La Junta tribune., 1907-02-09

MADE TIE WORK LAST As Lo..o As Fos-
slBLI-
for his iustiiiable act ever since he
made the complaint. aud now Well.
he would take the girl home to his
wife. She had more tact than he and
would know just whf To do.
This mental throwing OF the respon-
sibillty from his own houlders brought
back his natural thecrfulness and
buoyancy. aud he 81 ilingly motioned
for the girl To climb into his wagon.
Ever ride after n riule beforef-' he
asked as he left the animals head and
climbed up ON the seat beside her.
No" Then her fnce grew wistful
do you suppose father and the boys
are at home to'layt"
II low they won't lie there Jest right
now" he said evasiyely. You see,
they didn't know you was comm. so
they happen to lie on for a spell. But
you mustn't let 1t put you out any"
with more animation. I'm take you
home, an my wife'l fix You up mighty
conf table Till they git back
Thank you. But why can't I go
right to the house and wait for them:
II would he such surprise"
NO. no.' he objected. with sudden
entreaty. "By no manner q means.
Bachelor livin' amt apt to keep n
house fixed up. an jest now faint In
place for you. I know that. You must
do Jest like say an come TO my house
for spell"
well. IL you think best She was
silent for some time. watching the un
familiar plants along the roadside aud
the curious. bright colored chameleons
that flashed from the warm sand In
front of the mule and disappeared
with marvellous rapidity among the
palmettos.
Gurus. amt theyT' said Williams
as he followed her glance. 'Jest like u
bit o rainbow strung on liyhtnin'. But
they're 'mazln' fine things for pets
Your brother Freddy used to have one
that would scoot out from some queer
hidin' place whenever he'd whistle
Great hand. Freddy. for pets"
At the mention Of Freddy she lost
interest In the plants and chameleons
and turned TO him with u tender. trem-
ulous smile on her lips.
1T will be so pleasant to have ones
own folks to live with" she said softly.
..They were all nice to me at the
school, but none OF them belonged to
me- II will he almost iike-like heaven
and the boys"
Williams reached out and struck his
mule viciously. but she did not notice.
II suppose everybody round here
likes father. he is such = good man"
she went ON In tone that was an AS
sertiOn rather than question.
He kept you to school pretty
steady" returned her companion. II
knew he had gal up north. but had
an idee she wss stayin' 'mong her kin"
Father has done everything for me
everything. said the girl. with 4 ten
der light In her big gray eyes. He
was not rich. for he once wrote that ]
might have TO wait . few days for my
years tuition. rs money was hard to
get. hut 1t came the very next day.
and he always sent me plenty for
books and dresses and everything ]
wanted. He wrote for me never to
stint myself on anything and that after
I graduated I was on no account to
come home. but to keep ON with my
music and drawing and other studies.
and when I had learned all could at
the school he was going to send me to
Europe to learn more. Dear. dear IA
ther. I hope I may be able to make 1t
up to him some time
Williams gave quick sideiong glance
at the earnest face and then gazed
eteadfastIy at the road ahead. He had
known Boozy John for eight years and
could not remember a single redeem
ing feature about the man. He was
erratic. shiftless and utterly irre<ponsi-
ble. His life was one long spree that
reeled between absolute drunkenness
and semi-intoxication- But he was a
good lawyer and fine scholar and even
in his partial stupor was able to pick
mp . good deal of money about the
courts ard In other wayA People sup-
pssea >shat alI this 0soey went to fhe
1FnaaAsDA 81 the sappssGttsa 0sae