La Junta tribune., 1909-07-31
BY COURIER
|NsXsya 20. ..n.x RsesS
,, o. HENRY

1t was neither the season nor the
hour when the park had frequenters.
and II Is likely that the young lady
who was seated on one OF the
benches At the side Of the walk had
merely obeyed = sudden impulse to
sit for awhile and enjoy = foretaste
Of coming spring.
A tall young man came stridins
through the park along the path near
which she sat. Behind him tagged =
boy carrying . suitcase. At sight Of
the young lady the mans face chang.
ed to red and back to pale again. He
watched her countenance ~ he drew
nearer with hope and anxiety mingled
on his own. He passed within few
yards Of her. but he saw no evidence
that she was aware OF his presence
or existence.
Some fifty yards farther on he sud
denly stopped and sat on bench at
one side. The boy dropped the suit
case and stared at him with wonder.
ing. shrewd eyes. The young man
took out bis handkerchief and wiped
his brow II was good handker'
chief. good trow. and the young
man was good to look at He said
TO the boy:
Il want you to take a message 10
that young lady on the bench. Tell
her | am on my way to the station
to leave for San Francisco, whore
shall Join that Alaska moose hunting
expedition. Tell her that since she
has commanded me neither to speak
of making one last appeal to her
sense OF justice for the sake of what
has been. Tell her that TO condemn
and discard one who has not de
served such treatment without giving
him her reasons or chance 10 ex.
plain Is contrary TO her nature as
believe 1t to be. Tell her that
have thus to a certain degree dis
obeyed her injunctions In the hope
that she may yet be inclined to see
justice done, Go and tell her that"
The young man dropped half dol
lar into the boys hand. The boy
looked at him for a moment with
bright. canny eyes out OF dirty, in
telligent face and then set off at a
run. He approached the lady on the
bench a little doubtfully. but unem-
arrassed. He touched the brim OF
the old plaid bicycle cap perched on
the back OF his head.
Lady" he said. dat gen, on de
oder bench sent yer q song and
dance by me. II yer don't know de
guy and he's tryin' to do de Johnny
act say de word and I'll call a cop
In tree minutes. II yer does know
him and he's on de square. wy. III
spiel yer de bunch OF hot air he sent
yer"
The young lady betrayed q fain, In.
teres,
"A song and dance" she said In
a deliberate swee, voice that seemed
to clo,he her words In a diaphanous
garment OF impalpable irony "A
new idea-in the troubadour line.
suppose. used 10 know tn. gen.
leman who sent you.so think II will
hardly lie necessary to call tn. po.
lice. You may execute your song and
dance. but do not sing too loudly. ''
"Aw." said the boy. with shrug
down the length OF him. yer know
what mean. lady. 'Tain't turn:
It's wind. lie told me 10 tell yer he's
got his collars and cuffs In da, grip
for clean scoot out to Frisco. Den
he's goin' TO shoot snow birds In q.
not TO send round no mere pink notes
nor come hangin' over q. garden
gate. and he takes dis means OF put.
tin'y.r Wise. He says yer refereed
him out like has.bccn and never
give him no chance to kick Mt d. de-
c.Sion. He sayr Yer swiped him and
never said why"
The slightly awakened interest In
the young iady'r eyes did not Abate
Perhaps II vas caused by either the
originality or the Audaci'y Of the snow
bird hunter In thus circum venting hcr
express commando against the ordt
nary modes Of Communication. She