Mower County transcript., 1907-09-04
CHAPTER VII.
awe Come Here to Live"

VS SSuV b1Vs . " IkNSs
Widely as these two companions
differed in temperament and expert
ence, it 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
ly, yellow house-outwardly the most
pretentious in Glencaid.
They were 80 completely opposite,
these two, that more than one chance
passer-by 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-
trast, the girl trudged in her heavy
shoes and bedraggled skirt4, her sullen
eyes fastened doggedly on the road,
her hair showing ragged and disrep-
utable in the brilliant sunshine.
Hampton himself could not remain a.
together Indifferent to the contrast.
You look = little rough, Kid, for. .
society CALL" he said. III there was
any shebang in this mud-hole Of .
town that kept any women's things on
sale At to look u, I'd be tempted to fx
you up . bit.''
well, I'm glad Of It," she respond
ed. grimly. Il hope look 80 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 hxed your hair"
She flashed one angry glance at him,
stopping in the middle of the road, her.
head flung back a. though ready for
battle. Then, as II 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! 1 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. l reckon I
amt very much afraid of tackling this
Presbyterian woman all alone"
She swung OF fiercely, and the man
chuckled softly az 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
~ having been associated with stren-
uous poker game ct Placer, in which
he also held prominent place, and
1t would seom scarcely possible that
the wife did not know whose bullet
had turned her for some weeks into Z
sick nurse. a cordial reception could
hardly be anticipated, and Hampton
mentally braced himself for the worst.
II was q chserless looking house,
painted q garish yellow, having star
Ing windows, and devoid Of q front
porch. or slightest attempt at shade
to render its uncomely front less unat-