The Press., 1913-01-15
FARWELL'S FREAK She Knew How to Turn
 the Tables By ClariSsa Mackie
By CIarissa Mackie
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pecan grove. and all the leaves rustleC
 softly. Eve Farwen looked up into thu maze of branches where the greer nuts hung thickly.
 ! In a trice she had swung herself tC | a lower branch and with boyish agility
 reached the trunk of the largest tree and climbed into the shelter of its
 thick greenery. Here two large branch
 es rubbed together and formed capi
 tai seat if one loved the whispering
 solitude of the treetops.
 Eve settled herself for a long after
 noon of enjoyment. Her book lay un' ! opened on her knees as she gazed at a | picture of which she never tired. All at once there came a shrill whis-
 tie that denoted the presence of Andy
 Morgan, her fathers foreman. He was
 not far away. He was riding through the aisles of tree trunks below. and he was not alone.
 Eve bent over and gazed down at the
 straight, we'll knit figure riding the
 black horse. He was gazing directly
 ahead, and the brim Of his hat shaded
 his chin. where Eve knew a dimple
 Iurked. A tender smile played about
 Eve's lips. and the very intensity of
 her gaze must have attracted his
 glance to her had he not been absorbed
 in conversation with another man
 whom Eve did not recognize, although
 he was riding one of her fathers
 horses. She saw pair of brown. well
 shaped hands grasping the bridle reins
 and the crown of his big hat. and she
 noted that he sat well in the saddle.
 They stopped beneath the big pecan
 tree where she was hidden, and Nor gan slipped from his animal and tight ened a girth. Then he leaned laZily against the tree trunk and rolled cigarette.
 "You'n like 1t here all right. Webb" he was saying. "The old mans fair and square enough
 'T think I shall like 1t first rate. said the other man heartily, and Eve liked his voice at once. It was deep and pleasant. "Farwel's got pretty sizable ranch here."
 'Yes; it'll take us a couple of days to ride over it." returned Andy, and then in a tone which Eve had never heard from his lips he added. "It will be an easy matter If you want to get into partnership with the old man."
 Flows that2'' asked Webb. ''IS he anxious to sell"
 ''Not exactly. But he's made it pret- ty plain that whoever marries his daughter can have a thousand acres and welcome. Wants to keep her near home-not that there's any danger of his losing her in that way" Andy laughed scornfully.
 q didn't know that he had a daugh- ter" said Webb rather coldly.
 "Oh, yes: a regular freak-thin and scrawny, with red hair and freckles! That's what we call her around here 'Farwell's freak She's inclined to be soft in my direction"
 "Oh, hang it all, Morgan, a girl can't help her appearance, you know" ob- jected Webb in a displeased tone. Il may as we'll be plain with you as long as am to be here and we are to be l associated. don't stand for | any of this careless talk about wom- en. I have a mother and sisters back | nome, and they mean a good deal to ne, and because of them all women are entitled to my protection. I'm not a milk and water chap, but every man las his own ideas about things. and l night as we'll tell you that that's the hip on my shoulder, and I hope no- ,ody around here knocks 1t offp' He poke firmly and pleasantly.
 Andy Morgan laughed again-not a lice laugh to hear. "Oh. very we'll, Webb" he said carelessly. 'T'n warn he boys to confine their talk to the weather and the latest styles in dude .ollars from the east"
 '@They are certainly safe topics," re- orted Webb calmly as he followed his through the grove and out nto the open plain.
 Eve Farwell leaned against the tree :runk and closed her eyes. Her face was white and strained and certainly lid look very plain just now. She could hardly believe that it had been Andy Morgan who had spoken so care essly about her. Why. Andy had made ove to her, and she Ewes white face suddenly went scarlet and was hidden n her thin little hands. She loved handsome Andy Morgan with a girls 1rst love. and she had betrayed her liking, and he, the coward, was mak- ng a jest of 1t to this newcomer! What had Andy not said to the other men on he ranch?
 What sensitive Eve Farwell suffered 1p there in the pecan tree to which Ihe had gone so happily nobody might Enow, but when she finally descended ! pink spot burned in either cheek, and Ter red hair was tossed into a becom- ng fluff around her ears. With her ed brown eyes and scarlet lips even Andy Morgan could not have called lar freak" although she was thin
 Pleading headache, Eve 1ed to ner room. Her Aunt Janet, who kept louse for the widowed ranchman and lis daughter, came and brought her liece cup of strong tea and bits of lews from below stairs
 "Your father had Andy and the new nan. MT. Webb. in to supper tonight" halted Aunt Janet. 'T like Mir Webb 0 much He is very handsome an" very inch gentleman. Your father 7as disappointed that Jou are sick. Te wanted you to come down and play for him."
 Eve made no answer. She lay there taring into the darkness, scarcely caring the music that stole up to her hamber. Her thoughts were busy nes.
 Aunt Janet" she said suddenly, you'd like to have me go eaEC for d ,ng visit, wouldn't you?"
 "Yes. Sarah says it isn't fair that CT only niece should be buried alive ere in Texas when she can give her
 lovely winter in New York. Your .unt Sarah has money. Eve. but she eeds some one to help her spend it. would do you a world of good"
 "If father consents I'd like to go at