The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-07-09
HER ONE
DAY OFF
BY May Everett Glover
Copyright, 1902, by 7. c. Mcclure

S~HNTVVSVSVWVS Vf1W@V%~HVNW
She was such little woman. and he
was a very large man. He first NJ
tfced her when the crowd began push
Ing toward the reviewing stand, and
be could not help thinking that it must
be hard for her to keep on 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
crowi / 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 lit.
tie mite like you"
There was such free heartiness
blended with anxiety In his tone that
she laughed In spite of her indignatio
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 I'M
der the wide brlmmed hat, which spoke
so plainly of the west. u COWBOY"
she thought. Il suppose that he has
been one of the rough riders"
mo thanks needed in a crowd like
this. l think it is a. Then he paused,
and his dark eyes scanned her ques-
tioningly. She felt her face flush.
Excuse me, have l ever seen you be-
foreT" he asked. "Oh, l know you!
You are Anna. Beg pardon. l 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 is my name, but |
am Phil" And there was a twinkle In
the dark eyes. Il am glad that found
you today. | have your address and
wanted to call on you. l promised Mrs.
Bains that | would wanted to any
way-but after | got here r He
hesitated an instant. "Well, l just
dreaded it. am not used to ladies and
never could get along very well with
them" He laughed bashfully.
SO you We're afraid to call. l don't
think that | should have frightened
you, do you?" She smiled
NO, not ut all, but didn't know.
had an idea that you We're 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 it 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 not?' he
asked eagerly.
She looked rather surprised.
You see we are not strangers" he
said alphabetically. 81 have heard of
looked at your picture dozens of times.
Say, | like that last one of you with
that fluffy thing around your neck-I
don't know what you call it. | wanted
that picture the worst kind. but Mrs.
Bains wouldn't give it to me, and
when | took it she made me bring it
back"
She laughed Somehow she could not
feel provoked with him. as she would
have done with any one else. There
was a ring of sincerity in his tone that
made her feel instinctiyely 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 a boy
and blurts out what he thinks. He Is
not at all used to ladies' society, but he
has 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 mag take care of me today. 1t
will be a new experience | am not
used to being taken care of" she said
after pause.
THAT is a shame. Do you know you
look like Mrs. Bains, and she is the
only woman that could ever get along
with. She is just like sister to me.
You see, our ranches join. and l have
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 TO
come along home with me. You will
won't you?"
II couldn't think of taking such a
long vacation. You know that am
business woman"
Couldn't you have some business
out there?" he asked anxiously.
Il 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 been
here for years-not since the year l
graduated from college and thought
that | knew everything he laugh
ed at seems as if am nearly smoth-
cred with all these high buildings and
crowds Of people. l will be glad when
l get back on my ranch again, where
have room to breathe"
In some way she felt unusually free.
There was something about him that
made her feel that she was really being