Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1906-09-07


Scarcely had Dudley forced his
breathless way through the thicket
into the little cleared space ut the edge
Of the bluff when a young voice as
sailed him.
Il thought you would come before
long. You are the prince, Of course"
lie wheeled with n start and stared.
She sat on n low rock, looking straight
at him u Of smiling brown eyes.
There was d general impression Of
brownness. 1t seemed to be a gown Of
some shimincry brown stuT-or was it
gold ?-and a kind Of aureole Of fluffy,
light brown hair. How the deuce did a
girl get up that cliff? About how near
ly a putting porpolse had lie sounded,
anyway? pity q man couldn't keep
track Of his breath! He'd go Into train
ing on that hill till he could take it on
the run without turning a hair-he
would, by JOvel Must be something
the matter with her eyes. He'd
seen-that IS to say, they sort Of
you said yes, didn't your she inter
! EAllkt0 httAAy RhANle gOA "a DE
the prince"
Il beg your pardon" began Dudley.
suddenly realizing that she had asked
d question some minutes Ngo and that
an answer was expected of him. The
prince, you say? I've never been ac-
cused before. you know" And then, in
n fash of comprehension. Most assur-
eddy 1 am tho prinee-if you are the
princess" he finished triumphantly.
The brown eyes twlnkled Into his
more dlstractingly than before.
"Oh, not Mt air. she laughed. I'm
only poor Cinderella"
cinderella 2" questioned Dudley,
. looking the mystiGcation he felt.
"Why. yes-you Sec She hcsitated.
? And tnen n very wonderful thing hap
pcned. A line OF roslest pink appeared
J Just above the brown collar and crept
= . up s%tealthily, en%veloplng the tiny ear,
~ flashing into flame on the white brow
and hiding at last in the light hair that
!; blew about her face. Dudley. fasclnat-
. cd, watched fits progress and forgavo
the intrusion.
"Of course It's very simple, only dis
gracefully stupid Of nc. And'-sit-
ting up straight and suddenly becOm-
ing very brave-"I'm not In the least
T. afraid to tell Won"
Dudley mumblcd suitable assurances,
z while the girl moved uneasily on her
I rocky throne and continued to look
: brave.
! II just-I only-the flower was way
G over the edge Of the blur, nnd-I held
0 on to n branch and leaned down-and-
8 my heel got wedged by a s~tone-and"-
There was n tentative shifting of the
. shlmmery skirts, then n hasty motion
. . Of withdrawal beneath them. "And II
lost the mate to thatg' she finished,
with desperate courage, %thrustlng into
sight the other foot, incased In n stout
little brown walking boot.
Two furious bushes were in full op.
GRAFTON by this time.
o Dudley gazed hXedly at the small
trim boot. you say the one you LOST
was just like this?' he questioned, viii
great solemnity.
ooh, no; 1t belonged to the left foot
o you know" she responded, with corrc
= spending enrnestness.
And then came the welcome relief o.
laughter, under the relaxing lnnuencr
q Of which Dudley SINK upon the edgI
of the rock.
n II only meant to suggest" lie an
Y nounced fervcntly, my unbclief tina
there could be another like 1t In tn
world"
bravo, bravo she applaudcd gay
ly. THAT is pretty enough to SAVIOR o
= v...oI. .awmwfF.n o.. ar.ula urnnulrftr -
95 Dudley's ardent expression was re
@ placed by n ef due submission to re
g, buke.
1T is meet" he said MS his han
e sought a capacious coat pocket and dii
90 appeared therein. that the downtrOi
70 den should arise TO do thee servie,
a. Perhaps l can did you better than 30
n know"
& I'm sure you can" she interpose
to hastily. "But let me tell my plan frs
IN l couldn't let you 80 to find 1t an
ID leave me helpless aud alone again"
nd "Of course not" Dudlcy's face a
ey sumcd a thoughtful expression. m
W his hand slowly left the big poke
he T-a-hardly suppose you could DO
~ row mine"
eW AGAIN nei oiibht Hu6htoi l"hb w
OF "Oh, hattery, where Is thy stlngr 81
on cried gaspingly. And Dudley, lookii
OF ruefully from his own generous bO
OF to the adorable mateless one, realiz'
ne that once more he'd put his foot In II
= Forgiven" she declared In n m
a. mont, because OF the pretty one "
said first. And so, to go back TO o
ia muttons, ] see only M way. And u
% Of course, It's such a little distance
% the camps just back In the trees the
Of Il could hop on n foot, l suppose
nd She paused m~lschievously for 4
rs, mere pleasure OF regarding his look
frank disaup1 niment; also to obser
whether II ocrnrfed TO him to wOnd
why. with friends o neal she had n
tn called for lelp.