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

ceptibly. And It's very stony and. ]
know. would hurt %dreadfully. SO after
all there Is just the one way. as I said"
She tilted the lonely boot back and
forth on its heel and regarded II pen
slvely. Dudley did likewise. When
this had gone on long enough she
raised to him an %expcctant look.
YES" he said. almost mournfully;
"there only remains for me 10 help
you. I suppose I ought" he continued,
while his hand moved ngain ever so
haltlngly toward tho pocket, then rap
Idly away from II, Toto
'Oh. pray don't feel any Obligation
IN the matterf' was the hint, with Just
a bit OF Ice In the tone.
ITO avail myself Of the most fortu-
nate opportunity that over bcfcll an
undescrving ~beggarl" nc finished,
laughing hllariously as he assisted her
to her ~Geet-that is t6,say, her foot.
Marc words cannot approximate the
delight OF that trip In the n%elghborlng
(much too nciglhlorlng) camp. They
laughed like children and clutched
each other in frantic mirth. And with
what exceeding care ana deliberate
ness It was necessary to proceed Tho
most lnofTensive pebble was occasion
for n wide dctour. in spite OF the la
mcntable fact that It Increased the dis
lance. And did the little unshod sllken
foot so much as caress the ground In
it's wabbllng career Dudley vas ready
to weep in worshipful contritlon. 1t
was almost too much Joy TO discover
IN the course OF the hysterlcal nver
satlon that this was Tom Hutton's
ranch-dear old Tom that he hadn't
seen since the college days-and Gin
derclla his wlfe's guest.
But, as all pleasant mornents come to
an end, 80 must this, as Cinderella
dropped, tired, but still merry, into a
chair On the bungalow piazza.
"And then the prince" he said slow
~, looking down upon her with eom-
pelling eyes, caused his heralds-no;
I think you know what the prince did
without my telling you"
"Ah." she cried, her own eyes falling
under his scrutiny. but first you've to
find the slipper"
ANns MIST w " huu Ant supper
And when 1t IS found I've the advan-
tage of knowing where dwells Cindcr-
ella-and that the slipper will fit"
(Which last is yet to be proven!'-
teaslngly.
"Nfay l put 1t TO the test?" he begged.
"Oh, Falnthcart!' she whispered
mocklnGIy. TRY and see"
Nrbnrauk nrTtov l,n.rnn a. noCcf noonl-
lar course of behavior. Going quickly
around the corner Of the cabin, he
bumped his head softly several times
against the logs, gave himself n VIC
lent shake and then strobe through the
trees TO the low rock In the little clear
cd space at the edge OF the bluff. Sit
ting down. he plunged nm empty hand
into the deep pocket and brought it out
full OF n stout brown walking boot OF
small dimensions.
To his credit be 1t said that there
was self denunciatloa In his aspect as
he sat turning 1t miserably over and
over. Oh, yes; of course he'd had It
there all the while. Well. hadn't he
tried to let her have 1t at the very
first. and didn't she keep i%ntcrrupt'ng
till lie cOuldn't-that Is to say, didn't
want to? Suppose he was the biggest
cad on record, he'd wager no fellow
ever had n better excused Hang III
What did she have TO look ut him that
way for? How could lie deliberately
hand the thing over and put an end to
the happicst few moments he'd ever
spent, or ever expected 10 spend, for
that matter? For surely by this fool
ishness he'd dished any prospects OF
further acquaintance about as efec-
lively as possible. Well, anyhow, this
was torture; might as well have the
confession over with and go of and
shoot himself.
In three minutes he was back. The
trial trip had taken twenty to navi
gate. She was waiting and still alone
Oh, yes; rub 1t In! She might have
cared If he hadn't spoiled 1t all.
"AIOst eager knight" she called II
greeting. WAS 1t wings? Nothini
else could have taken you down th'
ravine and up again in this time"
For answer he knelt without q wore
and put the fateful shoe In place witt
elaborate care. lie would have tina
privilege before he forfeited her favo
forever. Then
II found 1t In the ravine before
climbed up at ALL" he said abruptly
1T was in my pocket all the while
Now send me away. for l can't go IN
less you do"
But Cinderella leaned forward to talk
his remorseful face between two but
terhy hands.
ooh, boy, boy" she cried softly
! most innocent Of boys! Did you thin
I didn't know? l saw you pick 1t u
p down below-no. you shall have all til
. truth; 1t fell let 1t fall because
u saw your
Just then Tom Hutton. comm
around the corner Of the house. d.
cided he could quite as well postpon
i his errand.
! weiIinEton's Integrity.
d The great Duke OF Wellington VIZ