Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-12-31
IMPRESSING
ISABEL.
By ELLIOT WALKER.
Copyrighted, 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.

quated shed, shuddering at the thun.
der crashes close on the heels of every
fash Of lightning.
A deluge Of rain swept across the
wild pastures. The brook, fifty feet
away, roared between its alder lined
banks.
Upon her wide hat fell steady drib.
BILE from the leaky roof, and her thin
dress was fast dampening In the mist
driven shelter.
She forced laugh. Isabel Lynn was
not easily daunted or course It was
lonely and wet and very shattering to
the nerves, but she was perfectly safe.
oh, yes; let her thank her stars to be
secure under the friendly boards.
Suddenly gasp broke from her.
She shrank back. Something was
coming with leaps through the high
weeds growing rankly at the corner of
her retreat. Through Isabel's startled
brain tore thoughts of dangerous anil
mails. The near mountains might hold
anything. She covered into the far
thest corner. Surely the thing would
go by.
But It didn't. 1t dashed under the
! shed, with a loud snort, blowing and
shaking vigorously, then stood gazing
/ at the storm, and words came to lisa
\ bells Mortified ears In q steady stream
of Disguised wrath.
"Well, IL this doesn't beat me! Look
at my shoes! Look at my new flannel
suit! My hat is ruined! The next time
I go trailing around on the trail of n
girl I'll know it. Foster Allston, you're
an unmitigated ass. j guess the charm
ing Miss Lynn will not have the pleas
ure of meeting you! Girls! Ball. I'll
take The first train home. / wish I'd
never heard of her."
$50 do IT, sounded voice in his rear.
The man jumped and wheeled. He
saw a slender white gowned figure
straighten up, take forward step and
then halt. A clap of thunder drowned
his exclamation. Then his Jaw fell
did you speak, sir?" Indignantly.
81 tried to- Really, IL am over
joyed toto be here, Miss Lynn. OF
course you are-you-that is-bless my
soul! SO unexpected. you know. Quite
a shower"
He cut ridiculous figure In his star
Ing embarrassment. pulling OF the
wrecked straw hat, bowling in his soak
ed garments, greatly at loss for words,
woefully conscious Of what he had
said. And he knew that Isabel Lynn
had heard him as a model OF courtesy
and easy manners.
He scraped hesitating toe In the
dirt. smiling idiotically. Was 1t for this
his fifty mile journey?
isabel is extremely particular and
sensitive to first impressions" his Aunt
Julia had said. Here Is your letter Of
introduction, Foster. It's silly to 60
crazy over photograph, but go ahead.
She Is worth II. Everything depends
upon the way she is approached. I've
praised you to her up to the Skies"
The girl stepped nearer, eying him
! In scornful amusement Her eyes were
bright with Ill concealed desire to hum
BILE The dampness had curled her dis
ordered hair In bewitching rings about
her white forehead. Roses shone In the
smooth cheeks where sarcastic dimples
4 played.
\ Allston thought be had never seen a
more lovely face nor one so unread
able. Idly swinging her hat, she sur
veyed him curiously, with a chilling
hauteur, which stung him to steadi-
ness and reckless impulse to retort.
"When one summers at farmhouse
and takes long strolls an occasional
wetting must be expected, Mr.. All
ston," said Isabel evenly. You
shouldn't mind your new suit or your
shoes. Dear me, how childish! i have
heard that you could afford to disre-
gard tribes. I wasn't to blame. You
needn't have 'trailed' me-"
Allston regarded her In silence.
There was more than a hint Of dis
appointment In Isabers tone. Had she
been preju0iced In his favor only to
react sharply at his boyish outburst?
Surely some humor lay In the situa-
ton. Couldn't the girl see It? He re-
nected dismaIly that many women
never forgive sighting remarks, even
when uttered In unmeaning careless
ness.
The cool voice went on.
II suppose they told you at the house
that l was over this wayT
Foster nodded.
"And you never imagined I might be
In this shedi"
A head shake.
'syou must have had me cry mleh
on your mind. Were a big lla..
Ing lost Gausel viy idea wor " Is.
keep my eyes open fcr the sas IA
which she would senSiSly rul L
my wits Ia selfish considerat i
ment ard then aaati.~ lasi- IS.
She laughed cuttinsIg
| Allstons couatenance was ro0da- IL
| ~why don't you speak, Tls gail-t
| OF her chin was challenge fcr Il re-
/ ply. she would laugh and forgive him
after sufficient reduction.
/ "rm thinking" said Allston slowly.
SIN trying to make out what chance
| have of-of' He paused. hesitating.
what chance1" Her eyes opened
wide at his seeming audacity.
"0f catching the O'Clock train. 1t Il
getting late" )st
"0hr' Isabel looked down. then IN.
a strange darkness Wa settling down
1 upon the earth. Both bad forrottDn
the storm. now 6rumb1ine back NON
the south. The man sesppSd out b ~
rain. IN moment ~ rutuxnod. His
| nee was set a hard Wo911o6 llnon.