, 1908-08-13

"Ysu Must Be an Odd Sort Of q Girl"
He Commented, soberly.
Up the valley of the Bear Water,
slightly above Glencaid.-far enough
beyond the saloon radius to protect
his men from possible corruption. yet
within easy reach of the military tele-
graph,-they made camp in the early
morning upon a wooded terrace over
looking the stage road, and settled
quietly down as n of those numer-
GUS posts with which the army chiefs
sought to hem in the dissatisfied red
men, and learn early the extent of
their hostile plans.
Brant was now in q humor consid-
erably happier than when he first rode
forth from Bethune. He watched the
men of his troop while with quip and
song they made comfortable camp,
and then strolled slowly up the valley,
his own affairs soon completely for
gotten In the beauty of nearby hills
beneath the golden glory of the morn
ing sun. Once he paused and looked
back upon ugly Glencaid, dingy and
forlorn even at that distance; then he
crossed the narrow stream by means
of q convenient log, and clambered up
the somewhat steep bank. A heavy
fringe OF low pushes chung close along
the edge of the summit, but a plainly
defined path led among their intr1-
cacies. He pressed his way through,
coming into a glade where sunshine
hickered through the overarching
branches of great trees, and the grass
was green and short, like that of .
well-kept lawn.
AS Brant emerged from the under
brush he suddenly beheld a fair vision
of young ~womanhood resting on the
grassy bank just before him. She was
partially reclining, as If startled by
his ~unalHounced approach, her face
turned toward him, one hand grasping
an open book, the other shading her
eyes from the glare of the sun. Some
thing in the graceful poise. the piquant,
uplifted face, The dark gloss of heavy
hair, and the unfrightened gaze held
him speechless until the picture had
been impressed forever upon his mem
DRY. He beheld a girl on the verge OF
womanhood, fair of skin. the red glow
~ - VI hSh Si''h' ~ AAPe
parted in surprise, the sleeve fallen
back from one white. rounded arm,
the eyes honest, sincere, mysterious.
She recognized him with a glance, and
her lips closed as she remembered
how and when they had met before.
But there was no answering recollec-
ton within his eyes. only admiration
nothing chung about this Nadia to
remind him of a neglected walt of
the garrison. She read all this in his
face, and the lines about her mouth
changed quickly into a slightly quiz
zical smile. her eyes Frightening.
You should at least rave knocked.
sir" she ventured. sitting up on the
grassy bank, the better to confront
him, before %intruding thus unin-
vited."
He lifted his somewhat dingy scout
ing hat and bowed humbly.
II perceived no door giving warning
that | approached such presence, and
the first shock of surprise was per
haps as great to me as to you. Yet,
now that | have Numbered thus far, l
beseech hat | be permitted to venture
upon yet another step"
She sat looking at him. a trim, SOL
disrly figure, his face young II pleas
ant to gaze upon. and her dark eyes
sensibly softened.
"Wha step?"
ITO tarry for a moment beside the
divinity of this wilderness"
She laughed with open frankness,
her white teeth sparkling behind the
red, parted lips.
Perhaps you may. II you will first
consent to be sensible" she said, with
returning gravity; and l reserve the
right to turn you away whenever you
begin to talk or act foolish. II you
accept these conditions, you may sit
down"
He seated himself upon the soft
grass ledge, retaining the hat in his
hands. You must be an odd sort of a
girl" he commented, soberly, not to
welcome an honest expression of ad-
miration."
"oh. was that 1t? Then | duly bow
my acknowledgment. / took your
words for n Of those silly compli-
ments by which men believe they
honor women. / am not a baby, nor
am / RHaklnu amnaamantp