Mexico Missouri message., 1908-11-19

descendH II is crushing here. to say
the least"
Yes. II you viii. suppose must
let you. IL was looking for some
one when you came up and"
Here the crowd made II necessary |
that should force a way up to the
gallery above. When we had gained |
Il I added:
You are exceedingly good, and
am favored beyond expression. You |
see. I'm stranger yet to my own,
sort OF Rip Van Wrinkle, and am keen. |
ly anxious to feel my ground beneath |
my feet for awhile. I don't know a
soul here except"
Miss Devourney?" Here she sank
on a seat behind the gallery rail. Il
never heard of her In my life. and
thought I knew them all-the women
here"
! looked around and spoke coniiden.
TALLY. marveling that did SO. yet
realizing that II was no strange thing.
Then will make a confession. !
never did. either"
Miss Modernity laughed, softly, but
with evident enjoyment. Il was
seal upon our sudden bond Of conn.
dence, and was glad OF the human
sound which rippIed through the mad
clamor Of voices around US. like the
memory OF a meadow brook In the
midst Of a noisy thoroughfare, her
eyes as she turned them questioning,
tolerantly, were full of humoT.
g.
and wanted TO recognize her myself
first. So | hit upon a name to give
me an opportunity OF speaking TO diff
ferent ones. think It was quite in.
genious! She was an old friend-ln
fact. a playmate"
Basketball or rag-doolsH" she in
terrupted.
Neither. II was-er-stolen APP
pies and rides bareback, and wading
up stream-I mean on my back, you
know"
Fancy"
oh yes, all that sort Of thing.
But when anticipation has formed an
ideal. one sometimes shrinks back
from its fulfillment-as IL the imagina-
tion is 10th to rellnquish that which
II has found sweet"
She nodded quickly with a compre-
hension that was good to receive.
And should like to confess that
represent that unenviable atom of
mascullnity. an ex.tiance."
"Oh!-Hers, you meant"
Yes, she was only Ave when she
promised to marry me. When I went,
We parted In the"
Usual way?" Miss Modernlty was
evidently interested.
the orchard. l think II was. I
pulled her out OF an apple.tree. You
see she was famous climber and had
a way OF tearing her clothes nearly of.
! used TO 60 In pursuit."
Dear me--how-how pastoral! A
hoyden or an athlete?'
Neither. assure you, but an ador-
able child OF about 12 years. With
promise OF great beauty"
Mas Modernity stirred uneasily.
What was your ex-fiancee like?"
she said suddenly.
"A sturdy little thing with reddish
hair and freekles on her nose" said.
noticing Miss Modernity's slim. lis.
some lines.
"And her name?" she pursued, evi.
IDENTIFY with kind intention to keep
me to the subject most interesting.
Her name was Betty"
Il do not know any girl by that
name" She unfurled fan OF white
feathers. waving II dIstractlnsly be-
tween US, while was realizing that
this was the kind OF woman. whose
youth combined grace. control. beau.
~. wit and gentle perception. to make
a mans life and keep him clean. All
this passed through my mind with sud.
den light and ] said, stopping short;
Il have not been duly presented to
you. am Everett oRail, Of"
''of a score Of brave battles" she
smiled up at me. Il recognized you
when you came Up the stairs, even be
fore you spoke TO me, or do you think
I should be here with your"
put my glasses on again. perplex
edly scrutiniEing the humor OF those
frank, gray eyes. as a voice broke
UPON VI.
"My fatherl" she said. and turned
to face an old friend.
"oRalli - You wild man-of.the
woods. welcome homsl We've had 4
search-warrant out for you. The gov
ernor wants you TO receive with him
az ten. Might have known I'D iind you
with Elisabeth"
''Elizabethl" l was stumbling man
like before the complexities OF fern
inine transitions--the low knot ol
brown hair. the womanly contour oI
figure. the grace. the aplomb-ther
her laugh murmured toward me de
llghtediy.
mo. o.-Bettyl--oh. could not helT
it-~lt was too funny"
Miss Modernity. Miss Modernity
how could your said. Her eyel