Arizona republican., 1910-08-13

golden hair.
 Damn my bootsr said I, open-mouthed at this apparition.
 "Joanl An, Joan my dearp cooed the old
 "S'lfep cried I, and gaped again, for if you will believe me, twas no other than the girl had met m the tavern that had looked sweety me, and was with the young school-master
 Father, what is this? Are you ill?" she asked and then her travelling the intervening space to me, she cried out in fear.
 Mistress Joan" said I, recalling my wits you need fear naught from me. Twas point of argument your father and had together. pray you go back to your slumbers in security, my pretty.
 "Ah is she not prety?" whispered the old hend near ing "Get you gone" said I curtly to him Get you away lest forget your age, and strike you.
 What IS it, sir?" says the girl Joan, coming down step into the room. Why speak you roughly to my father?"
 At that notion came to me- seeing her there in her beauty the enhanced by her nocturnal habit; and so said l with sharp cunning to old hunks. Get you away, fool l would have talk with her" "Yes, yes" said he eagerly, if seeing his wishes carried forth and the gold reclaimed and he made off But was wise enough to see him locked safely in further room. Then came back to Miss.
 "Oh what is all this sir ;? she demanded fearfully.
 My angel ts clear of rum-padding. said I brskly with a long congee to her. But swear you shall sit in Paradise. and be for 1t whit only old stingy sobersidcs wonder"
 "I do not understand. sr, says she, looking puzzled Have you robbed my father?'
 You may call it that" answered "All that he hath is mine. But ts you want, 1 said "You with your pretty eyes and little smiles. and cabling humors.
 Sir" she drew back alright T do not know-I- Tis but jest Oh, you cannot mean it"
 "Why, .ts all agreed twiXt old hunks and me, 1 said, encouraging her to lose her fears.
 She leaned back against the wall as if in faint. But am promised sir. to-oh she wrung her hands, "I cannot understand this. l fear you And thought you had so generous face Y
 Now this touched the raw, and twas plain also that l had misook her, and that she other than her smiles and gances would prove her Lord, ts hard to know 'tis to win battle But have sharper eyes than most men, and l soon spied what wrong. She indeed the innocent her miserable father had proclaimed her. And, faith. she loved young Sheep-ace and true him But that's the silly way of So said l. in whimsical voice
 "Well, maybe, I know when bargain should be dropped, and I'll keep that face speak o Mistress Joan
 What bargan?" she asked opening her eyes
 Why, twas exchange of beauty for gold. and we'll worth it, you can keep that for smiles in your mirror"
 With my father? Yous A bargain." she ex- claimed her face moving with wonder and then dis may; and then, as silent, she flushed red, and buried her face in her hands Oh, he hath outragel me-" she cried "Oh. tis the last the very last and worst that could bearl
 It like the cry of child that is hurt and hath no refuge from hurt
 He is a dungfork not worth tears" said l. con- solingly But she wept Look you here, mistress, said, there is this schoomaster of yours and damme will set you up with your fathers gold He has lost his all to and will exact it from him the most farthing"
 My fathers gold!" she said, and stared There was change on her face. and she drew back The gold you have stolen from him! ?! she exclaimed.
 Rot me- tis better with you than with him., 1 said, with impatienCe at such scruples
 She shook her head. Perhaps you we'll" she said dolefuly, T know not But 1 may rot ;ake that which is wickedly taken"
 The girl put me out of temper and saw now pretty clearly that she was not such doxy would have served me But she handsome enough and ap- pealng too, like helpless kitten And ] come to an end of my endurance.
 "Oh we'll" said I. taking sudden resolution to be quit of all at blow, have it your way. But am master of the stuaton and will do what will with my own"
 went to the door of the room where the miser was Come forth" said eve may now come to terms, He came out with frightened face, looking atone and the other of us.
 "You will take her?" he hoarsely whispered
 Aye" said l. T will give ye back your money for her. and here 'tis."
 slapped the purse and the bag upon the table, which he greedily seized on.
 And now the girls mne,' I said
 Yes, yes, he assented, counting up his guineas to see if they were right; but Miss looked on with Why then" said I. eff she be mine she is mine to do what will with
 "Yes. yes,' said he, still counting
 You shall set that down paper" said and forth with made him furnish the implements of the craft
 SnF-began the girl, trembling but hushed her with my hand
 Mistress, by this token duly signed. we're mine" I said, lifting the document And so can dispose of you as l will So go you to your jackanapes of . schoolmaster, and weep on his bosom I said
 She gaped; and the old mans jaw dropped
 lis trick" he began in a shrill and wheezv voice
 If you shut not your mouth I will close it bv other means, cried. You have your money which is more to you than flesh and blood And the innocent beautv IS mine to bestow She shall to her lover if say so" He was silent, and then resumed furtively on his guineas But the girl towards me- white of face l misunderstood you. sr-you are'-She stopped
 Heres your berty-heres your warrant" I said giving her the paper her father had signed And what happiness you may get by exchanging a skinhint for popinjay take Gods name"
 And with that went to the door, leaving her dazd and the old man hanging his treasure
 mounted the mare and rode of tickled with rnvself at my neat behavior for have never gotten out Jf difficulty with more grace than that occasion nd have been in many a in my time