Middletown transcript., 1907-01-05

lnree Steps. N l1atls tlle n1abter
OH nothing she said and bi
her lip to keep back anolheI
groan.
He looked puzzled, but uncon
vinced II there is anything
can do
There is nothing Oh, yes
there is You can go ava
The ranger saw then the trou
Bile. She had trodden on clus
ter Of cactus burrs and theil
cruel needles were pressing
through the thin kid of her shoe
against her foot. Ili an i1stani
Wadleigh was kneeling beside
her, drawing out tho lace Will
Hight, deft hands, and gently re
moving the shoe Then he pulled
out the sprickles one by one from
the little bleeding instep The
| girl blushed 10 her eyes, but the
young man appeared to take il
so much as a matter of course,
scarcely looking at her at all,
THAT she was reassured.
These cholIa needles viii pierce
through anything except hard
leather Does it pain very much
now : he asked.
No, not now, she answered,
and quietly threw her skirt over
her foot.
Wadleigf1 busted himself re.
moving the cholla from the shoe.
He handed it back to her She
slipped it on and laced It.
7 suppose ! made too much OF
ut, but 1T really did pain dread
fully, she explained.
know how it pains, and / don't
think you made any fuss atall. |
have had it happen to me, said
the ranger. Then he blurted out.
I was rathera beast, Miss Hilary,
about playing you with the native.
son story. But I didn't really
mean to hurt your feelings. /
had some idiotic idea Of a joke.
She looked at him a little shyly.
Shall We begin again, Captain
Wadleigh ?
/ should like another chance,
If you please, because ] really
am sorry that You don't like me-
Her eyes opened wide. Don't
/ like you 7 / thought ne were
making another start. Perhaps
/ do now.
Their glauees met for an in
slant, then the girls sought the
distant hills. She found herself
biushing. It was a new exper-
ience for her TO thrill at a man s
look. It is possible you may not
like me.
Not thinkab!e ! replied the
young man masterfnIly, his eyes
claiming more than the words.
think I had better be going
back to the Utuels. suggested
Miss Hilary, vaguely but delight
fully alarmed.
Really Shirley
His drawing audacity shocked
and thrilled her. This method Of
procedure was new to her. Al.
though she had heard of The diff
ference between Eastern and
Western manners, she was not
prepared for this lack of cere-
mony after the identity Of her
discovery had been revealed, She
looked a reproach she thought
she ought to feel. You must not
say that
What must | say he smiled.
! think yon know my name.
isn't Shirley your name
You know it isl ito you.
Oh, not to me He looked
away across tie bills, still smil-
ing. Id like it to be TO me.
Don't you think we'd better let it.
be Shirley, Shirley
The sharp look that Miss Hill
ary gave him showed both admi.
ration and anger You take a
great deal for granted, she told
him icily.
I'd like to skip the next two.
months and take gost for granted,
he said with a sudden daring ten.
derness.
Captain Wadleigh, yonr audac-
ity and conceit she began.
Say It. I probably deserve it
all he suggested
She was silent from sheer ia
ability to say the things that the
situation demanded.
Shall we 60 back to your
friends They may think We
have eloped.
It's too absurd to think even
for moment
A few months ahead Of time,
nerlaus