Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1911-02-03

himself into her range or VISION ana
barred his head.
"StiGish gale" he remarked pleas
antly.
The girl swept him with contemptu-
Gus eyes from which all the softness
had fed and bowed her head so very
slightly that Billy admitted 1t would
have been better II she had made no
sign OF recognition whatever.
His brow dGrkenod under the brim
Of his hat; then he pulled the hat or
again and stood b|areheaded in the
wind. lie would mike her speak. he
vowed.
"stidlsh gale" be said again.
No reply this time. The girl had
dropped her hat and framed her eyes
with her hands. looking %intently Mt the
figures Ike m%annikins dotted about
the hotel grounds below.
"Stimsh gale repeated Billy obsti
nately. still looking at her.
She made no reply to this original
remark, but the young man thought
he detected a culver of the sensitive
mouth.
"Stlfish gale" he yelled angrily, just
as the gale took her licht hat and
swept it with singing force against
his face. Il told you it was a stimsh
gale be added rebukingly as hi held
the hat toward her.
The hands came down, and the soft
eyes cleaned mirthfully upon him as
she took tie hat.
THANK you," she said demurely.
"Thcn you're alive. after ALL"
breathed Billy ~relievedly. you were
SO silent I thought you were petrifed
with amaZement ddhtrntlon or
something, you know
Il was petrihed-wi;h surprise that
you should address me at all" said the
girl, with unfriendly emphasis In her
low voice. Satterly had to draw closer
to hear what she said; between the
wind and the rushing sound Of the
swaying trees below there was a tn
mutt Of harmonious noises.
"Why?" demanded Billy Satterly
bluntly, fixing his honest eyes on hers.
II was in the upper balcony of the
pavilion a little while ago." she said
curtly.
"Oh!" gasped Billy.
II heard what you said" she went
on resentfully. Listeners never hear
any good OF themselves. butt thought
1t was unkind in you to say
thought
Billy Redeemed to his forehead. "Oh,
I say" he a%pologized, 1.-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. thenY' 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. ] nap
pened to see you when you arrived on
the stage last night. and He paus-
ed, as II embarrassed by a too eager
tongue.
"AndT' she suggested.
81 thought you didn't need any frills,
you know" he finished lamely.
Thanks" she said simply, dropping
down 10 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 a western girl, and ! was
born and raised on n ranch. Father
and / lived alone. There were Just
two after / came. and / had 20 be both
son and daughter to dad. He died a
year ago, and so / had 20 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. l am learning
rapidly that girls are girls and boys
are boys, so a little later I'm going to
put OF frlls and fribbles. I'm wearing
these plain things-oh. wen, because OF
dad, you know. Il seems as II the old
days were not 80 far away" She
choked over the last words, and her
eyes were drowned with sudden tears.
She searched valnly for a handker-
chief. aud Billy. full Of tender solicit
tude. drew a snowy square from his
own pocket shook It out and tossed II
into her lap then be turned away and