Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-09
BOB HAMPTON OF PLACER.
BY RANDALL PARRISH,
AUTHOR OF WHEN WILDERNESS WAS KING"
Copyright, A. C. McClurg co.,

| I approached such presence, and the first
| shock of surprise was perhaps as great to
| me as to you. Yet, now that I have blum
| dered thus far, 1 beseech that be permit
| ted to venture upon yet another STEP"
She sat looking at him. a trim, soldierly
| figure, his face young and pleasant to gaze
upon, and her dark eyes sensibly softened
| What step?'
| ITO tarry for moment beside the d.
vinity of this wilderness"
| She laughed with open frankness her
white teeth sparkling behind the red, parted
| lips.
| Perhaps you may, if you will first con-
| sent to be sensible she said, with return
| ing gravity; land reserve the right to turn
! you away whenever you begin to talk or act
| foolish. II you accept these conditions, you
may sit down."
He seated himself upon the soft grass
ledge, retaining the hat in his hands. You
must be an odd sort Of a girl" he COM
mented, soberly. mot to welcome an honest
| expression of admiration
| "Oh. was that it? Then I duly bow my
! acknowledgment. l took your words for
one of those silly compliments by which
men believe they honor women
He glanced curiously aside at her half
averted face. AT first sight l had sup
posed you scarcely more than a mere girl,
! but now you speak like a woman wearied
Of the world, utterly condemning all COM
| plimentary phrases
| Indeed. no: not if they be sincerely ex-
! pressed as between man and man."
| How is 1t as between man and woman
| Men generally address women as you
| started to address me, as II there existed
| no common ground of serious thought be-
| tween them They condescend, they f1atter,
| they indulge in fulsome compliment. they
| whisper soft nonsense which they would be
! sincerely ashamed to utter in the presence
Of their own sex, they act as If they were
amusing babies, rather than conversing
| with intelligent human beings. Their own
notion seems to be to shake the rattle-box.
and awaken laugh. l am not a baby, nor
| am l seeking amusement"
He glanced curiously at her book. And
yet you condescend to read love stories,"
he said. smiling. II expected to discover
| treatise on philosophy"
II read whatever I chance to get my
| hands on, here in Glencaid" she retorted.
| Just as I converse with whoever comes
| along. 1 am hopeful Of some day discover
ing rare gem hidden In the midst Of the
| trash. l am yet young"
you are indeed young" ne said. quietly,
land with some of lfe's lessons still to
| learn. One is that frankness is not neces-
| sarily fiippancy, nor honesty harshness. Be-
| yond doubt much of what you said regard
| ing ordinary social conversation Is true,
yet the man is no more to be blamed than
| the woman. Both seek to be entertaining
and to be praised for the effort rather
than censured: stranger cannot instinc
| lively know the likes and diSlikes of one
I he has just met; he can feel his way only
| by commonplaces However, If you will Of
fer me topic worthy the occasion. in
| either philosophy, science or literature,
| will endeavor to feed your mind"
She uplifted her innocent eyes demurely to
his face. You are SO kind. I am deeply
interested just now In the Japanese concep-
ton of the transmigration of souls"
How extremely fortunatel 1t chances to
be my favorite theme, but my mental proc
| esses are peculiar, and you must permit me
to work up toward it somewhat gradually.
| For instance as a question leading that
| IN 10 fnpa fiOp nf
| do you manage to exist in such hole of
a place?-that is, provided you really re-
| side here"
| why, I consider this most delightful
nook"
my reference was to Glencaid"
! ''Oh! Why, live from within, not with
out. Mind and heart, not environment,
make life, and my time is occupied most
| congenially. I am being faithfully nur-
tured on the Presbyterian catechism. and
| also trained in the graces of earthly So
cety. These alternate, thus preparing me
| for whatever may happen in this world or
| the next
His face pictured beVilderment, but also
| determination to persevere. An interest
! ing combination, l admit. But from your
! appearance this cannot always have been
| your homer
"Oh, thank you. believe not always; but
| I wonder at your being able to discern my
superiority to these surroundings. And do
| you know your questioning is becoming
quite personal? Does that yield me an
| equal privilege?"
| He bowed. perhaps relieved at thus per-
! hitting her to assume the initiative and
| rested lazily back upon the grass, his eyes
| intently studying her face.
| II suppose from your clothes you must be
| a soldier. What is that figure Z on your
| hat for?''
| 1.-THE number Of my regiment, the It'll
| Cavalry"
| Her glance was a bit disdainful she
I coolly surveyed him from head to foot. II
| should imagine that a strong, capable-ap-
pearing fellow like you might do much
| better than that. There is so much work
| in the world worth doing, and SO much bet
| ter pay"
| What do you mean? Isn't soldiers life
| a worthy one?'
| "Oh, yes. of course, in a way. We have to
! have soldiers, 1 suppose; but If were