The Montgomery tribune., 1908-02-21
CHAPTER VI.-Continued.

CHAPTER VI.-Continued.
81 reckon I'd rather try it alone"
she announced stubbornly. Maybe !
might have stood it with you, Bob
Hampton, but a woman is the limit"
II expect 1t will go rather hard at
drst. Kid" he admitted craftily, "but
think you might try it while Just to
sort Of please me-"
"Who-who is she?" doubtfully.
Mrs. Herndon, wife of the super
tntendent of the Golden Rule mine;"
and he waved his hand toward the dis
tant houses. "They tell me she's
mighty fine woman"
"Oh, they do? Then somebody's:
been stirring you up about me, hafe'
they? thought that was about the
way of it. Somebody wants to reform
me, reckon. Well, maybe won't be
reformed. Who was it, Bob?"
"The Presbyterian missionary" he
confessed reluctantly, "a nervy little
chap named Wynkoop; he came in to
see me last night while you were
asleep" He faced her open scorn un-
shrinkingly, his mind fully decided,
and clinging to one thought with all
the tenacity of his nature.
"a preacher!" her voice vibrant with
derision, "a preacher! Well, OF all
things, Bob Hampton! You led around
by the nose in that way! Did he want
you to bring me to Sunday school? A
preacher! And suppose the fellow
expects to turn me over to one of his
flock for religious instruction. He'll
have you studying theology inside Of a
year. A preacher! Oh, Lord, and you
agreed! Well, l won't go; so there!"
LAS I understand the affair."" Hamp-
ton continued, as she paused for
breath, ut was Lieut.. Brant who sug-
gested the idea of his coming to me.
Brant knew Gillis, and remembered
you, and realizing your unpleasant sit
uation, thought such an arrangement
would be for your benefit"
"Brant!" she burst forth in renewed
anger; "he did, did he! The putty.
faced dandy! . 1 used to see him at
Bethune, and you can bet he never
bothered his head about me then. No,
der, until after the sergeant spoke up.
What business has that fellow got
planning what shall do?"
Hampton made no attempt to an.
swer. 1t was better to let her indigna-
ton die out naturally, and SO he asked
a question. What Is this Brant doing
at Bethune? There is no cavalry sta
toned there"
She glanced up quickly, interested
by the sudden change in his voice. II
heard dad say he was kept there on
some special detail. His regiment Is
stationed at Fort Lincoln, somewhere
farther north. He used to come down
and talk with dad evenings, because
daddy saw service In the Seventh
when 1t was first organized after the
war"
did you-did you ever hear either
81 them say anything about Maj. Alfred
Brant? He must have been this lads
father"
mo. never heard much they said.
Did you know him ?'s'
''The father. yes. Tut that was years
ago. Come. Kid. all this is only an.
cient history, and just as well forgot.
ten.. Now, you are a sensible girl,
when your temper don't get away with
you, and 1 am simply going to leave
this matter to your better judgment
Will you go to Mrs. Herndon's, and
find out how you like 1t? You needn't
stop there an hour II she isn't good to
you, but you ought not to want to re-
main with me, and grow up like
rough boy"
"You-you really want me to go,
don't you?"
"Yes. want you to go. It's a chance
for you, Kid, and there isn't q bit of
q show in the kind Of a life I lead. l
never have been in love with myself,
and only took to 1t In the first place
because the devil happened to drive
me that way. The Lord knows don't
want to lead any one else through
such a muck. So 1t is try?"
Tho look of defiance faded slowly
out Of her face as she stood gravely
regarding him. The man was In dead
ly earnest, and she felt the quiet in.
sistence Of his manner. T,
you bet, II you put it that way"
she consented. simply, "but I reckon
that Mrs. Herndon is likely to wish
hadn't"
Together, yet scarcely exchanging
another word. the two retraced their
steps slowly down, the steep trail lead
.ng toward the little town In the val.
Icy.