The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-05-16
MRS. SIMMs' GUEST
Romance IN City Girls Visit to
Wild and Woolly Cowboys
Camp.
BY LOUISE MERR,FlELD.

BY LOUISE MERRlFiELD.
Whats her name again. Mis-
Simms?"
"Jessamine." Mrs. Simms went on
kneading dough placidly. just al II
she didn't know six separate and dis
tinct male heads were looking into
her two windows. Curly coughed
and took fresh start, urged to &C.
ton by sundry surreptitious attacks
on his anatomy from the rear. Time
was heeting; and Jager's Junction de"
manded an explanation
why didn't you tell US she was
coming?' This merely as a mild re-
proof.
Didn't want to stir you all up.
boys smiled back Ma Simms. Any
how, she's just here On little visit
to me-"
"Relative?"
by marriage"
Say, now, look here, Ma Sinlms,"
Gimpy Lane tried arbitration. We've
always treated you square, amt we:
Here we are located on the raw edge
OF nothing so to speak. and you the
sole female within sixty miles. Amt
%e treated you like SO many ador-
ing and respectful sons for ten
months?"
I'D like to see you try any other
methods, Gimpy" Ma Simms beamed
| at him pleasantly. There's no credit
at all 10 you for the way the place has
settled down. I've labored over you.
boys. like mother, and I've fed you
on wholesome food. but I'll not bring
out Jessamine and introduce her to
one OF you, so you can 90 your ways.
She don't care to meet you. she says
herself. She came out for rest and
study"
Curly suddenly vanished from sight,
drawn backwards by the jealous and
hasty actions of the two Dolans, whose
| view he obstructed Immediately there
rose a chorus of yells and shots such
! as only Jager's Junction could pro-
duce on short notice in this en-
lightened hour Of progress and pre-
Quent trains.
Ma Simms tucked the edges OF her
last loaf under deftly, picked up the
rolling pin, and sauntered forth.
In the dust Of the road lay one Do
Ian. Curly was perched astride the
younger one, his hair towsled like a
frightened terrier, handing punches
with short and swift exactitude. The
| eye of Ma Simms took in the tab
leau. and she pursed her lips.
Overhead. in the one little window
above the restaurant, Jessamine look
ed forth for diversion. Chin propped
on her palms, she stared dow, at the
boys, serene and amused. She was
cool and sweet and clean. Her fair
hair was braided and wound in close,
soft bands about her head. Her Dyes
were long and sleepy. most provocative
eyes, and her nose was bit tiptilted
like the corners OF her mouth.
Go right inside, Jessamine." said
Mrs. Simms, firmly. Jessamine met
Curly's upturned glance with inter-
est.
They didn't hit me, Aunt Roxy"
she said sWeetly.
Hit her? Curly sprang up, and
plucked his hat off the earth where
the Dolans had danced on It. He
bowed like a courtier to the Juliet at
the upper window. He begged her
pardon brilliantly for the idiotic and
lawless practices which such coy
otes as the Dolans forced upon a
peaceful and progressive community
That's all right said Jessamine.
I'm coming right down."
You'd better stay there, Jessa-
mine," Ma Simms insisted. seeing the
mounting intention in Curly's eyes.
THE boys are harmless and don't
mea" a thing. I've told them you
| wanted to be quiet and study"
1T had lots of effect" laughed Jes-
samine. And then she did rash and
feminine trick She deliberately drop
ped her handkerchief from the win
done a crumpled square OF linen. with
an embroidered u" in one corner.
Gimpy got it, being nearest. and de-
Tended his possession with new
short range automatic that even
Curly thought we'll Of. Gimpy's pony
stood near, bride hanging while it
munched the clover around Ma Simm's
| dooryard. And war started in camp
at that identical moment. Gimpy was
| in the saddle and racing for the foot.
| hills before the rest knew his intent.
The rest followed-all save Curly.
whose pony was grazing in the creek
| pasture below the blacksmith shop,
waiting his turn to be shod.
When the rest OF the crowd return
ed, perspiring and dusty from a nine
mile chase. but with the handker-
chief preserved, and Gimpy's apol-
ogy forthcoming, hey found Curly
and Jessamine hunting pink and
! white lady slippers down where
Curly swore he'd seen some grow
ing. Ma Simms received the hand.
kerchief and the apology with a sniff
and sent them all on their way. but
Curly fingered until moon rise. and he
carried back with him the memory OF
her voice, and the trick OF those
sleepy long dashed eyes that had a
way Of opening suddenly very wide.
IS THE PARADISE OF CATS