Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-04-26
coPYR0nr 1903 By THE eo6a3 -NERRlL CO.
bv FREDERIC g. Is

DO you want 1t he asked QUICKLY,
| his face Frightening.
You can give it to Beppo when he
| comes" she said, drawing herself up
loftily. He'll be here soon I've run
| away from himi" A sudden smile re-
| placed her brief assumption of dig
| nifty. He'll be so angryi He's fat
and ugly" more confidentiaIly. And
he's so amusing when he's vexed! But
| how much do you ask for the tish?"
Il didn't mean-to sell it,"
why not?'
'I-don't sell fish"
Don't sell fish" She looked at the
clothes, frayed and worn, the bare
| muscular throat the sunburned legs.
You meant to give it to me?"
Yes"
The girl laughed. What a funny
| boy,"
His cheek flushed; from beneath
! the matted hair, the disconnected
black eyes met the hooking brown
ones.
"Of course I can't take it for moth
ing" she explained, land it is very
absurd of you to expect it,
Then" with sudden stubbornness,
Il will keep it,"
| Her glance grew more severe.
Most people speak to me as my
lady You seem to have forgotten.
| Or perhaps you have been listening to
| some of those silly persons who talk
| about everybody being born equal.
I've heard my father, the governor.
| speak of them and how he has put
| some of them in his dungeons. You'd
better not talk that way, or he may
shut you up in some terrible dark
hole beneath the CASTLE
I'm not afraid" The black eyes
| stone.
Then you must be a very wicked
boy. 1t would serve you right if L
was to tell"
You CAM"
Then 1 won't, Besides, I'm not a
telltale," She tossed her curls and
| went on. I've heard my father say
! these people who want to be called
'gentilhomme' and monsieur are low
and ignorant; they can't even read
and write
Again the red hue mantled the
boys cheek. Il don't believe you
cant" she exclaimed shrewdly and
| clapped her hands. Can you now?"
| He did not answer. 'Monsieur!
| 'Gentilhommei'
|
but whatever reply he might have
made was interrupted by the sound
of a horses hoofs and the abrupt ap-
| pearance, from the direction the child
had come, of fat, irascible-looking
man of middle age, dressed in livery.
"Oh, here you are, my LADY," His
tone was far from amiable; as he
| spoke he pulled up his horse with a
vicious jerk. "A pretty chase you've
led mel"
! She regarded him indifferently. IF
you will stop at the inn, Beppo-''
The mans irate glance fell. WHO
is this?'
"A boy who doesn't want to sell
his fish, said the girl merriIy.
"Ohi" The mans look expressed
quick recognition. "A fine days
work is this-to handy words with
Abruptly he raised his whip. What
do you mean, sirrah, by stopping my
4 LADY,"
A fierce CLEAN in the lads eyes be-
| lied the smile on his lips Don't beat
me, good Beppo." he said in a mock
ing voice, and stood, alert, 1.-the, like
tiger ready to spring. The man hes
itated; his arm dropped to his side.
The very spot" he said. looking
A moment the boy waited, then
turned on his heel and, without a
word, walked away. Soon an angle
in the sea-well. girdling the Mount
hid him from view.
why didn't you strike him?" Quiet
ly the child regarded the man rWere
you afraid?" Beppo's answering look
was not one of affection for his
charge Who is he?"
AN idle vagabond.'
What is his manner"
Il don't know"
Don't your"
A queer expression sprang into his
eyes One can't remember every
peasant brat" he returned evasively,
She considered him silently: then:
why did you say. The very spot? u
she asked.
Il Did 1? don't remember But
it's time we were getting back. Come
my LADY," And Beppo struck his
horse smartly-
CHAPTER II.