Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-07-05
"sure?" BY Jove. wnat ripping eyes

y course not!' emphatically.
Her sunny head nodded satisfac-
ton. That's all right. then. l was
afraid you wouldn't like it-afraid you
would think l was acting a little free.
But you man Jenkins-isn't that his
name?-said he thought you would
like for me to wear them"
| gaspcd.
"Jen-what's that?" was amazed.
indignant at jenkins %effrontery. HE
She nodded. her glorious eyes shin
ing wistfully.
You see, 1 went to a frat dance last
night in Cambridge" she explained;
and in the hurry this morning, some
how, one of my bags-a suitcase
was left behind. And when | got here
tonight and began piling the things
out of my other bag-well, l saw |
was up a tree. Not a thing to slip
into, you know-not SO much as q
dressing-gown or even a bathrobe.
Then your man saved my life-sug-
gested these pajamas. See?"
"Oh, l see!"
| said so; but, dash 1t, l wasn't sure
L dlu, lOl 1 hlc" 81 uSNlilSh liIllS
about girls.
Il must cut along now" | thought:
internal shame to be taking advan-
tage of her this way" And then
thought | would just wait a wee min
ute longer.
Just then she turned toward me,
her elbow IN the arm of the wicker
chair, her dainty, manicured finger
tips supporting her chin.
You know, MI. Lightnut, l wasn't
sure you would remember me at ALL"
she said. Il was such a kid when
you saw me last"
"Oh, yes" | said, trying to recall
the rather hoydenish children l had
een on the motor trip to Billings
home five years before. Il remember
you were quite a little girl-weren't
you?"
thought her face darkened a lit
tie; then her smile flashed through.
like sunshine through a cloud. Her
laugh came on top, like the mellow
ripple OF a tiny brook-that sort OF
thing-oh, you know!
"Oh, I say now, Mr.. Lightnut, cut
out the JOSH she demonstrated; and
l thought she grew a little red. Mo
more for mine those sissy, grille ways
I've got well over all of that"
She tossed one knee over the other
and brew herself back in the chair.
She seemed a little piqued. She went
on:
II just tell you what-there's moth.
ing ike a couple of years off at col.
lege for toughening you! Gets all
those mammals baby ways out of you,
you bet your life. and all the slushi-
you get from trying to be like
sisters. Shucks!"
| caught my breath. OF course, she
had no idea how it sounded-this
sort of talk; it was just her innocent
frankness, her-what dye call it,
her ingenuousness-dash it!
She continued musingly: Gee, but
l was soft when l first went away-a
pie-faced angel-child!" Her
voice had in it a sheer. Then b
Strengthened up, whirled her chat
me, and gave me a sounding
slap on the knee.< Say, maybe the
l met didn't educate that out
of me mighty quick! Well, l reckon
yes!" And she nodded, eying me side
wise, her pretty chin in the air.
But, dash me, /, was so aghast |
couldn't get out a word. Just sat there
at her and turning hot and
cold by turns. Came devilish near
consciousness, by Jove, that's
OF course, l knew she didn't know
what she was talking about. Hadn't
any sisters myself, don't you know.
and never had learned, much about
other fellows sisters; but, dash it, |
something about faces, and |
would have staked my life on hers.
You can nearly always tell, you know.
But, anyhow, l thought I5had better
go now.
I got up. Il say, you want to just
make yourself at home" l said. And
IL you don't mind, I'll see you at the
boat in the morning."
She stood up. too. looking rather
surprised. You're not going away?
"Oh, no; not out of town" l though
was what she meant. I added
And as l go out, III stop down-stair
and have some one come up and sta
with you"
She dropped to the arm OF the chair
her pretty face showing dismay.
"Oh, but see here. I'm running you
Off know am. Say, Mr.. Lightnut
don't want to do that. l thought
sure you were going to be here. Broth
er insisted you would be"
Brother! Nice brother, indeed. for
little thing!
"Oh, you'll be all right" l said re.
assurlngiy. I'm just going ove to
the club. don't you know-not far
She came right up to me and placed
a hand on each shoulder.
"konest lnjun, now" she said-and
her smile was ravishing. Honest.
move, Mr.. Lightnut, you're going just
because I'm here. Say now own up!"
And, dash 1t, there was nothing to
but admit 1t.
ITO RE CONTINIIED