Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1906-01-30

for girl to step aside to avoid a
snake, for instancey,
| shuddered again.
well. this is just where met Nan
that day. can see her now, bless her
heart, dancing along in the little short
skirts and baby cowboy boots she loved
to wear and dangling her big sombrero
| by its cord. She hadn't seen me. and
/ turned to hike back the way | came,
for Lee Bailey was on her trail ana Id
seen them together as often as could
possibly stand It,
lust as she came to that turn where
the bowIder iuts out she gave little
scream and turned so suddenly that her
foot slipped and down she went right
on the edge She held on to that rock
for dear life and shrieked: Lee. Oh.
Leer
THAT Lee settled me, and / stood
still, like stubborn mule, and let her
yell knew he could pick her up
easily enough, and I wouldn't butt In.
But when | reconnoitered around the
bowlder was behind I was the cause
Of the disturbance-this Mr. Rather,
ruffling himself up like the coil of an
electroeutioner and disputing the right
Of way with my girl.
"And there was Miss Nan, white with
fear, staggering right on the edge OF
the precipice, too paralyzed TO move
back up the trail"
where was Bailey, the noble res
cuer?s | asked as Dane paused and
gazed refiectively into the lighted end
of his cigar.
'sYes; that was what l wanted to
know He'd made for camp on lope--
that's where he was, the coward-to ger
a fishing rod to kill the snake with, he
explained afterward. but it didn't go
down with Nan When I saw her nat
ural protector deserving her stepped
out in the road, bowed low, pulled my
gun and blew the gentlemans head of
the rattler's, not Bailey's though that
would have been job TO my liking
too. He wasn't as much OF a gentle
man as Mr.. Snake. for he was polite
enough to tell right out what sort Of
poison critter he was, while the human
serpent wasn't"
"And Nan2' l even forgot to puff
smoke in my interest
Acted just right, like the heroine in
a melodrama-fainted promptly on to
the shoulder of her faithful knight, and
when he'd walked her up again by
means of kisses and other shocks she
promised to love and obey him ever
after, and nothing would do but that
snakeskin must be fixed up with the
trimmings you saw as one Of our Lares
and Penates. but whether a Lar or
Penate | don't know, being rather mis-
ty on mythology since l left college
All, there's the moon at last! Isn't this
country great at night?'
Yes, yes,' | exclaimed impatiently,
without glance at the wonderful
panorama of rolling pine clad, snow
capped SUBMITS now being transfig-
ured by the rising glory. But what
became of Nan? Why didn't you
marry
"Oh, there you are, dearr' called out
a silyery voice ahead of us farther up
the slope. I've been waiting for you
long time. You have been two hours
climbing the gulch. l came up the
short cut. 1t takes more breath, but
less time"
well, little girl, you've got plenty of
both,' answered her husband, sprawl
ing himself over the thick pine needles
at pretty Mrs. Danes feet and laying
his head shameessly on her lap. Her
small fingers buried themselves in his
hair. He pulled them down to his lips
I'VE took the time because l was using
up all my breath telling Jack about the
snakeskin belt, Nan, dear"
ooh, that old story l could see her
blush delicately in the moonlight.
Another light than that Of the moon
broke In on my darkened senses. "Oh,
then you did marry her? thought you
said
my first sweetheart? Sure, so / did
and Mans it.'