The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1905-05-12

she had told him they were going
away from Lost Moon in the morn
ing. The party was going through
Arizona-the major, Mrs. Major and
the major minors, all girls, and herself.
From Arizona they would go back to
England. And suddenly the black
pony had drawn nearer to her own
brown mustang, and Allison's arm had
swung around her, and he had kissed
her. Incidentally Lady Kitty was
uncertain that she had not--No, she
had not, she told herself positively.
She had only permitted him to kiss
her, but that was enough. And that
was not all-not quite all. She had
sad something to him.
II might have expected that a per-
son like you would do that sort OF
thing
She had meant TO crush and humil-
late him, and he had laughed and let
her ride on ahead. She wondered un-
easily whether or not there was any
reason for his cheerfulness. Had she
or had she not kissed him? In the
suddenness of the attack and the curl
ous contentment she had felt at being
summarily roped and branded, so to
speak. by him she had forgotten en-.
tirely just how far she had revealed
that curious contentmcnt.
"Wait, please"
Allison's vnic" mad' her pull up
short. He rode up beside her. Tht
trail wilencd slightly and took a sud-
den header into the gulch.
1--WE can't get by here" he said.
"There las been a washout. Well
have to go back and strike up the
mountain to Pop Booty's. There's
path from his place down to the trail
on the other side."
Lady Kitty did not answer. Her
lips were half parted, and she looked
off at the distant foothills dreamily.
England seemed more than half
world away. So did the major and
the others A curious sense of delic-
ious peril possessed her. 1t was the
first time in her life that she had not
felt sure of herself so far as a man was
concerned. Just now she had wild,
Joyous belief that if this westerner
were to ask her to be his wife she would
say eyes" She wondered if he
would.
If they we're only not going tomor-
row; ifonly there were not home and
her father and Rodney-of course
Rodney. She almost laughed out loud
to think all at once how completely
be had gone out of her life the last
week. And they were to be married
in Easter week next spring. Poor
old Rodney! She looked at the figure
ahead on the black pony and sighed
happily. If only he would talk to
her.
They turned bend in the path and
faced small mountain cabin. Some
chickens and pigeons wandered haught-
lily about, and girl was shooing them
away from a struggling fringe of red
geraniums that grew aroung the
stoop. She came toward them smil-
ingly. Lady Kitty thought she had
never seen such honest, trusting eyes
before except in deer. She looked up
at Allison.
"Hello, Bob! Them chickens are
just terrible. No, dads gone over tc
the ranch. There's washout down
in the gulch. He wants some of the
boys to help him fix up the trail.
Want to rest up bit and wait.
Allison said NO." he would ride on
little and see if the path was safe
dewn Booty's side of the mountain.
"This is Miss Booty, Lady Kitty"
he added as he rode away.
Dimple Booty watched until the
pines hid him.
"I'm always afraid of washouts,"
she said confdentially. "What if you
and Bob had ridden plumb into the
gulch. You would too, only it wasn't
dark yet. But Bob knows the way.
He comes up here SO often"
Il suppose he does" Lady Kitty
looked thoughtfully down at the slim
figure in the red calico dress, at the
pretty dimpled face that had not yet
lost the roundness or dainty coloring
of childhood. "He seems to be very
interesting young man."
eyes, Bob's NICE" Dimple spoke
simply, with an air of peaceful owner
ship. IL guess we'll get married soon
as Bob comes to the point"
"Has he"-Lady Kitty hesitated
delicately-"has he asked you?"
Dimple's eyes opened in surprise.