The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-04

1t was early September. The sum
mer rains had made vegetation rank,
and the buffalo grass on the wide
spreading prairies was matted and
brown-as dry as powder. The night
had been gray and still, and had given
way to a szy-like copper in the morn
ing, while a strange calm brooded in
the air.
Honor Bright, in her dingy old rid
ing habit, was sitting on the edge of
the wide veranda of her fathers big
ranch house, swinging her feet and
swapping her quirt. Her pony brows-
ed just in front of her, stopping to
nose her affectionately every little
while, and beside her sat her fance,
Gerald Warren, owner of the Star
Gross ranch. His bride rein was
thrown over his arm, and he was
pleading earnestly.
please, sweetheart, yield to me this
time?"
But I want the gloves and whip"
she responded, rather indifferently.
whacking away at the toes of her well
worn boots.
"Ill buy you a gross of silver and
number of Jouvins best-import them
especially for you, in the colors you
select if you will give UP riding at
the fair to-day"
She flashed aim a scornful glance.
II could shake my trophies under
Miss Patricia Campbell Jefferson's
aristocratic nose and say, There! Just
see what 1 got for letting you win the
prize!' No, Gerald, it isn't the gloves
! want to crafty. Miss Jefferson call
ed me a hoyden, an uncivilized, uncul-
tivated little heather, with a certain
sort of beauty" this with little
hardening of the sweet tones, "and
she said 1 couldn't ride a little bit.
Oh, of course, she didn't use my slang
when she said it," interjected Honor,
as Geralds eyebrow lifted, but that
is what she meant just the same. I
don't mind the 'hoyden' and the
'heathen.' I suppose l am both. And
/ know better than anybody can tell
me just how much 1 am lacking in
culture, though I hope that 1 wouldn't
be as purposely cruel to even a heath
en- as that proud woman is. But l can
ride and 1 mean to do it." And Hon
or snapped viciously at a bunch of
blue-stem which stuck out from under
the foundation of the high porch.
And if you should fail?" questioned
Gerald a little maliciously.
Il shall not fail! 1 shall win the
whip and gloves, and-and then 1
should like to throw the gloves in
Miss Jefferson's face and wear the
whip out over her patrician should
ers!" she finished defantly.
Little girl, you hurt me cruelty
when you talk so thoughtlessly."
And you hurt me cruelty" she
IL -
flashing eyes upon her lover, who
now stood looking moodily down up
on her from his hight of six feet two.
II am ashamed to acknowledge
how much" she continued as she
looked up at the big blond fellow who
was so helpless in her small hands.
Il thought you loved me, but now
] know you DON'T" she went on mer-
cilessly. When you see me beside
sisters, and-and that horrid. prim,
Puritan Miss jefferson, you turn
ashamed of me, you know you do.
And you want to make me over by
the square and level of your own
social world, but-you-you can't do
it, and the big, bright drops began
TO roll over her burning cheeks. She
was so pretty, so altogether lovely
in her pathetic wrath that Gerald
the grieved child in his big. strong
arms, which she probably guessed,
for she backed away from him.
i tried to cultivate the little prairie
anemones once, and 1 was as good to
them as 1 could be, but they died,
every one of them. 1 would die, too,
under the cultivating process. I'm
just a wild flower; you said so your
self she said sobbingly, 80 you'll
lhlnk-you-you can have your ring
back, and she began Juggling at her
gauntlets, but Gerald caught her trem-
bling hands.
My dear little wild flower I call
you again, for L love you just as you
are. sweetheart. / will not have my
ring back. l know that / am much
older, much graver, much more quiet
than you are. but, child, 1 love your
sunny ways, your bright nature.
would not have you changed in any
way, but you see it is different when
II comes to the mother and sisters.
They do not know you as well as 1 do,
and then they do not understand our
Western ways. 1t is true that they
nave long wanted me to marry Miss
jefferson, but am not going to do so.
knew her long before l ever saw
you. She made no impression on me
Then, and she certainly will not now.
1t is such little thing have asked"
ne added, returning to the original
bone of contention. your father is
away. Mrs. Martin is i'll and cannot