Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-09-09
FROM OUT THE WEST
SingIy They Went to the East,
but Together They Returned.
ev MARY WOOD.

/ lightful sense of ownership. The chill
wind which had deferred all other
wayfarers was as the breath of her
own prairies.
'Jest the sky for norther, Teddy"
she said exultantly. Seems like old
times, it does"
Teddy was not looking at the sky
Around Il bend in the road came a
horse, Jet black, well groomed, head
high, while the delicate nostrils shifted
the wind, and saddle invitingly empty
not ownerlcss, for a policeman walked
close beside. But Teddy had eyes only
! for the horse. In moment possession
would be his and Missoula far behind.
He set off down the walk as fast as
his chubby legs would carry him.
TOO late Missoula awoke to the real
tiles Of her position. She broke into a
frightened run, and her voice rang out
in commands Teddy Barker, come
back Do you hear? Come back,
sayw
If Teddy heard he gave no sign, ex-
cept to redouble his efforts. But verify
the way of the transgressor is hard!
There was an innocent appearing strip
of ice cleaning in the pallid glow Of
the wintry sun. Teddy's foot enccun-
tered it. He threw out both hands
and slid forward on his nose. 1t is a
tender member and Teddy complain
ed loudly.
The irate Missoula was now on the
scene. Even the policeman offered his
services to restore peace. Together
they picked up the fallen, whose cries
redoubed under the effect of Mis-
soula's vigorous shaking. The police
man interfered
"See here. now" he said good ma
turedly, 'I'll have to arrest you if you
make such noise. Come and see Jim
Crow. You can have ride on him if
you aren't scarf"
Teddy stiffened at the implied insult.
That's all l wanted TO do" he pro-
tested stoutly, "only Missouly, she
wouldn't let mew
The man looked at the girl eagerly
"Be you from Montana, miss?" he
asked
MissOula nodded.
Il hail from west Texas myself" the
policeman FASTENED to explain, "but
reckon there's much of a sameness
about them both"
Missoula Ann seized his hand joy
fully. Il been watching you other
days. l jest knowed you was from the
west the way you sat your horse"
BY this time Teddy was safely en-
sconced on top of jim Crow. sit does
seem as if most of the folks here made
riding q hard matter" the policeman
said rehectively "And it's worse for
the horse than it is for them. Why,
the ladies have the poor beasts cinch-
ed up so tight they can't draw a full
breath Wish they'd just try it on a
broncho. Thered be some tall buck
ing" And he laughed.
MissOula Joined in. 81 believe l could
show them a thing or two myself" she
said proudly. "even if ANTS got one
Of them swell riding skirts. But l jest
better not be saying too much about
it," she added sadly. II might hey for
got, it's so long since l was on a horse
Mr.. Barker, he got one of those auto
mobiles, but l can't abide the crea-
ture."
The tall policeman agreed. Just give
me a good horse" he declared, "and a
clear road, and I'd ride and ride to-
"Cl'ar out to the west" the girl in
terrupted eagerly. There was a visit
full look in her eyes.
''Be you long from there, miSs?" he
asked respectfully.
"Only since last fall, but it seems an
age" Missoula Ann said, with a sigh.
You see, Mr.. Barker, he's the biggest
man out our way. He rules jest about
everything but his wife, and she rules
him. So when she took it into her
head to cum to New York fer the win
ter we all had to cum. l cum on count
Of Teddy. Seems as if he can't get
along without me I've he'd the care of
him ever since he was born" She
smiled up at the child affectionately.
I'm not saying but what 1 was tickled
over the idea. They'd been telling me
all sorts of foolishness about the city.
Dul IL > NOT IL DlI llhc NudL L cApcClcu'
Perhaps the fault lies in me, but l feel
sort of smothered all the time. It's bad
enough on the street, with people
pushing Of you out Of their way, but
indoors it's worse Things are so
awful dear here that Mr.. Barker, for
all he owns bout a whole section out
our way, can't hev a whole house to
hisself. It's worse than the boys quar-
tiers at a roundup the way folks crowd
together. But you must excuse me
fer saying so much," she broke off in
conclusion as she looked up and met
his dark eyes fixed admiringly upon
her "Only it's so long since 1 had the
chance TO free my mind You're mighty
good to listen. But come, Teddy; it's
time we were making for home"
Teddy did not agree, but the tall po-
liceman cut short his remarks by lift
inc him IOxun in a uQrpmnfOrv fash