Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1906-10-18

old gentleman. Mellory, feeling sur,
1t was the squire, walked slowly
across the grass towards him. Her
sun-bonnet had fallen back, masses of
brown curls clustered round the hot,
pink cheeks, and her brown eyes were
shining. A big deer hound, lying at
the sources feet. rose as she APP
preached, and shifted at her. Laying
little brown hand confidingly on its
collar, she and the dog faced the squire
together.
What is your manner" abruptly de-
manded the squire.
"oh, my name is Mellory. You don't
look very wicked!" she added, quickly.
The squire sat up in his chair.
What made good little girl come
to see such wicked old man, eh?"
come to see such n wicked old man,
chr"
"oh, yes; because you are. you
lSnow!"
who told you am wicked"
well, people seem to think SO, and
so do II you approve of beating
wife"
What" almost shouted the squire:
but Mellory was not in the least
alarmed. Calmly seating herself upon
his knee. she continued: you encour-
age your coachman to beat his wife.
| wish you wouldn't; 1t isn't nice, real
ly!"
80 that's what they say, is it?"
laughed the squire, and his voice was
not quite so pleasant this time. He put
his arm round Mellory. asking. do
you believe it,"
Mellory looked into his face: and
then she said decidedly, mo, don't.
You are more like knight than a
squire--a right worshipful knight"
she 9dded softly.
The squire shook his head. and his
face grew sad as he said: ALAS! No,
I'm not that. l might have BEEN
once! What made you come to see
such wicked old man, eh?"
Pm not good here. am at home;
but Aunt Susan's goodness Is different
somehow, and | can't do 1t. Perhaps
you can't be good here either?" she
suggested.
The squire muttered something and
then stopped. There was silence for
q minute, till Mellory asked, do Ncu
love your coachman very much?"
well, no; / can't say l love him.
He's been n good servant to me-"
Tell him he mustn't beat his wife.
He would pay attention to YOU"
DO you always pay attention to
what you are told?"
well, no." said Mellory, rather
slowly; but don't beat people,"
Neither do l." said the squire,
though should often like to-"
Beat the coaehman, them" ex-
claimed Mellory, triumphantly, then
he'd know what it's like"
"Egad!" said the squire, Shaping his
unoccupied knee. IT'S an excellent
idea. | will"
Mellory put up her face, and the
compact was ratified by kisses on both
cheeks. Then she got off his knee.
saying, I'm glad | came; l don't be-
lieve you are bit wicked, really"
He looked very sad as he answered,
TRY and believe the best of people.
always, my dear; then you will grow
up as good as you are pretty, and as
happy as you are both"
Mellory did not understand exactly
what he meant, but she realized that
he was not very happy, so she said
again, I'm glad ! came; we shall al
ways he friends!"
Il wonder" unused the squire.
He walked with her to her aunt's
gate, and as he waved his hat on leav-
ing her, she called after him, You
look a right worshipful knight, any
howl"
He stood in the middle OF the road
to wave his hat once more, and to look
back at the little figure standing in the
Then he turned into his
own great gates, where the drive lay
all in shade like his heart
Copyright. 1906. by Joseph b. Bowles)
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