Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1910-11-04

curtly
"Ohr Fasped Billy.
81 heard what you said" she went
on resentfully. Listeners never hear
any good Of themselves, butt thought
1t was unklnd in you to say-I
thought
Billy Redeemed to his forehead. "oh,
[ say be apolosized "the fellows
didn't mean any harm; it's Just the
idle gossip that one drifts into when
there isn't anything else to do, Every
one Of us would risk our neck for
you Don't
"What is your name?" asked the
girl hurriedly.
"satterly Billy satterly." he said.
"Oh you're the one that didn't say
anything. then?n 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 70 say. nap
neuad to see Won when you arrived on
the stage last night aud He paus-
ed. MS if embarrassed by a too eager
tongue.
"AndT7 she suggested.
Il thought you didn't need any frills.
you know he finished lamely.
Thanks she said simply. dropping
down to a 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 en- ranch Father
and | lived alone There were Just
two after came, and had to be both
son and daughter to dad He died
year ago. and so | had to come east
and make my home with Mrs. BowkeF.
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, we'll. because Of
dad. you know. 1t seems as il the old
days were not so far away" She
choked over the last words. and her
eyes were drowned with sudden tears.
She searched valnly for a handker-
chief. and Billy. full of tender s0lici-
tude. drew a snowy square from his
own pocket, shook il out and tossed it
into her lap; then he turned away and
looked at distant ridges that seemed
strangely blurred in outline.
Thank you so much. I'm very sor-
ry ! made such goose Of myself"
said the girl after little while,
only
"You needn't say word interrupt
ed Billy energetically. after my
mother went-why well l know all
about It, It's a stiiHsh gale" he added
hastily.
"It 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 uuappreciated, 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 rye been intrud!ng on your
privacy all this time" cried Billy re
morsefully. "ru 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. Thaub YOU" She pressed the
handkerchief into his hand, and he re-
turned it to his pocket silently.
''You are sure wont 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 a tobacco pouch
back in his pocket
"rhank You" he said gratefully.
"You do not know my name said
the girl suddenly. ats not fair when
am acquainted with yours. l am
Rose Benworth."
"Thank you" said Satterly gravely.
After awhile the greedy wind tore
[ the paper from his hands, and they
watched it sail down the mountain
4 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
scofiugly taught him more about
cloud painting than be had ever dream
ed, for she was a 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
! trall. 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
mani" they demanded Of Billy. "You
look as If you'd been drinking"
Il nave" he said urbanely
"Whatg'
aNectar and aH that sort Of thing,
you know"
"Rubbishl" jeered Dick enviously,
You're in love, that's what's the mat
ter with you"
Aud so It proved.