Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1907-05-09

against my shoulder. / could see a
little wistful curve about her mouth
that hurt met had not been there
Of old.
Don't you wish. Ned" she said
softly, and then suddenly checked her
self.
There were many thing that was
wishing, but l said nothing. There
was an ache in my throat that would
have made speech difficult. "Oh,
blind fool" my heart was crying, and
1 realized that it would go on and on
through many weary years.
Suddenly she turned, so as to look
into my face.
Ned" she said slowly; how long
have we known each other?'
six years, about-since you were
70. You know as well as L. l an
swered.
and we have been good comrades
-pals-Ned," she continued, letting
her brown eyes wander to a distant
point. Tell me, then, Ned, what does
the gang'-Bill, and Carter and Ray
mond, and all the rest of them-think
of me?"
They are sore, Nan" I told her,
trying to put into the softest terms
the rage and sorrow of the gang that
the Girl should do this thing. Ray
mond has gone off to the Rockies to
shoot bear. Tom Mason is talking of
going to work, Bill is like a funeral
on Monday"
Ned, did you ever hear any of
them say that, that I was pretty?" she
asked, while a pink flood showed
through the golden tan upon the slen-
der throat.
Say it? OF course mott" I exploded
do you mean to tell me-" l demanded,
that you didn't know hat we gave
that chap Forrea a thousand dollars
to come from Paris to paint that wa
ter color of you, and that each one of
us has a miniature copy that cost a
hundred dollars?"
l snapped open my watch case, to
show her her own laughing face and
wind-blown curls.
SILLY boys!" she said, and the pink
in her cheeks deepened to crimson.
why are they sore, Ned? Are
your" she asked.
l looked searchingly into her brown
eyes, but found only the frankness I
knew so well.
"We-that is, they, had always
thought it would be some one of the
old crowd, Girl" 1 told her.
A sad little smile iickered about
her mouth.
q was a good pal, wasn't : Ned?"
she said.
The finest in all the world" I an
swered truthfully.
And they thought me pretty" she
continued slowly; but not one of
them-I am 10, Ned, and no one ever
-or even wanted-to kiss mel"
She buried her face in her hands
and sobbed. The little figure seemed
pathetically slight and lonely.
Il was a good comrade, Ned" she
continued softly; but l was a girl,
after all. II wanted some one to-
care. Ned"
My heart leaped, and tumultuous
speech crowded upon my tongue, but
with ar effort held myself in check,
and gently lifted the brown head so
that | might look into her eyes
Man." l said, you had the whole
crowd to choose from-you know you
did, and yet you went and let them
engage you to that miserable little
monkey Of a count"
He asked me, anyway; o n of the
others ever did" Nan said dedantly.
"They-they-" l stammered stu
pidly, but she interrupted sharply.
They did not-never, not one of
them. How could l know? Did
you?"
For a moment l was dazed. as one
is by a sudden glare of light. Then
my arms were around her.
"Nan-Girl," l whispered, and bent
toward the red, trembling lips that did
not seek to avoid me.
A moment later she had wrenched
herself free and sprang to her feet.
"Oh, Ned, please let us go!" she
cried, and hurried to the canoe.
Silently w took our places. It was
dark, and far away to the north lights
were cleaning.
"Girl,"I whispered, and she turned
her head YEARLY. Suddenly we heard
the throbbing of a motor boat away to-
the south.
They have missed the canoe and
are out in the launch looking for US"
l said. They could never find us
among the islands. Oh, Girl, sweet
heart-it isn't too late-and 1 love
you" 1 plead.
She did not answer, but l saw a
slim, brown hand steal to the pocket
Of her blouse and something made a
sparkling curve in the air. l leaned
forward to press the little hand that
for a moment was stretched back to-
ward me and then withdrawn. With
out a word she picked up her paddle,
and with a def turn of the blade set
the prov Of the canoe toward the dis
tant lights of Cotton.
See Plan Of Carnegie.
Educational papers credit the report
that Andrew Carnegie and HIS coIosI