Evening journal., 1912-09-03
A TIMID
LITTLE GIRL
By SUSAN YOUNG PORTER

AAAAlA4
The words were spoken by one Of
those elegant looking fellows who, aft
Pr spending some ten thousand a year
In college, think the next aristocratic
move to be made Is ranching. They
argue that while business Is beneath
them and they are too lazy to either
study OF practice a profession there
Is something eminently respectable In
raising animals or vegetables on their
broad acres. Having purchased and
stocked ranch they have their photo
graphs taken IN cowboy costume to
send TO their friends In the east and
thereafter consider themselves on the
kame footing with the lords OF British
landed estates
Ned Perkins, the man who spoke the
above words. was one Of this type.
He was riding along with rife and
a lariat slung to his saddle dressed as
wild westerner on the dramatic
stage, when he met a little Mexican
girl with very black eyes, a rose In
fun bloom on each cheek and n pair
Of buds for lips who looked up at him
innocently and, making a courtesy
said:
-'Good morning, senor"
Then to his question she replied that
she was going TO the store a mile down
the road TO buy dress
sYou don't need anything prettier
than the costume you have on" he
said. -That skirt bedecked with gold
lace, that jacket adorned with the
same material, that Spanish headgear.
are exceedingly becoming. II you will
get up behind me / will turn about and
take you to the store. The distance Is
TOO long for you TO walk"
She hooked 1T him shyly without re
ply for some moments, when he dis
mounted, took her hand, led her to his
horse. she raised her little foot, be
took II in his hand and lifted her into
position behind the saddle. Then.
mounting himself, he started for the
store.
Perkins liked ranching wen enough
except for the absence OF feminine
companionship. He had no trouble in
becoming companionable with little
Inez. whose father owned few cat
tie, but whose principal business was
gambling. There was something unique
about the girl, who was sixteen years
old. but unduly developed, as are girls
who inhabit tropical climates. 1t did
not occur to the young ranchman that
there was any harm In passing some
Of his time in her company, joldne
with and jollying her to his own In
hnite amusement.
He invited her TO 60 with him &c
dances that were held In the neighbor
hood and noticed that none OF the
cowboys asked her 10 dance with them
II was some time before he realized
that they regarded her as belonging e
him. and none Of them would trespasl
on his domain.
IL wss then that he began 10 under
stand the situation. He did not fea
any trouble In breaking with the cir
she was such n gentle little soul-bu
II occurred to him that he might hav'
trouble with her father OF one of hel
brothers From this moment he die
not act the same toward Inez herself
He tried to do so and thought he was
-
such change in man.
Perkins was becoming tired Of ranch
ing. and he did not find that It wal
likely to pay him. Besides, he wal
mining for his associations in the east
One day he made up his mind TO e
back there. He kept his resolution L
himself; he did not offer his rancl
Tor sale: ne simply determined to ieavl
Il when no one would be aware o
what he was going to do and not com
back. He could sell It without stayinl
there for the purpose.
He formed this resolution not lon
after he had begun 10 consider hi
eompanionship with the little Mexical
girl liable 10 cause him trouble. Inc
appeared no different than she ha
been. In fact, he doubted II after Al
his going would make much differenc
10 her. True, no other man was atter
tive to her. They had all withdraw
when he began to notice her.
The evening before his intended do
parture-he was to start at O'Clock 1
the morning and ride ten miles to
station, where he would take train
be was with Inez till 10 o'clock. Ne
Eher by word nor act did she indicat
that she suspected his departure. B'
fore starting for his ranch he sal
some very nice things to her, for hi
heart smote him; then, holding he
hand for a few moments, he droppe
It and sailed forth. as he had don
Dften before.
II was his habit TO smoke a pipe b.
lore going 10 bed. His favorite pip
was a large merschaum bowl with
cherry stem. Taking the pipe from
rack. he found It filed with fresh Il
bacco. He was somewhat surprises
but thought that perhaps he had file
1t during the day. intending to smok
but had laid It aside without doing 8
Putting the stem in his mouth, he W,
about to light the tobacco when he T
membered that he had not smok,
since the noon meal and had not al,
It after smoking. Dropping the mate
be turned the contents Of the pipe O
on the table. On the top was a lay
Of tobacco, beneath which was-we
II he had smoked the pipe as It was
would have been blown TO atoms.
without waiting for morning
went out into the night and boarded
train at another station from the o
ne had intended.
He wondered how the little girl b