Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-05-31
CHAPTER ix.-continues.
,0pI Ii.hI i>as ., itl.sslisTTili %

vi tpuErs YOU " tllaihs nHpuAfts
cnraved anew by his haliIng speech,
-You have every reason In the world
10 be afraid. You've probably heard
that I'm bad lot and worthless ad'
ycnturer: but you can tell Sister The
rcsa or Pickering or anybody you
please that I'm ten times as bad as
I've ever been painted. Now clear ont
u here"
knocked about the library all morn
ing without easing my spirit. and
after luncheon ! went on for tramp.
Winter had indeed come and pos
sesscd the earth. and II had given me
n new landscape. The snow continued
10 TALL In great. heavy flakes. and the
ground was whitening fast.
A rabbits track caught my eye and
] followed II. hardly conscious that
did 30. Then the clear print of two
small shoes mingled with the rabbits
trail. 4 few moments later picked
up IN oycrshoe. probably lost IN the
chase by one of Sister ThcrcHa's girls.
I reflected. remembered that while
nj Tech I had collected n diversity Of
memorabilia from school siri ncanaint'
anccs, and here ! vas beginning
new series with n string OF beads ana
an oycrshoc.
A rabbit In always an attractive
quarry. Few things besides riches are
NO elusive, and the little fellows have.
I am sure. n shrcwd humor peculiar TO
themselves. I rather cnyied the school
cir, who had ycnturcd forth for n walk
In the iirst snow storm Of the season.
and recalled Aidrich'S turn on Gau'
tiers lines as I followed the double
traii:
.IIaw.'.r you tread. a tiny mould
E.,rayz that Hight foot all the same:
t'pon this EiirtrninE. snowy fold
At every step 1; signs your name.
A pretty autograph. indeed! The
snow fell steadily md I trampcd ON
over the joint signature Of the girl and
the rabbit. Near the lake they parted
company. the rabbit leading on mt
tangent, on n line parallel with the
lake. while his pursucr's steps polluted
toward the boat house.
There was. NO far MS I knew. only
one student of adventurous blood Mt
st. AEatha's. and was not In the least
surprised to see. on the little sheltered
balcony OF the boat house. the red tam
o'-shnntor. She wore. too. the covert
coat remembered from the day saw
her first from the wall. Her back was
toward me rs drew near: her hands
were thrust into her pockets. She
was evidently enjoying the soft ming.
ling OF the snow with the still. blue
waters of tho lake: and girl and n
al
lion. a pretty combination. The fact OF
IA girls facing n winter storm argues
imightily In her favor.-testifles. IL you
will allow me. to n serene and daunt-
less spirit for one thing, and n sound
constitution for another.
! ran up the steps. my cap In one
hand. her overshoe in the other. She
drew back trifie. Just enough to bring
my conscience to Its knees.
''t didn't mean to listen that day.
just happened to be on the wall. and
It was thoroughly underbred trick
my twitting you about it-and should
have told you before II I'd known how
to rec you-"
May I trouble you for that shoc?"
she said with tremendous dignity.
They taught that cold disdain of
map, I suppose, as a required study at
st. Agutha's.
"Oh, certainly! Won't you allow
me."
Thank ycu. no."
She took the damp bit of rubber-a
wet overshoe, even II small and hal.
lowed by associations. isn't Dretty-as
Venus might have received soft
shel. crab from the hand of fresh
young norman. I was between her
and the steps to which her eyes turned
longingly.
"Of course, II you won't accept my
apology can't do anything about 1t;
but I hope you understand that I'm
sincere and humble. and anxious to be
forgiven"
You seem to be making good deal
of small matter"
81 wasn't referring to the ovcsshoe!"
I said.
She did not relent.
''lf you'll only go away
She rested one hand against the |
corner of the boat house, while she
affixed the overshoe to her foot. She
wore, noticed. brown gloves with
cuffs.
How can go away! You children
are always leaving things about FOR
me to pick up. I'm perfectly worn out
carrying some girls beads about with
me: and spoiled good glove on
your overshoe."
I'll relieve you of the beads. If you
please"
She thrust her hands into the peck
cts VI her coat and shook the tam-o'-
shantcr slightly, to establish 1t In
",nr, comfortable srnt on her head