The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-14

but this girl was certainly not meek
and was as certainly not shy. She
had confronted him with the cour
age and self-possession Of 4 man
with the fearlessncss and self-re
lance which are supposed to Lc
characteristics of the male orly.
Then, again her face and he;
manner did not belong to the type
represented By the class in which
he might, quite reasonably. have
placed her; there was note of
something higher not only in her
voice, but in the direct fearless
gaze Of her wonderful eyes.
She came back presently and held
out box of matches.
She had cast aside her sack, and
Ronald saw that her figure possess
ed a grace which matched her face.
/ He did not know that she had never
worn stays and therefore was not
aware that the beautiful curves and
contours of her lissom figure were
indebted to her freedom from that
feminine article of attire. Like most
men Of his kind, Ronald was an
ardent though perhaps unconscious
admirer of female loveliness; and
as ne lit his pipe his eye rested on
her respectfully enough, but with
keen appreciation.
Thank YOU" he said "I suppose I
may smoke; though | suppose I
oughtn't, in a mill?"
"You wont do any HARM" she
said, in her deep. sweet contralto.
She stood with her left hand rest
ing on her hip, her right still hold
ing the shining scoop. Ronald did
not know it, but at that moment she
was exactly like one of those little
Roman statuettes one sees in the
British Museum dated somewhere
B. c. 500. But her attitude, eloquent
Of natural grace, did strike him;
and he drew at his pipe and looked
at her with a half-conscious sense
Of pleasure. He wondered if she
were as curious about him as he
MAS about her; but, If she were, she
displayed no sign of being so. It
seemed to him that she was only
patiently desirous of his departure.
He was, characteristically quite
happy and at his ease. He had for,
gotten all about the train at Shell
ford, was simply enjoying his pipe,
his novel surroundings, and, more
than all, the presence, the proX
unity, of this beautiful young crea-
ture. He would have been quite
content to sit on the corn-bin for
the remainder of tine night, gazing
at her. he was made So
'Tm fearfully thirsty he said !
presently. "Will you give me a
drink OF water"
She made no reply; but she left
him, and presently returned with
a jar and a glass.
There's some beer" she said IT'S
better than water, and you look
tired
do 70" said Ronald, q don't
feel so; but it is long time
since I've had a drink-or anything
to eat, for that matter-and | won't
say no" He drank the ale almost
at a draught, That's good,' he
said The beer warmed him; he had
been rather chilled coming Through
the mist. May | beg another glass?
All, yes, its very good"
The generous ale, brewed by
neishboring farmer, and innocent of
any deleterious compound, ran
through his veins and set his heart
jumping. His eyes, as they dwelt
on her, grew bright and cheerful
"Are You all alone here" he ask
ed.
Yes she said, fearlessly and
unhesitatingly. MY fathers gone
down to the village. lie is late to-
night; perhaps the mist kept him"
"And you are working the mill?"
be asked.
She nodded Yes; there has been
no wind for the last two days: it
'prang up tonight, and I set her
going"
You are-young to have so much
responsibility he said. 81 mean.
something might go wrong"
What could go wrong?" she ask
ed, with mild contempt for his
ignorance. It's easy enough. You've
only to watch the hoppers. and any
one can do that. I've done It all my