The Monticellonian., 1904-10-06

though, you would drop that !itte air oi 1 cold displeasure"
 Everyone treats you as fl you werf a child. l alone try to treat you as would woman-bu you won't let me '
 And try to tea, you as if you were jolly. good fellow, and you must b. one she retorted
 In the days that followed in the land where the sun shone every day iu tue year. Rene reveled in an outdoor life e freedom. With Roger she rode horse back and took little trips into the noun tains and out 10 the surrounding ranches, and was serenely happy So was Roger, until Rene had her first sight of cowboys at a Wild West entertain ment at the park.
 Aren't they grand" she cried
 To little schoolgirl and to a tender foot. suppose they are. but 10 us old settlers they are quite commonplace
 AS long as her adoration was confined to the cowpunchers collectively Grant had no forebodines but one day she sighted at distance the king ef the cow boys
 Lovely she cried Buffalo Bill is no longer my ideal of manly beauty
 Thereafter she made life miserable for Grant. She besought him to make an op- portunity for her to meet the handsome cowboy and she ransaeked all the stores to see if his picture was not on sale
 Grant let her give fnll rein to her rav- ings and quietly bided his time
 Where to now? ?s asked Rene blitteiy as he drove lip 10 the house one morn ing.
 q have corral full of cattle out at my ranch. am going to sell 50 of them and the buyer is to take his pick
 Don't you hope he won know enough 10 pick the best?"
 He will though. Hes going to bring your cow -puneher with him to se ect the cattle
 What? Really? Roger you are jok ing?2
 "No; we will help him drive the cat tie back to town
 The pace wasn't fast enough then for Rene and they fairly flew over the road.
 T see him, Sweet thing" cried Rene. ecstatically. as they approached the ranch,
 They halted and watched the cowboy separate the cattle he had chosen from the rest
 Rene was more entranced than before
 He sits in his saddle as if lie grew there." she declared
 He certainly does, assented Grant
 When the cattle was finally selected and the buyer was closing the deal with Grants manager. the cowboy was about to ride into the desert.
 Grant called 10 him:
 Come here. Frank"
 Frank Oh what tame name" murmnred Rene is disappointed tones
 The cowboy wheeled about and rode up to them. Roger presented him to his young companion and she lifted glowing eyes Alas for the maid! Her hero had a decidedly game eye. that looked as though some one had put knife in t and turned it around few times
 She acknowledged the introduction in a faint voice and when the ideal of manly beauty" had ridden on. she pro posed to Roger that they return to town without waiting 10 help drive the cat tie
 Grant cheerfuily aequiesced
 How Gid he hurt his eye she asked abruptly
 Who. Frank? l haven't known him long but as our friendship increases l will endeavCr to learn how if hap pened
 Where did you know him?"
 "Oh. everyone knows him met him first at restaurant. By the way. lie eats with his knife He met me last night at the closing of this cattle deal He offered me 'chaw of terbackker' as token of his good will :"
 Roger Grant. l think you are the meanest man ever knew Why didn't you tell me this before@'
 Seeing is believing.
 She looked away refectively over field of alfalfa.
 Rene arc you SO disappointed?"
 "Yes; I fell as did when found cut Santa Claus was myth. l believe. though. it's good idea 10 hug your IT. lnsionS'
 Then let me beyour illus ion. Rene"
 There was a misty depth of tenderness in the soft eyes turned shyly to his
 Roger I am glad you are not COW boy,"-N O Times Democrat