Western Kansas world., 1907-05-18
Copyright 1905 by Bobbs-MerrilI Co.
CHAPTER ix.AContinued.

yes, SIT, QulIe uHueiSIdHu yOu'
sir. But I'm afraid, sir
''Of course you're afraid! shouted,
enraged anew by his halting speech.
<'You have every reason in the world
to be afraid. You've probably heard
that I'm a bad lot and worthless ad-
venturer; but you can tell Sister The
resa or Pickering or anybody you
please that I'm ten times as bad as
I've ever been painted. Now clear out
of heret"
knocked about the library all morn
ing without easing my spirit, and
after luncheon I went off for tramp.
Winter had indeed come and pos
sessed the earth, and it had given me
a new landscape. The snow continued
to fall in great, heavy flakes, and the
ground was whitening fast.
A rabbits track caught my eye and
I followed it, hardly conscious that l
did so. Then the clear print of two
small shoes mingled with the rabbits
trail. A few moments later L picked
up an overshoe, probably lost IN the
chase by one of Sister Theresa'S girls, 4
/ reflected. l remembered that while
at Tech 1 had collected a diversity of
memorabilia from school girl acquaint-
ances. and here 1 waS beginning a
new series Will g StIluS VI DCduS anu
an overShOei
rabbit is always an attractive
quarry Few things besides riches are
so elusive, and the little fellows have,
/ am sure, a shrewd humor peculiar to
themselves l rather envied the school
girl who had ventured forth for walk
in the first snow storm of the season,
and recalled Aldrich's turn on Gau-
tiers lines as I followed the double
trail:
4.tHowe'er you tread, tiny mould
= Betrays that light foot all the same;
Upon this glistening. snowy fold
At every step it signs your name"
pretty autograph, indeed The
snow fell steadily and 1 tramped on
over the joint signature of the girl and
the rabbit. Near the lake they parted
company. the rabbit leading off at
tangent, on a line parallel with the
lake. while his pursuer's steps pointed
toward the boat house.
There was, so far as 1 knew, only
one student of adventurous blood at
St Agatha's, and 1 was not in the least
surprised to see, on the little sheltered
balcony of the boat house, the red tam
o-shanter. She wore, too, the covert
coat l remembered from the day l saw
her first from the wall. Her back was
toward me as l 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 the lake; and a girl and a
snow storm are, if you ask my opin-
ion, pretty combination. The fact of
a girls facing a winter storm argues
nightly in her favor-testifies, if you
will allow me, to serene and daunt-
less spirit for one thing, and a sound
constitution for another.
l 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 it's knees.
Il didn't mean to listen that day. 1
just happened to be en- the wall, and
it was a thoroughly underbred trick
my twitting you about it-and 1 should
have told you before if I'd known how
20 see you"
May 1 trouble you for that shoe?"
she said with tremendous dignity.
They taught that cold dlsdain of
man, suppose, as required study at
St. Agatha's.
'.Oh, certainly, Won't you allow
me?'
Thank you, mol"
She took the damp bit of rubber-a
wet overshoe, even if small and hal
lowed by associations, isn't pretty-as
Venus might have received a soft
shell crab from the hand of fresh
young norman. l was between her
and the steps to which her eyes turned
longingly.
Of course, if you won't accept my
apology 1 can't do anything about it:
but I hope you understand that I'm
sincere and humble, and anxious to be
forgiven"
You seem to be making a good deal
Of small matter"
Il wasn't referring to the overshoe."
{ said.
She did not relent-
IF 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, l noticed, brown gloves with
cuffs.
How can go away, You children
arc always leaving things about for
me to pick up. I'm perfectly worn out
carrying some girls beads about with
mo; and 1 spoiled a good glove on
your overshoe"
I'll relieve you of the beads, if you
please
She thrust her hands into the pock-
cts of her coat and shook the tam-o'-
Shanter slightly, to establish it in a