The state herald., 1909-08-13

two made handsome couple, for she
fingered. as she started for the kitch-
en-, to look back.
| "Puss," exclaimed her mistress, FRY
a chicken right away! A big one.
Puss! Mr.. McCloud is very hungry, l
know. And be quick, do! Oh, how is
the river, Mr.. McCloud?"
Behaving like a lamb. 1t hasn't
fallen much. but the pressure seems
to be of the bank, II you know what
that means?"
You must be a magician! Things
changed the minute you camel"
"The last doctor usually gets credit
for the cure. you know"
"Oh, know all about that. Don't
you want to freshen up? Should you
mind coming right to my room? Mari
on is In hers" explained Dicksie, land
l am never sure of Cousin Lance's-
he has SO many boots"
When she had disposed of McCloud
she few to the kitchen. Puss was
starting after chicken. Take a
lantern. Puss!" whispered Dicksie. ve-
hemently.
mo, indeed; dis Niger dom need
no lantern TO chickens, Miss Dicksie."
But get good one, Puss. and make
haste, do! Mr.. McCloud must be
starved! Where is the baking pow.
der? I'll get the biscuits started"
Puss turned fiercely. Now look.a
heak, yo' can't make biscuits! Yo
jes' go Sc down wifi dat young
gen'm'n! Jes' lemme lone. ef yo
please! Dis amt de frs time
killed chickens. Miss Dicksie. an
made biscuits. Jes' clair out an Sc
down! Place fr young ladies' is in de
parlor! OF Puss can cook supper
f'r one man yet-ef she has to-"
"oh. yes. Puss. certainly. l know. Of
course: only. get nice chicken!" and
with the parting admonition Dicksie
smoothing her hair wildly, hastened
back to the living room.
But the harm was done. Puss, more
excited thar her mistress. lost her
head when she got to the chicken-yard,
and with sufficiently bad results. When
Dicksie ran out few moments after
ward for glass Of water for Nc.
Cloud. Puss was calmly wiping her
hands, and in the sink lay the CULVER
ing form OF young Caesar. Dicksie
caught her favor.te up by the legs and
suppressed a cry. There could be no
mistake. She cast burning look on
Puss. II would 90 no good to storm
now. Dicksie only wrung her hands
and returned to McCloud.
He rose In the happIest mood. He
could not see wha. torment Dicksie
was In. and took the water without
asking himself why Z trembled in her
hand. Her restrained manner did not
worry him. for he felt that his fight Mt
the river was won. and the prospect
OF fried chicken composed him. Even
the long hour before Puss. calm and
inviting In white car and apron. ap-
peared to announce supper. passed
like n dream. When Llcksie rose to
lead the way to the dinii.' room, Nc.
Cloud walked on air: the high color
about her eyes intoxicated lum. Not
till half the fried chicken, " = many
compliments from McCloud. hG disap-
peared, and the plate had gone /, ; for
the second dozen biscuits did he no . q
Dicksie's abstraction.
I'm sure you need worry no lNnr,i
about the water" he observed. reas
suringly. Il think the worst NJ IN
danger Is past"
Dicksie looked at the tablerlo'
with wide-open eyes. Il feel sure tina
II is. | am no longer worrying about
that
ITS nothing | can do or leave un.
done. Is IT." asked Mccloud. laughing
little as he implied In his tone that
she must be worrying about some.
thing.
Dickslc made n gesture OF alarm.
"oh, no. no: nothlngl"
'lt's n pretty good plan not TO
worry about anything"
DO you think so2"
why. we all thought 40 last night.
Hoavens," McCloud drew back In his
chair. Il never offered you n piece of
chicken. What have been think.
Ing of?"
"oh. | wouldn't eat II anyway"
cried Dlcksie.
| lou Wouldntl IL IN ucnclouh DO
have plate and wing at least"
Really. l could not bear to think of
H." she said. pathoticnlly.
lie spoke lower. Something n
troubling you. have no right to
confidence. ! know" he added. taking
n biscuit.
Her eyes fell to the floor. 1T In
nothing. Pray. don't mind mo. May
! ill your cupl" she asked. looking
up. II am afraid worry too much
over what has happened and cant be
helped DO you never do that1'
Mccloud. laughing wrctohedly. tore
Caesars last leg from his body. "No.
indeed. ! never worry over what cant
he helped"
i Than l..ll ll.. dIs.Ia.sa .si..s,