you with
that fluffy thing around your ncck-I
don't know what you call il. | wanted
that picture the worst kind but Mrs.
Bains wouldn't give it to me, and
when took it she made me bring 1t
back"
She laughed. Somehow she could not
feet provoked with him, as she would
have done with any one else There
was a ring Of sincerity In his tone that
mad, her feel inStiuctiVcly that she
could trust him, she was rather pre-
pared Tor his abrupt way, for Mrs
BainS had written:
"You will find that Phil Is like boy
and blurts ont what he thinks, He Is
not at all used to ladies' society, but hi
has high opinion of women. My huS
band says he is true gold. He Is quite
wealthy, and no one stands higher IT
this locality than he does"
you may take care Of me today. Il
viii be II new experience. | am mo-
used to being taken care Of" she salt
after n pause.
THAT Is shame. Do you know yol
look like Mrs. Baius, and she is tn,
only woman that could ever get alonl
with She is Just like sister to me
You see, our ranches join. and l hay,
known the Bainses for years"
II am glad that you know them.
have not seen them for so long"
"They want me to persuade you 4
come along home with me. You will
won't you2"
II couldn't think OF taking such
long vacation. You know that am
business woman"
Couldn't YOU have some busines
out there2' he asked anxiously.
Il might herd cattle" she laughed
"What do you think of New York? 2"
There wouldn't be much pasture,
he said, Glaacing around ut the push
ing, swaying crowd. Il have not bee
here for years-not since the year
graduated from college and though
that knew everything" he laugl
ed. 1T seems as If am nearly smotl
cred with all these high buildings an
crowds of people, | will be glad whe
! get back on my ranch again, wher
have room TO breathe"