The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1911-02-03
A KNIGHT
IN spain
wv II
'..s
The Sequel to the Dream Of
Little Miss Mouse.
BY KEITH GORDON.


"She's the bestcst girl that Is. and l
need her in my biz" would doat in to
her. followed perhaps by the strains Of
samson ct Dalila" or some music
equally fine.
One knew the sort of man who
would sing coon songs with gusto;
also the sort that would hum bits
from the grand operas. The puzzling
thing was to know what sort Of uan
would take an Impartial delight in
both. So ia the intervals Of her work
she began to speculate about her un.
known neighbor.
AT the end of two months she tabu-
lated her knowledge of him. He was
gay and debonair. Witness the scraps
of song that foated III to her He was
carelessly Indifferent to women. This
she CLEANED from the fact that I've
days out of seven she could hear him
tunefully asserting:
II she be not fair to me.
What care how fair she be!
he smoked inveterately-a pipe. she
fanried. Sometimes the faint. elusive
spirit of the thing seemed to hoat
about her hall bedroom. and she
shifted again and again. her small
head well in the air. but could never
be quite sure. The partition bore her
startled scrutiny impert,lrbably. but
we'll. she was sure she smeled smoke.
He was about thirty This she di.
81, - h;s
and his boyish delight in the chatter
of the elderly chambermaid whose
Irish wit would send him into peals
Of laughter.
Also be was man Of the world.
since she heard him come in early
many evenings and move about his
room as If dressing for dinner. Then
at half past 6 or he would 20 out
again. leaving her with an absurd
sense Of desolation.
They never encountered each other
In the halls. much to her satisfaction.
but she came to have very distinct
idea Of his appearance. He was tall.
broad and straight. with clear cut
face and an air Of knowing his way
about.
'Sure. an he's a foine gint!eman."
Maggie Informed her once: hut. though
she might have verified her idea Of
him. she refrained with a fine sense Of
personal reserve. Sometimes through
the open door she caught glimpse Of
his room. and her interested eyes took
III the dark green walls. covered with
handsome photographs. the low book.
cases on either side of the fireplace
and the low. broad table with its litter
of books and papers.
ut certainly looks as If he were an
interesting man." she thought to her
self. and ttereupon she entered her
own room. and. taking out sheet Of
paper bearing the mystical heading
MY Knight In Spain.' she wrote:
Evidently educated-a college man:
profession, law. literature or some
thing of the kind"
maggie. is there any one IN the next
room?" she heard him inquire one Sun
day morning. Then in answer to Mag
gie's nutlled reply: Little Miss Mouse.
| should call her didn't know there
was any one there. though once or
twice I've thought heard some one"
The girl FLUSHED guiltily. Apparent.
ly he had no idea how plainly she
could hear him. Then she smiled to
herself. So he would call her Little
Miss Mouse. Well. 1t was fair enough
since she called him her gentleman Of
Spain.
For awhile after this she noticed
decided effort on her neighbours part to
60 softly. In the midst Of stave he
would cease abruptly. only to begin
afresh and stop again with an impa
tent exclamation. as if he were an
noyed at not being Able 10 remember
to be quiet. At all Of which, in the So
clusion of her room. Little Miss Mouse
laughed immoderately. though IN 81
lence.
Then one morning Maggie found her
III bed. her usually pale face flushed.
her heavy hair covering the pillow In
a tossed and tangled mass.
ITS nothing, but perhaps you'd bet
ter get doctor" gasped Miss Mouse
MY uCitu SC HuCSl' tiEt' oh' : ~ ~
wnrln!
Soon after "A serene faced nurse In
striped uniform and white apron wa
Installed in the room, and to her Littl
Miss Mouse. down with brain fever
talked IN unending jargon.
IF you can have a castle in Spai
you can certainly have knight II
Spain. can't YOU" she demanded owe
and over again.
"Of course you can" soDtlled t
nurse.
I'D he very lonely if he vanished
as castles in Spain do" she said
another time. with wistfuI, puzz|
eyes. You don't think he will ":
ISL. do ynu? because Pm all al"'
here. He's the only person | reAi
know
Don't you ever tell, upon your h,
or" she ranlbled on. ITS We
strange don't just understand
but actually have never seen u
Can you believe it. I've never SO,