Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-05-15
CHAPTER I.
A Chance Encounter.


had started, with a fsh-his wage
In one hand, TO walk 10 shore when,
passing into the shadow of the ram
part of the Governors Mount, from
the opposite direction a white horse
swung suddenly around a corner OF
the stone masonry and bore directly
upon him. He had but time 10 step
aside; as II was, the animal grazed
his shoulder, and the boy about to
give utterance to a natural remon-
STRANGE. lifted his eyes TO the offend
er. The words were not forthcoming;
surprised, he gazed at tiny girl. OF
about eleven, perched fairy-like on the
broad back Of the heavy steed.
Don't you know you ought not to
get in my way" she repeated i'm
periously.
The boy, tall. dark. unkempt as a
young savage. shifted awkwardly; his
black eyes, restless enough ordinarily.
expressed a sudden shyness in the
presence OF this unexpected and
dainty creature.
"I-didn't see you" he half STAN
mered.
Well, you should have" And again
the little lady frowned, shook her dis
ordered golden curls disapprovingiy
and gazed at him, a look OF censure
in her brown eyes. But perhaps you
don't know who | am" she went on
with a lift of the patrician doll-like
features. Il don't think you do. or
you wouldn't stand there like a
bcoby, without taking of your hat"
Mare embarrassed. he removed a
worn cap while she continued TO re-
gard him with the reverse of APP
proval. Il am the Comtesse Elise"
she observed; the daughter Of the
Governor OF the Mount"
oh" said the boy. and his glance
shifted to the most important and in
sistent feature OF the landscape
Carrying its clustered burden OF
houses and palaces, a great rock
reared itself from the monotony OF
the bare and binding sands. Now an
oasis in the desert. ere night was
over he knew the in-rushing waters
would convert it into an island; claim
II for the sea! A strange kingdom,
yet a mighty one. II belonged alter
nately 10 the land and 10 the ocean.
With the sky. however, Il enjoyed
perpetual afiliation, for the heavens
were ever wooing It; now winding
pretty ribbons Of light about its air
drawn castles; then kissing II with
the tender, soft red glow OF celestial
fervor.
Yes; ! live right on top among the
clouds, in castle. with dungeons IN
derneath. where my father puts the
bad people who don't like the mobiles
and King Louis XVI But where"
categorically, do you live?"
His gaze turned from the points
and turrets and the clouds she spoke
of-that seemed TO linger about the
lofty summit-to the mainland. per
haps a mile distant
There he said. and specifically
indicated a dark fringe, like a cloud
on the lowlands.
In the woods! How odd!" She
looked at him with faint interest
And don't the bears bother you2
Ouce when | wanted to see what the
woods were like. my nurse told me
they were filed with terrible bears
who would eat up little girls. don't
have nurse any more" irrelevantIy.
only a governess who came from the
court of Versailles. and Beppo. DO
you know Beppo?"
No"
Il don't like him" she confided.
he is always listening But why do
you live In the woods?"
Because The reason failed him
else"
A shadow crossed the dark young
face. Once be said
Il suppose the bears know you"
she speculated, and that Is the rea-
son they let you alone. Or, perbaDs
they are Ike the wolf in the tairv.
tale Did you ever hear OF the KIND.
hearted wolfe"
lie shook his head
My nurse used TO tell It 10 me-
Well once there was a bow who yras
an orphan and everybody hated him
SO he went 10 live in the forest and
there he met a wolf Where are Won
going, little boy?' said the wolf No.
where said the boy; i have no hons,
NO home said the Kind -hcarted
wolf, then come with me and Won
shall share my cave Isn't that a
nice story"
lie looked at her in a puzzled man
uer II don't know. he began. wher
she tossed her head
What a stupid boy" she exclaimed
severely. 4 moment she studied hin
tentatively through her curls, from
the vantage point OF her elevated
eat That's s. big FISH" she 70
marked, after pause.