Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-06-09


life. She's a simple little thing. She
been away to school and seems TO hayr
g an idea that she knows 1t all. I'll hay,
to put on a little city finesse and TAX
a fall out Of her nerve. Hope she won
take it too hard. as I'd hate to pas
! a cold deck to these good people, who
are certainly using me white"
So Joe began his summer Irritation
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
lposed, after all, All the arts Of small
talk and airy Dersiflage which he had
found 70 be the expected and effective
thing with the city girls of his expert
ences he found TO be of no avail with
this western maid. except to leave
himself with the uncomfortable conyic-
ton that he was an object of amnse-
ment, if not of contempt. As 10 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 a ride on
the hardy little ponies over the rolling
prairies and many an animated talk
on the veranda He began to see a
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-
eupied by any human being before and
that his life before he met her had
been hollow and gray, and the thought
Of a future without her became intol-
cradle 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
Il do not know how serious you are.
Mr. Mason" she said. "In fact. your
sincerity always is a matter of some
doubt to me-because you are so diff |
ferent, you know, If you are thor
oughly in earnest l am very sorry: If |
not you are trihing with a very sacred |
subject and should be ashamed"
He protested his entire sincerity and |
spoke with so much less fiippancy than
usual that she begged his pardon for |
the suggestion and said:
ut is impossible Our lives and /
idqa1o aro 90 for -
that you do not see the impossibility /
| could not live In your world and you
could not live In mine. am very sor.
~, because ] like you so much as a
friend and / hate to lose you"
"Oh, you can't lose me" replied Joe
oheerfully, but hts face was rueful and
he did not regain his cheerfulness for
many days In fact he took TO cow
with a vigor that did won
lers for his health
Spellman, at hts request, put him on
regularly with the rest of the punch
ers and insisted on paying him full
wages. He worked like a demon and
soon mastered the art He still occu-
pied his old apartments, when not too
lar TO 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
loosely in the matter of a choice Of
BOOKS. new world began to unfold
o him and the narrowness of his old
life and the futility Of all the rush and
'everishness of the city grew upon |
him. His health and strength i'm |
proved apace. He was better than he
sver had been, but still he fingered on. ]
One day he received letter from bis I
I'D firm urging him to return and Of ]
ering him a largely increased salary 9
With a promise of a partnership in |
he future. He took It to Dora and she {
vas delighted with his good fortune. |
But / don't want to go without |
,ou." he said. III
Don't, please" she replied 1T can
lot be-"
So he went back to the city, but he
'arried with him new impulses and
bigger ideas of life and ideals very diff
erent than he had brought with him.
His friends maryeled greatly at the
,hange
After he had gone Dora was sur
orised to find how lonely the ranch 8
vas. She missed his CHEEKY. bright
Dreeziness. She had been greatly in 7
crested in watching his nature unfold :
and had felt fiattered quite naturally )
Il his submission TO her as a precep- 2
or. Then, too, the honest love Of a !
rood man is not displeasing to any J
woman. In fact. she thought Of him a I
yreat deal-rather too much for her
peace Of mind.
One day about six months after he
eft she was surprised and not wholly 2
iispleased to see him dismount at the {
ioor
What, broken down again already!s 7
The said, greeting him. 2
No" he replied, Am better than .
,yer. But there's no use irving {
simply can't stand it. would 7
'ather be a cowpuncher where
/