The Irish standard., 1907-08-03

THE IRISH STAl
extremely doubtful, with reluctant
steps they approached that tall, home
ly, yellow house-outwardly the most
pretentious in Glencaid.
They were so 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 skirts, her sullen
eyes fastened doggedly on the road,
her hair showing ragged and disrep-
utable in the brilliant sunshine
| Hampton himself could not remain al
together Indifferent to the contrast
t*You look a little rough Kid, for
society CALL" he said. "If there was
any shebang in this mud.hole of a
town that kept any womens things on
sale fit to look at, I'd be tempted to fix
you up bit.'
"Well, I'm glad of it," she respond.
ed, grimly. Il hope l look so 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 10 symptom
Of doing so," he admitted, frankly.
"But you might, at least, have washed
your face and fixed your hair"
She flashed one angry glance at him.
stopping in the middle Of the road, her
head flung back as though ready for
battle. Then, as if 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? l 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. reckon ]
ain't very much afraid of tackling this
Presbyterian woman all alone"
She swung off fiercely, and the man
chuckled softly as 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-
nect!on with this contemplated call.
He had never met the lady, but he re-
tained some memory Of the husband
as having been associated with stren-
uous poker game at Placer, in which
he also held prominent place, and
it would seem scarcely possible that
the wife did not know whose bullet
had turned her for some weeks into a
sick nurse. A cordial reception could
hardly be anticipated, and Hampton
mentally braced himself for the worst
1t was a cheerless looking house
painted garish yellow, having star.
ing windows, and devoid of front
porch, or slightest attempt at shade
to render its uncomely front less unat.
tractive. Had the matter been left at
that moment to his own decision, this
glimpse of the house would have
turned them both back, but the girl
unhesitatingly pressed forward and
turned defiantly in through the gate.
less opening He followed in silence
along the narrow foot-path bordered
by weeds, and stood back while she
stepped boldly up on the rude stone
slab and raped sharply against the
warped and sagging door, moment
they stood thus waiting with no re.
sponse from within. Once she glanced
suspiciously around at him, only to
wheel back instantly and once more
apply her knuckles to the wood. Be.
fore he had conjured up something
worth saying the door was partially
opened, and a rounded dumping of Q
woman, having rosy cheeks, her hair
iron-gray, her blue eyes half smiling
in uncertain welcome, looked out upon
them quest1oningly.
I've come to live here" announced
the girl. sullenly. "That Is, If like it,
The woman continued to gaze at her
as If tempted to laugh outright, then
the pleasant blue eyes hardened as
their vision swept beyond toward
Hampton.
1T is extremely kind of you, I'm
sure,' she said at last. why is it
am to be thus honored?"f
The girl backed partially of the
doorstep, her hair Tapping in the wind.
her cheeks flushed.
ooh, you needn't put on SO much
style about it," she blurted out You're
Mrs. Herndon, amt you? Well, then
this is the place where was sent; but
reckon you amt no more particular
about it than am. There's others"
Who sent you to me?" and Mrs