La Junta tribune., 1908-02-15

hind her head. Her gown Of lose col
ored print acceniuatet the lines of her
supple figure. Her golden brown hair
was gathered In a heavy coll at the
nape Of her neck. Reside her stood d
brimming milk pail. Its sides cleaning
AZ the light struck them.
Fanshaw paused. The roads over
which he had ridden were dusty and
parched under the heat Of the July
sun. and suddenly this dairy, set in It's
cool expanse OF fields, seemed most
desirable place. Near by was the farm
to which II belonged, rambling old
fashioned homestead. Fanshaw's eyes
swept II in one comprehensive glance
and returned to the girl at the dairy
door He decided that nothing short
OF glass Of milk could auench his
thirst. Dlsmounting, he tethered his
horse TO the fence.
could you tell me the road to Berke
ley:" he inquired. FOR the truth was
he had lost his way twice that morn
ing. not NO much from neglect OF read
ing the signposts as from II dreamy In
attention to their pointing fingers, for
the spell OF the great outdoors was on
| him. and he revelcd In the air laden
with the mingled fragrances OF wood
and field. the lure of the long white
road Yet now that he had questioned
| his dairy divinity he was once more
alert: his dreaIniness had fallen from
him with astonishing quickness But
4 before the girl could reply an older
woman looked from the doorway. and
| II was her voice that ans swered him.
She was plump and kindly. with
face Ike II December apple, ruddy ana
n bit withercd. II was evident that
few visitors passed that way. and she
was urgently hospItable In her desire
that Faushaw should not only refresh
himself with her buttermilk. but that
/ he should drink II In comfort. indlcat-
I Ing II bench inside the dairy where the
air seemed like n mountain spring com
pared to the drowsy blaze Of noon
1 without Fanshaw's horse was con
tcntedly cropping beneath the shade OF
a giaut oak. and Fanshaw himself
was equally contented and inclined to
linger He learned that this pleasant
bit Of rolling country WIS the Farley
| farm. and In return he vouchsafed the
| information that he had come from the
' Hiibrook House. the chief hotel OF II
summer colony some eight miles away.
As he talked he glanced from time to
time at the girl.
"A princess of curls and cream he
thought 10 himself. Il wonder how
such II jewel came to have a rustic
settin-."
Il suppose you live here with your
aunt, Mrs. Farley" he hazar'!ed.
/ The girl smiled.
Mrs. Farley is not my aunt" she
ans werrd in a soft. drawling voice.
"Fm an orphan. work here
| Mrs. Farley opened her mouth as IL
to add something to this speech. then.
! thinking better OF It. closed 1t again
and. rising. went to a shelf near by
and continued her skimming.
The girl regarded Fanshaw with
wide. childlike blue eyes.
Il calculate to go to the city some
day myself" she said. Tell me about
New York" And Fnnshaw. glad Of
such listener. plunged in Mt once
with descriptions of broadway and
/ Wall street. the rush the clamor. the
glitter, OF 1t all. The girl listened. en-
tranccd. Even Mrs. Farley hung on
every word.
II often tell Josiah it's shame" she
burst out, .'that we live right here
from year to year and never get away.
| Why. the biggest place we've ever
been to is Clifford Junction. And
guess that though the stores there
seem big enough for me. they wouldn't
be anything in New York"
"Oh. don't know" said Fanshaw
| quickly. fearing that his enthusiasm
might have sown the first seeds Of dis
content "Plenty of New Workers would
be glad TO own such u beautiful place
as this"
Mrs. Farley glowed with pleasure.
"I'Il tell that to JOSIAH she exclaimed.
"He thinks there's nothing like the
farm And hope" she added. that
II you're passing by this way yon'll
stop in and see us some time again"
Fanshaw promised that he would
All ut once the chattering groups on
the hotel veranda seemed vap!d and
embarrassing. He discovered that golf
and tennis bored him unutterably
! Even the plans for the flower cotlllon
to be held three weeks hence failed to
inspire him. though only the day be-
fore he had been one of the prime NOV
ers OF the innovation. The sweets Of
popularity had become suddenly taste
less, for the very reason perhaps that
Fanslaw had had more than his share.
Every one liked the broad shoulder
ed frank eyed young fellow. from the
senior partners OF the law firm where
he was making conspicuous progress
to the freckled urchins that followed
him about the golf course He had
won his own way up. His friends
II x-Aro tho frfaufls NJ a man ycho had "a