The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-01-09

4
air. wbsn"--
-oh. 10 that ny Richard inirrraPird
II Gas gets. issnY
Yea. air.
my! What dslicAte bgmot Jos
Engiishmsn have AM ! 10 Under,
stsDd that yoa will coaiinue 10 ss nay
serrsp, 90 lhs original terms Of ssree
nssntY'
III would nsss me 'aply. M lord
Oh. 20 'appyr
-yery wsli.- aid Richard -i'n give
you an0ther trial Hut uDdeviaod INC,
Bnls. there mast t~ no more non
sense
mo, sir"
mo morv trAndyr
~No. air
and you viii ooey me implicitly In
sserythingr
Il ulil, 10 clip me-
-Ail right" smiled the Texan. EN-
give you az order as a starter just
get those new riding boots Of Lord
Croyisnd's. vii you. and put them ON
n break them Ia for mel ! may b~ GU,
Z for several hours. You VII walk Up
aud down In them until I return"
"But-bvt." protested Bulls, them
boots Is too ANAL for you, sir-l mean,
your lordship-sn' my foot Is bigger'n
youn. sir"
Il know that perfectly" answered
Richard pleasantly. Singular how Bills
had never before recognized how
pleasant his master could be- Wen
Kill two birds with one stone. Not
only viii you break those boots for
me. but per contra at the same time
you may be reminded Of what II means
10 break . contract with me. Am ]
clearr'
The valet sat limp and speechless
He made no move to obey the harsh
command, 80 Richard turned on his
heel, crossed 20 the window and stood
looking out among the trees
Bills" be asked presently. have
you noticed how many crows are fy-
Ing about the placer never observed
them before"
"Yes. yes. m lordy the servant gasp
ed. i've noticed 'em frequent. sir.
an'-an', awskin' your pardon, sir. I'm
ready to put the boots on"
Richard watched the operation In
grim enjoyment. The at was tight
one, but Bills accomplished the feat
at last, though the Precipitation came
out on his forehead In coplous profu
sion.
Thank you" said the Texan simply
and departed without giving any fur
Their directions.
He enjoyed his ride with Miss Har-
riet hugely. For three long. blissful
hours be cantered with her on beautl
sweet and invlgorating, where the
scent OF wild flowers came to them aud
the fragrance Of the wild woods sweet
er still In the deepening dusk. A hun
dred times be was on the verge OF
confessing all. Of throwing himself up
on the mercy OF her gentleness. but a
warning something held him In check,
and In spite Of his impulses-like the
sailor In the opera-he remained an
Engilshman. Once she turned to him
with sparkling eyes.
do you know" she said. there are
times when you remind me SO Of a
man CHANGED to meet tbat-that"-
"The cowboyf" Richard asked.
She made no answer, but flushed and
gave free rein to her eager horse. while
the Texan spurred after her. laying a
firm hand upon her bride arm.
"And II | were he would II make
difference then-a difference, | mean,
Ia winning your respect and trust
and
How absurd you arer' she laughed
IN swift interruption. "Have not CIV
en- you both already My cowboy is
but memory. and you-why. gracious.
how late It's getting! We shall never |
be In time for dinner! Gomez
II Richard and Miss Harriet enjoyed
their afternoon. the same could not be |
said OF Bills. For three long hours |
the servant did penance for his sins, |
knowing not which ached the most
his head. his heart or his tender feet
To walk was agony. To sit was TO
suffer with gnawlng, burning heat |
that ever increased rs his feet began
to swell. At the end OF the first half |
hour he determined to run away. to
hide himself somewhere In the wilder |
ness Of New York. where his master |
might seek for him In vain. lmmedi |
ately. however. a stumbling block pre-
scented Itself. To get into the boots /
had been difficult To get out OF them |
proved to be an utter impossIbllty, |
and 10 nun anywhere with such an
Agonixing handicap was out OF the
question. True, he might have cut
them OF, but In view OF the thought OF
crows and knuckle bones he preferred
to bear his martyrdom.
Richard found him seated on the
edge Of the bathtub with his feet In
half an inch OF warm water-a mutt
neer reduced, like his boots. 10 a pitt
able pulp.
Hello, Wooisey," Richard asked
cheerfully. whats up?"
M lord" the valet walled, "for
Gawd's sake. 'elp me, sir, for I'D
rather ave you shoot me In the parts
wot doesn't count than wear these ere
blasted boots fer another minute, Mr..
williams. sir, II you'll be so good"
''Thatll cost me pair Of boots to
Croyiand," thought Richard over his
cigar a.. be dismissed the wretched
valet to seek relief below stairs. But
I rather think It was money well
spent"