Arizona republican., 1909-03-07

Elton from her mind. She quite sincere in the opinion she had expressed to her sister, and she was amused at Mrs Hewlett's speculations. "If to tell Minnie that, wouldn't she be madi !" she thought
 Presently she heard Minnie and the old man come in from the garden and after the three young from the mill came in awkwardly and took their places at the table, their hair damp from brush ing and their faces shiny from conscientious abutions They shot occasional awed glance at Minnie they ate, but they addressed her. In fact she em- barrassed them terribly much in the way an afable angel might humble family by suddenly appearing at their board and by his very radiance confirming the immeasurable distance between himself and them.
 Minnie and her mother sat at the end of the table with Mrs. Hewlett. Besides Mrs Hewlett was Elton's empty chair "He must be working late tonight. It's funny what's keeping him." she complained to Mrs Demng and Minnie q never knew him to be late as ths"
 "Oh guess he'll be along presently" said Mrs. Deming
 Minnie offered neither consolation nor comment She on steadily with her supper though she was of certain anxious bewilderment that prised her. Tt does strange, and last night here too," she told herself in excuse of 1t
 Presently she went and joined Father Hewlett the narrow porch at the front of the house The old had had his supper at the kitchen table and had come oct here with his pipe. The girl beside him and he admired the touch of crimson her throat
 Guess the gardenu miss yc tomorrow, he ventured
 She smiled absent!y at him-in truth she pied in endeavoring to explain her unwonted emotions concerning Elton, and she was annoyed with herself to find it necessary
 She had no idea hat she had become so interested in the young man. She liked hm.-nis kindliness his strength. his evident desire please her They had become good comrades in the ii;tle while she had known hir, but nothing of sentimental nature had ever occurred between tliem of the slightest even though for the last week she had been subtly aware of vague, intangible undercurrent in their companionship that fascinated while it startled her
 When they had parted the night before, his hand clasp the last look he had given her. seemed to vey than mere friendliness and despite herself her heart had Ieaped to it.
 "Well I must have been mistaken" she told herself mercilessly. "NIr. Elton was good to and took me around just as he would have taken any other girl that happened to be here I've been fool to think anything about him at al to latter myself that he would rush home tonight because he wanted to be with me. He probably don't know whether we're going home tomorrow not and it serves me right. shn't think of him again. if live to be hundred"
 One of the table-boarders who lodged in the next house, where MT. Elton also had a room, appeared his own steps with banjo and without warning burst into melody. Mrs. Hewlett and Mrs Deming from behind the mosquonettings in the little paror, stopped the swaying of their rockngchaiFs to listen. Presdentiy Mrs. Hewlett appeared at the door,
 Ed" she said to the young Jim Elton hasn't in yet-there's nothing wrong at the works, IS there%
 Nothing as far as know," he replied and resumed his interrupted melody.
 A sudden thought made the girl start to her feet with the very hideousness Of It.
 Mo- there nothing wrong at the works; Jim Elton was staying away purposely No doubt she had shown too plainly her joy at his attentions and had (horrible thoughtD pursued him. his preaT- ranged absence simply to give her vanity lesson
 For moment she wnced with hurniliaton; then she took hold cf her fine courage with both hands, though the idea with every moments passing seemed grow proDabe I've had about enough or this nonsense" she told herself He come or stay he likes-its nothing to me, one way or the other"
 She went into the parlor in few minutes with her head high. T guess I'll go up and hnish packng she said to Mrs. Deming, and then go to 6ed-we have start early for the eight-oclock train, you know"
 Mrs Deming came painting up the stairs and sat heavily the side of the bed her daughter packed
 Tn the lands name, don't work so hard! she sad finally. You're going at that trunk as though yod hated it-real viciousw
 The girl flushed hotly; then she laughed Perhaps
 Well, theren be one person here that's going to miss you, if I know it, resumed her mother and that's Father Hewlett. It's tickled him to death to have you fusng around those flowers of his as though you'd never seen one before. Elm don't seem to have much sympathy with him"
 "Sympahyr her daughter repeated. sIf you ask me- mother, I think she's downright mean to him, poor old man! l only wish he was coming home with us"
 Suddenly her face worked and she burst into stormy tears above the skirt she was folding She's down. right mean to him. r she sobbed passionately.
 Why what earth is the matter with your? said Mrs Deming. She drew Minnie close in her motherly arms-haf anxious-half- amused. Why, the idea of taking on so about Father Hewlett! Elm looks after him as though he was baby. You needn't worry that he isn't comfortable. Why, the ideal
 Her daughter averted her face
 "I guess this heat has made you nervous I'll be glad when we're home," said Mrs Dening.
 For some time after she was in bed Minnie heard the young man with the banjo singing trneessly to himself Presently she heard hn: so in and shut the door.
 Early as it was when her mother and herself down the next morning. the young men from the mill had eaten and gone their