The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-02-05
CHAPTER I.

out to the spring-house to say good-by
TO me before he and Mrs. Sam left.
! hated to see him go, after all we
had been through together and | sup
pose he saw 1t in my face. for he
came over close and stood looking
down at me, and smiling. You
saved US, Minnie" he said. "and
needn't tell you we're grateful; but do
you know what / think?" he asked.
pointing his long forefnger at me. Il
think you've enjoyed 1t even when you
we're suffering most. Red.haired wom
en- are born to intrigue. as the sparks
ny upward"
Enjoyed it," | snapped. I'm an
old woman before my time, Mr.. Sam.
What with trailing back and forward
through the snow 10 the shelter-house,
and not getting to bed at all some
nights, and my heart going by fits and
starts, as you may say, and half the
time my spinal marrow fairly chilled,
not to mention putting on my over
shoes every morning from force of
habit and having to take them OF
again. I'm about all in"
Its been the making of you, Min
ME-" he said, cycling me, with his
hands In his pockets. Look at your
cheeksl Look at your dispositionl |
don't believe you'd stab anybody in
the back now!"
(Which was q Joke, OF course; |
never stabbed anybody in the back.)
He opened the door and a blast of
February wind ratified the window
frames. Mr.. Sam threw out his chest
under his sweater and waved me an
other good-by.
well, Pm OF, Minnie" he said
take care OF yourself and don't sit
too tight on the Job; learn to rise
bit in the saddle"
"Good-by, Mr.. Saml" I called. put
ting down Miss Patty's dolly and fol-
lowing him to the door; "gcod-by; bet
ter have something before you start to
keep you warm"
He turned at the corner OF the path
and grinned back at me.
"All right" he called. "I'll go down
to the bar and get lettuce sand
wich!"
Then he was gone, and happy as
was, l knew would miss him terribly.
II began when the old doctor died.
suppose you have heard OF Hope San
storium and the mineral spring that
made It famous.
have been spring-house girl at
Hope Sanatorium for fourteen years
For the first year or so nearly went
crazy. Then found things we're com
ing my way. I've got the kind OF mind
that never forgets q name or face and
can combine them properly. which
isn't common. And when folks came
back could call them at once. The
old doctor used to say my memory was
an asset to the sanatorium.
He was In the habit OF coming to
the spring.house every day to get his
morning glass of water and read the
papers. For good many years 1t had
been his custom to sit there, In the
winter by the wood fire and In summer
just inside the open door, and to read
eff the headings aloud while cleaned
around the spring and polished
glasses.
All that winter. with the papers
full OF rumors that Miss Patty Jen
nings was going to marry a prince
we'd followed It by the spring-ho
fire. the old doctor and I. getting an
CRY at the Austrian emperor for oppos
ing II when we knew how much toe
good Miss Patty was for any foreign
er, and then getting nervous anC
fused when we read that the princes
mother was in favor of the match anC
It might go through. Miss Patty anC
her father came every winter to Hop,
Springs and couldn't have been more
anxious about It II she had been m!
own sister.
Well. as say, It all began the yer!
day the old doctor died. He stamped
out to the spring-house with the morn
ing paper about nine o'clock, and tn,
wedding seemed to be all off. Th'
paper said the emperor had definitel.
refused his consent and had sent tn,
prince, who was his cousin, for jap
anese cruise, while the Jennings fam
lily was going to Mexico In their pri
yate car. The old doctor was indig
nant, and remember how he trampe,
up and down the spring house. NUT
tering that the girl had had a luck,
escape, and what did the empero
expect II beauty and youth and wealtl
weren't enough. But he calmed down
and soon he was reading that the pa
pers were predicting an early spring
and he said we'd better begin TO In
crease our sulphur percentage in tn
water
by the way" he remarked, mi
Richard will be along in day or sc
Minnie. You'd better break 1t to Mn
Virgins"
Since the summer before we'd ha
to break Mr., Dicks coming to Mrs
Virgins. the housekeeper. owing t
his finding her false front where
had blown out OF the window. havin
been hung up to dry. and his wearin
II 10 luncheon as whiskers. Mr. Die
was the old doctors grandson.
"Humph!" / said. and he turne
around and looked souara ar ma