Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-07-27
CHAPTER VI.
A1o BE or Not to Be-"

They were seated rather close togeth-
er upon the steep hillside. gazing silent
~ down VI - squalid Glencaid. At such
considerable distance all the dull shah
biness OF the mining town had disap-
peared, and it seemed almost ideal
viewed against the natural background
of brown rocks and green trees. Every
where was loneliness, no sound telling
of the labor of man reached them,
and the few scattered buildings FAR
below resembling mere doll-houses.
They had conversed only upon the
constantly changing beauty OF the
scene, or Of incidents connected with
their upward climb. while moving
slowly along the trail through the
fresh morning sunshine. Now they
sat In silence, the young girl, with
cheeks flushed and dreamy eyes agow.
gazed far off along the valley, the
man watching her curiously, and won
dering how best to approach his task.
Observing her now, sitting thus in
total Inconsistencies of his scrutiny,
Hampton made no attempt TO analyze
the depth Of his interest for this waf
who had come drifting into his HE.
Even to his somewhat prejudiced
eyes she was not an attractive crea-
ture, for she possessed no clear con-
ception OF how to render apparent
those few feminine charms she pos
sessed. Negligence and total uncon-
co;~ ~ cd vHY 1ock
of womanly companionship and guild
ance, had left her altogether In tho
rough. He marked now the coarse
ragged shoes, the cheap patched skirt.
the tousled auburn hair, the sunhurnt
cheeks with q suggestion Of freckles
plainly visible beneath the eyes, and
some Of the fastidiousness Of early
days caused him to shrug his shout
ders. Yet underneath the tan there
was the glow OF perfect young health;
the eyes were frank, brave, unAinch-
ing; while the rounded chin held a
world OF character in its firm con-
tour. Somehow the sight OF this
brought back to him that abiding
faith in her dead gameness" which
had first awakened his admiration.
kid" he ventured at last, you
were talking while we came up the
trail about how we'd do this and that
after awhile. You don't suppose I'm
going to have any useless girl like
you hanging around on to me-, do
yous"
She glanced quickly about at him.
as though such unexpected expressions
startled her from a pleasant reverie.
why. IL thought that was the way
you planned it yesterday" she ex-
claimed. doubtfully.
"Oh, yesterday! Well, you see, yes
terday was sort OF dreaming; today
am wide awake. and I've about de-
cided. Kid, that for your own good.
and my comfort, I've got to shake
you"
A sudden CLEAN Of fierce resentment
leaped into the dark eyes, the UNI
restrained glow of passion which
have, have you, Mr.. Bob Hampton!
You have about decided! Well, why
don't you altogether decide? don't
think I'm down on my knees begging
you for mercy. Good Lord! l reck-
on can get along all right without
you'll did before. Just what hap
pened to give you such change of
hearty"
II made the sudden discovery" he
said, affecting laziness he was far
from feeling. that you were too near
being a young woman to go traipsing
around the country with me, living at
shacks, and having no company but
gambling sharks. and that class Of
cattle"
ooh, did you? What else."
"Only that our tempers don't ex-
actly seem to jibe, and the two of