, 1908-07-30
Hampton nimserr esula NOT remain -.

Hampton himself oeuiu NOT remaiB ~
together Indifferent Il the contrast.
You look a little rough, Kid, for .
society CALL" he said. IF there was
any shebans In this mnd-hole Of q
town that kept any womso's things on
sale fit to look At. I'd be tempted to nx
you up = Bit"
We'll. I'm glad Of IT," she respond.
ed. grimly. II hope I look SO blame
tough that woman won't say a civil
word to us. You can bet I amt going
to strain myself to please the likes Of
her."
"Ynn certainly oyhihit no symptoms
Of doing So" ~ admitted. frarhak
But you might, at least, have washed
POUR face and liked your hair"
She flashed n angry glance a. hin.
stopping In the middle Of the road, her
head aung back A. though ready for
battle. Then. as II BY some swift
magic of emotion, her expression
changed. And SO you're ashamed OF
me, are your" b asked. her voice
sharp but unsteady. Ashamed to be
9 walking with me! know you
are! But l tell you, Mr.. Bob Hamn-
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 1
amt very much afraid Of tackling this
Presbyterian m all alone"
She swung OF ~fiercely. and the man
chuckled softly as he followed. watch
fully. through tho circling, red dust
cloud created by her hasty feet. The
truth is,' Mr.. Hampton possessed trov-
bles and scruples Of his own in oon-
nection with this contemplated call.
He had never met the lady, but he re-
tained some memory Of the husband
as having been associated with a siren
uous poker game at Placer, in which
he also held a prominent place, and
1t would seem scarcely possible that
the wife did not know whose bullet
had turned her for some weeks into .
sick nurse. A cordial reception could
hardly be anticipated, and Hampton
mentally braced himself for the worst
1t was a cheerless looking house,
painted a garish yellow, having star
Ing windows, and devoid of . front
porch, or slightest attempt at shade
to rende 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 stons
slab n raped sharply against the
warped and sagging Loo A 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 vas partially
opened, and a rounded dumping of q
woman. having rosy cheeks, her hair
i%ron-gray, her blue eyes half smiling
In uncertain welcome, looked upon
them qu%estioningly.
'T've come to live here" announced
the girl, sullenly. That is. II l like it,"
The woman continued to gaze at her
as If tempted to laugh outright, then
their vision swept beyond toward
Hampton.
1T is extremely kind Of you. I'm
sure" she said at last. Why is 1t I
am to be thus h%onored?"
The girl backed partially on the
doorstep, her hair Tapping in the wind.
her cheeks flushed.
'Oh, 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 l was sent: but
l reckon o amt NO more particular
about it than l am. There's others"
"Who 8 N you to me?" and Mrs.
Herndon came forth into the sunshine.
''The preacher"
"Oh, Mr.. Wynkoop; ther you must
be the homeless girl whom Lieut..
Brant brought in the other day. Why
did you not say so at irsti You may
come in. my child"
There was a ~sympathetfc tenderness
apparent now in the tones Of her
voice, which the girl va swift to per
ceive and respond to. yet she held
back, her independence mistaken.
With the quick intuition Of q woman.
Mrs. Herndon bent down. placing one
hand on the defiant shoulder.
II did not understand. at first, my
dear" she said. sOothingly. "or I
should have spoken as l did.
Some very strange callers come here.
But you are truly welcome. l had .
daughter once; she must have been
nearly your age when God took her.
Won't you come in?"
While thus speaking she never once
glanced toward the man standing in
silence beyond. yet as the two passed