Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-15
What is your name" asked the
oi,.l hurriotlr

What is your name?" asked the
girl hurriedly.
"Satterly-Billy Satterly." he said.
"Oh. you're the one that didn't say
anything. then?" She seemed to
breathe a little sigh Of relief. "Why
didn't you answer when they asked
what you thought Of my masculine at
tire?'
There was nothing to say. I hap
pened to see you when you arrived on
the stage last night, and He paus-
ed. as If embarrassed by too eager
tongue.
"And?' she suggested.
II thought you didn't need any frills.
you know" he finished lamely.
Thanks" she said simply, dropping
down to seat on the rock and press
Ing back the flying waves Of black
hair from her eyes. But that is not
the reason why wear plain clothes.
You see. I'm western girl. and was
born and raised on ranch. Father
and | lived alone. There were just
two after came. and had to be both
son and daughter to dad. He died a
year ago. and so l had to come east
and make my home with Mrs. Bowker,
my aunt. ! had private tutors at the
ranch. but Of the outside world have
been quite ignorant. / am learning
rapidly that girls are girls and boys
are boys. so little later I'm going to
put on frills and fribbles. I'm wearing
these plain things-oh, well, because of
dad. you know. 1t seems as If the old
days were not so far away" She
choked over the last words, and her
eyes were drowned with sudden tears.
She searched vainly for handker-
chief, and Billy. full of tender sollci-
tude. drew snowy square from his
own pocket, shook It out and tossed It
into her lap; then he turned away and
looked at distant ridges that seemed
strangely blurred in outline.
''Thank you 50 much. I'm very sor-
ry | made such a goose Of myself"
said the girl after little while.
only
"You needn't say a word, interrupt
ed Billy energetically. AFTER my
mother went-why-well I know all
about it. It's stiffish gale" he added
hastily.
at is" she laughed through. her
tears. How horrid you must have
thought me. Mr.. Satterly. but heard
what you were all saying, and l did
feel so lonely and unappreciated, you
know Wasn't it silly? So just tip
toed downstairs and few up to this
rock out Of sheer desire to be alone"
"And I've been intruding on your
privacy all this time" cried Billy re-
morsefully. "l'll run along down now
be careful when you descend: you
might slip ON the pine needles and
sprain your ankle. One Of the girls
did that the other day" He turned to
the path.
please stay. Mr.. Satterly." she urg-
ed You mustn't let LIE drive you
away. Thank YOU" She pressed the
handkerchief into his hand, and he re-
turned it to his pocket silently.
You are sure won't be in the
wayY' he asked. settling down on the
ground and taking out his neglected
newspaper.
"Not at all. And you may smoke
your pipe too. don't mind It," she
smiled as he stuffed tobacco pouch
back in his pocket.
"Thank YOU" he said gratefully.
"You do not know my name" said
the girl suddenly. ITS not fair when
I am acquainted with yours. | am
Rose Benworth."
THANK you" said Satterly gravely.
After awhile the greedy wind tore
the paper from his hands, and they
watched 1t sail down the mountain
side until It reached the lake. where
It became white winged craft and
disappeared from view.
Then Billy showed Rose how to find
pictures in the sailing clouds, and she
scoffingly taught him more about
cloud painting than he had ever dream
ed, for she was child Of prairie and
hill in the western country.
So they talked until the sun dipped
below the west peak. and then they
went regretfully down the narrow
trail Back TO the earth-out Of the
Clouds" remarked Billy as he helped
Rose Benworth over the slippery pine
needles.
At the hop that night Dick Fancher
and Lester Pennington rallied Billy on
his long absence that afternoon. They
had. with one accord. fallen captive to
the charm of Rose Benworth In her sim
pie white evening frOck. She danced
to perfection.
whats the matter with you. old
nanY they demanded Of Billy. "You
look as If you'd been drinking"
81 have" he said urbanely.
"What?'
"Nectar and all that sort Of thing.
you know"
Rubbish" jeered Dick enviously.
"You'r" In love. that's what's the mat
ter wi.h you"
And sn II proved.