The Washington herald., 1907-09-09
ISABE,L'S MISSION.
BY ANNE HEItMAN.

u HNNE
IT'S no use talking to me-" Isabel ex-
claimed. MY mind is fully made up"
Jim rose and, limping slowly over to
where the girl sat. stood looking down
upon her intently. She shifted uncom-
fortab!y under his gaze and finally slip
ped from her chair and fed ignominiously
TO the farthest window, where, she felt
sure, Jim, suffering from his swollen
ankle. would not follow her
And besides" she continued Ioftily. as
he subsidized into the chair she had va
Gated, besides. I have no intention OF
ever marrying. I feel that have mis-
sion which is altogether too impor-
tant-"
Huh"
'oh, Of course. you are shocked Scan
dalized. in fact Tom and Sally were
both seemingly outraged when I told
them what had decided on. Every one
seems 70 think it's plainly a girls mis-
sion in life to marry the first man who
condescends TO ask her; but I have en-
tirely different ideas on the subject-and
I really feel that it Is my mission 70 go
and help teach those poor, ignorant Chi
nese-"
ITO lie and cheat alice samee Mclean
man, instead Of guileless heather"
Jim Brinson had never before proposed
10 a girl. and her calm refusal hurt.
Where are you going" he asked pres
emily, as Miss Amber. In naughty silence.
com -r-crT - min ~, s,a~
ITO the post-offlee." icily; "the letter
announcing my appointment has certainly
arrived by this time"
You surely amt going to attempt to
ride over TO Kiowa and back to-dayT'
7 surely am"
"But look al the weather, Can't you
see there's a storm coming9r
NO, cannot" answered Isabel, DON
ming a tight jacket THE day Is beau
tifui."
Wait until tomorrow and one Of the
boys can go. And besides, Tom has
taken your pony out on the range.
There amt a horse left that you can
ride"
I intend to ride FREELY" said Miss
kAlABtIs buoILy.
Don't attempt to ride that cayuse.
warned Joe. He needs a firm hand or
he's liable TO take the bit in his teeth
any old time and go lopin' of after any
stray horse he'd spy grazing on the
range He amt got a lick OF sense and
would be sure 10 balk and pitch you of
soon's the storm strikes him. And there's
q blizzard coming, and that right soon
CAS- I said before" replied Miss Am.
Der, 'the day is perfect-a trihe hay.
but that is caused by smoke. Firefv Is
as gentle as one could visible suits
me"
Some people appear to have as little
knowledge about weather and horses as
they have common sense" returned Jim
in no genial tone
Wei, as the weather and horses and
cattle evidently compromise the extent of
a cowpuneher's knowledge, one ought not
70 be expected to excel them in their
limited sphere answered the girl. taunt-
ingly. as she abruptly left the room.
The air was deliciously fresh and clear.
mot the slightest indication Of a storm.
and it's as warm as one could wish.
Isabel murmured to herself as she can
tered blithely along the deeply marked
trail. How contrary a man is If he's
thwarted IN any little thing. And Tom
and his wife are just as unreasonable.
They think ! ought to consider myself
in great luck to marry a prosperous cat
tleman and settle down as their nearest
neighbor. Well, I must admit III hate to
leave them so soon. How quickly those
two months have passed. never thought
I would like Colorado so we'll" glaucing
approvingly around the undulating coun-
try. How near the mountains seem.
Yes. it's big and free and inspiring. but
it's not for me-" and she sighed uncon-
sciously.
Absorbed with her Tneditations Isabel
failed 10 notice that a misty veil was
suddenly drawn before the far foothills.
She was rudely brought to a realization
of her whereabouts as the storm swooped
down upon her Indignantly. Fire1y was
aimlessly picking his way up the side Of
a decidedly unfamiliar looking hill. Not
a sign Of the trail was to be seen. And
il was SO plain a child could follow 1t"
his rider dolefully reflected
The earth became blanketed with white
and surrounding objects grew DINNER. It
was a new worlds threatening, confus-
ing. shifting white world.
At the top Of the hin they met the full
fury Of the first blizzard Of the season.
Joe was certainly right about the
weather.. Isabel admitted. shiveringlv.
but he was entirely wrong about Fire
fly, he behaves admirably-it was not his
fault that We got lost He hasn't the
slightest disposition 10 buck
The storm gave a whistling Shrek.
Suddenly there was a tumultuous Up
heaval Of something sOmewhere-a brief
breathless sensation Of flying through the
air, and then a snowdrift received Miss
Amber into its downy embrace.
1t was q horrible shock Isabel did not
CITY; she WAS too stunned and Inundated
for that To think that Firefy would
pitch her OF and abandon her on this
desolate hin she had not the slightest
idea Of what direction to take, and Won
dered dumbly what she should do. Pres
entity she heard the muffied trampling of
hoofs. and discovered a horse and rider
bearing down upon her. Not relishing the