Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-05-01

client. but ! am willing to take. q
chance on YOU" confidently. And be.
sides. these girls have been badgering
the life out OF you. It's time somebody
took pity" laughing.
The mayor put his lips close to the
girls rosy ear.
Honest" he said. hope to die. I've
never had SO much fun In all my life
but that bill business Is dangerous.
and I'd like to get through with the
ordeal %honorably. | can use today,
and as a small expression OF my
gratitude, I'll send you the ~jolliest big
box OF candy in Chicago as | pass
through"
Thank you" she said. her eyes
dancing. IN leave the selection to
you"
An hour later Bedight, astride q
good horse. was galloping toward
Bordeau. a railroad crossing ten miles
to the north. Arriving at the station
he sent a telegram. ate a typical meal
at a typical country hotel. and started
back. He reached the ross roads at
dusk and let his tired mount plod
leisurely homeward.
Saturday morning broke clear and
tense after a swelteriug night. The
sun was copper colored and the leaves
upon the crest, where they were wont
to bow and curtsey to the zephyr's
breath. hung ~listless In the simmer
ing heat. At breakfast, none looked
refreshed and Mine Host complained
OF drought. Pauline. the cook, whose
eggs were always soft-boiled to a
creamy elasticity and whose toast was
golden brown and delicious,
fretted the former into bMe-btack
globules surrounded by ieathery gela-
tine. while the latter was burned and
desiccated' to a bareback condition de-
cidedly disappointing to her usually
delighted followers. The thermometer.
to all intents and purposes, was so
basely ambitious as to seemingly have
no other desire than to climb higher
and higher in its relentless rise.
Come. on. Mr.. Bedight." exclaimed
Molly Mcconnell, row me over to
Waxelbaum's Point. l want to sketch
La Weeks cabin. the remaining relic
OF what was once the Oldest trading
post in the state. II Is ~tumbledown
and ramshackle and will make a fine
l was by there a week ago on
q calm day and the reflection In the
placid water was almost as realistic
as the old log-pile itself. A photo
graph taken when l saw the cabin
would puzzle the beholder to tell
which was the cabin and which the
Today promises to be still
and bids fair to afford me an oppor-
tunity to get Just the right atmos-
phere. I'll be ready in ten minutes"
She came down to the dock, her
black eyes dancing in anticipation. |
.edight packed her outfit in the prov
Of the boat along with the lunch
basket. held the boat firmly against
he dock as she put her dainty foot
upon the stern seat. and dipped grace
July into position. a magazine under
Ter arm and a camera slung across
Ter shoulder.
AS the mayor took the III he look
ID at her-bareheaded. her lustrous
lack locks defying the sun, her full
empting lips shaping a perfect cupid's
'ow. a saucy little dimple on each side
( a well-rounded cheek, and teeth as
Thite as milk.coral through which the
aughter trilled and rippled like a
spring across its minty way.
Surely a mar might well be sem
enced for life to such a woman's
'him, while but a days service were
s an hour In Naples after a hard
assage.
Molly Mcconnell had one of those
airing, unconventional t~emperaments
hat bespoke a woman of full blood
nd spirit, a being Of beauty and
race and voluptuous constancy. To
HE man she would be all in all. rein.
,g queen Of his heart, laughing at
finities, scorning .ssalousies, holding
i'm secure with her mental and phys
al charms.
The lake vas calm and through It's
lirrored depths long strands of weed
nd marsh grass could be seen stream.
lg upward In the shallow places. Not
a ripple stirred the surface and
le sun reflected from the sheening .