Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1906-07-12

pointed, it was so unlike what he had
expected and pictured to himself Yet
he hardly knew after all what he had
expected. He had no claim on her,
was not even any relation, and seven
years is a long time--a girl makes 9th
err friends. She would not meet his
look as in the old days, but kept her
eyes bent on the ground. He couldn't
remember just what color they were,
and wondered how it was that such
an important point had never inter-
ested him before. He could see, in
| deed, that the eyes were fringed with
| long, dark lashes, and the outline OF
the face, which was so carefully turned
from him, was perfect; her figure was
tall and straight, her head erect and
shapely crowned with masses Of darl
curling hair, which fell below he
waist. She was decidedly the most
beautiful girl he had ever seen-and
the moment he realized this fact, per-
feet fury of jealousy took possession
Of him. He understood everything
now-it was clear as daylight-Cecilia
had lover and did not want his
friendship any more
| At last the girl broke the silence.
my father will be so pleased to see
you," she said, but If you will excuse
me now | will just finish cutting some
roses and be with you presently"
She began to cut roses feverishly,
not seeing or caring where she stepped,
till the thorny branches laid hold Of
l.. hot, hall hAx co.,
almost as though they knew what they
were about, and determined to make
her prisoner
In her struggles she stepped at last
on a loose mound Of earth which
gave way suddenly beneath her. and
in a moment myriads of tiny brown
insects, each carrying a precious egg
almost as large as itself, were swarm
| ing about her feet and ankles.
She had stumbled into an ants nest!
The young man was just disappear
ing into the house, but at the first cry
he turned and with two or three
bounds, which would have done credit
to an active kangaroo, was by her side
and had taken in the situation. 1t is
to his everlasting credit that he did
not laugh, but treated the affair with
the seriousness 1t deserved. Forum.
ately he carried his ''machete" with
him, that useful If rather dangerous
knife without which a Mexican seldom
rides abroad-and with a few strokes
Of the sharp blade he freed the girl
from the prickly branches, when she
fled hastily into the middle of the
path and commenced to stamp and
shake her skirts vigorously long after
every insect had taken himself off In a
greater fright than her own.
Then the branches which still chung
to her hair had to be disentangled, oh,
so gently! Such glorious hair, too, the
touch of 1t thrilled him. Then she
looked up and their eyes met, and sud.
denly the disappointment and misery
which had seemed so real a few min
utes ago all melted away and they
knew.
"Oh, Phil, / am so thankful yor
came" was all she said, but she CAV,
a happy little laugh and tried to hid:
from his gaze by shaking her name
about her blushing face, but he tool
her hand and drew her to him.
do you know | have had such
terrible fright" he said. 81 thought
oh, you can't think how wretched 4
made me-that some one had stoleI
you from me; but it isn't true, Cecilia
tell me 1t isn't true"
; And | thought" she answered
evading his question, that the girls
in New York"
There are no girls in New York,
the young man gravely interrupted
) her. There is only one girl in tn,
whole world, and she is right here
I in my arms!"
r A neat appearance counts for a gTea
deal. Don't let a dirty collar lose yol