Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-09-27
CHAPTER VII.
ave Come Here to Live"

1--WE Come Here to Live"
Widely as these two companions
differed In temperament and expert
ence, 1t would be impossible to decide
which felt the greater uneasiness at
the prospect Immediately before them.
The girl openly rebellious, the man
extremely doubtful, with reluctant
steps they approached that tall, home
", yellow house-outwardly the most
pretentious In Glencaid.
They were SO completely opposite,
these two, that more than one chance
-s-AAr-hy glanced curiously toward
them as they picked their way onward
through the red dust. Hampton, slen.
der yet firmly knit, his body held erect
. as though trained to the profession of
arms, his features finely chiselled, with
threads Of gray hair beginning to show
conspicuously about the temples. His
attire of fashionable cut black cloth,
and his immaculate linen, while neat
and unobtrusive, yet appeared ex-
tremely unusual in that careless land
Of clay-baked overalls and dingy
woolens. Beside him, in vivid con.
tfast, the girl trudged in her heavy
shoes and bedraggled skirts, her sullen
eyes fastened dOggedly on the road,
her. hair showing ragged and disrep-
utable In the brilliant sunshine.
Hampton himself could not remain al
together Indifferent to the contrast.
'"You look a little rough, Kid, for a
society cali" he said. IF there was
any shebang in this mud-hole of a
town that kept any womens things on
sale fit to look at, I'd be tempted to fix
g you up biz"
We'll, I'm glad of it," she respond
ed, grimly 81 hope look so blame
tough that woman won't say a civil
word to US. You can bet amt going
to strain myself to please the likes of
her"
You certainly exhibit no symptoms
Of doing So" he admitted, frankly.
But you might, at least, have washed
your face and fixed your hair"
She flashed one angry glance at him,
stopping in the middle Of the road, her
head flung back as though ready for
battle. Then, as if by some swift
magic of emotion, her expression
changed. And so you're ashamed Of
, me, are yOu?" she asked, her voice
sharp but unsteady. Ashamed to be
seen walking with me? | know you
are! But | tell you, Mr.. Bob Hamp-
ton, you won't be the next time. And
what's more, you just don't need to
traipse along another step with me
now. | don't want you. | reckon l
amt very much afraid Of tackling this
Presbyterian woman all alone"
She swung off fiercely, and the man
cnuckled softly as he followed, watch
fully, through the circling, red dust
cloud created by her hasty feet. The
truth is, Mr.. Hampton possessed trou-
bles and scruples of his own in con.
nection with this contemplated call.
He had never met the lady, but he re-
tanned some memory of the husband
as having been associated with a siren
uous poker game at Placer, in which
he also held a prominent place, and
1t would seem scarcely possible that
the wife did not know whose bullet
had turned her for some weeks into q
sick nurse. A cordial reception could
hardly be anticipated, and Hampton
mentally braced himself for the worst.
1t was a cherries looking house;
painted a garish yellow, having star
Ing windows, and devoid of front
porch, or slightest attempt at shade
to render its uncomely front less unat.
tractive. Had the matter been left at
that moment to his own decision. this
glimpse of the house would have
turned them both back, but the girl
unhesitatingly pressed forward and
turned defantly in through the gate.
) less opening. He followed in silence
along the narrow foot-path bordered
by weeds, and stood back while she
stepped boldly up on the rude stone
slab and raped sharply against the
warped and sagging door. A moment
they stood thus waiting with no re-
Spouse from within Once she glanced
suspiciously around at him, only ia
wheel back instantly and once more
apply her knuckles to the wood. Be
fore he had conjured up something
worth saying the door was partially
opened, and rounded dumping of a
. woman, having rosy cheeks, her hail
iron-gray, her blue eyes half smiling
in uncertain welcome, looked out upor
Nthem questioningly.
I've come to live here" announced
the girl, sullenly. THAT is, If like it.
The woman continued to gaze at hel
as If tempted to laugh outright, ther
the pleasant blue eyes hardened a.
their vision swept beyond towart
Hampton.
1T is extremely kind of you, In
sure" she said at last. Why is It
am to be thus honored?"
The girl backed partially OF tn,
doorstep, her hair tapping in the wind
her cheeks flushed.
"Oh, you needn't put on so mucl
style about 1t" she blurted out. Your,
Mrs. Herndon, amt you! Well, then
this Is the place where was sent; Blu
i reckon You amt no more particula
-.