Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1914-05-28
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES:
BE>TTY'S
AN SW r
And the Unllappiness
1t Caused
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE

ut the lowering sky. Although the
Grass of the plains was green and
lush with many summer rains, the
gathering clouds gave promise of more
water.
I'd hate to get these glad rags al
dampened up. muttered Ben regret
fully as lie glanced down at his gaia
attire.
He made brave figure, indeed, as
he sat on his big black horse. He Wore
new huckslSin breeches-brand new
! ana SHOW white Angora chaps,a white
silk shirt with blue silk handkerchief
tied about his strong brown throat and
| fifteen dollar hat on top of his fair
curly hair.
"All on account of a girl who would
not look twice at me if | was all COW
cred with gold lace, like that army
follow that's been staying there" sigh
ed Ben as he pricked the black horse
| with his silver spurred heels.
The horse bounded down the trail.
and Ben Finney, riding like a centaur
turned his thoughts from the impend
ing disaster of rain upon his best
clothes and nedtated upon his chances
Of finding Betty Dangerdeld at home
Old man Dangerield. as he was 10.
cally known. was pounding out of the
gate when Ben approached the house
Another good for nothing COW
runcher.r snorted Dangerlield fercely
as they passed.
Ben laughed lightly. They We're all
accustomed to Dangerfeld's insults
/, when his rheumatism was more
wrcnching than usual.
Put the big hearted cowboys of Rat
| tie county would have risked more
| than Dangertields barks for a smile
| pretty daughter and keeper of his wild
| owed household.
| Betty was sitting in the front porch
| now. demurely sewing a seam, as Q
! housewife should.
Wah Ching. the Chinese cook, peered
/ from his kitchen window and, glimps
| ing Ben's glad attire, cackled shrilly:
| Him come, alice samee, velly fine
him go, chop-chop, velly fast, alice
! samee, velly mad.' he muttered
In truth. Willie Ben Finney lookeo
very fine and brave, his heart was
differing painfully before it made one
last drop into his shining boots
70 dream about Betty Danger6elC
when he was dozen miles away was
/ one thing; to look into her changing
/ eges-now gray, now brown. now greer
WIS another proposition.
he detected mirth and admiration il
her first glance at his gallant form
He banished the admiration as ticti
tioua, and he remembered the quickil
repressed mirth, and his heart founi
refuge in the splendid boots.
Good afternoon, Mr. Tinney," dim
pied Betty as she came forward will
0utstretched hand and carefully low
cred lashes
Ben dropped from the saddle an,
held her hand in his own big brown
palm for an instant. Then the deli
j. cious second was over. aud he wa
| sitting on the steps. one knee claspe,
her sweet face.
/. lie didn't know what TO say I'll
heart that might have prompted him
,, having departed from its aceustome
place under the pocket of lis whit
silk shirt was also dumb.
Father has gone over to Rive
Bend, volunteered Betty after the
, had discussed the weather.
Z net him." said Ben; then, wit
.. sudden inspiration he added "Wha
, % YOU think he said. Miss Betty?"
! Something awful, am afraid.
l laughed Betty ~Daddy's rheulnatisr
is botheriug him a lot just now-poo
J dear What did he say. Mr. l7aney
J Ben turned brick red but he kept 0
t log&edly:
, He said, There goes another goo
for nothing cowpuncher!' explaine
Ben
1t was Betty's turn TO blush and sh
, lid it most becomingly
How hoirid of daddy, must apo
ogize for him. am sure he is yer
J fond of all Of his neighbors. You knol
| his rheumatism is very painfuI'-
+ # don't mind that at all, Interrupt
! ed Ben. only wish he could have e.
pressed it a little differently If il
, stead of SAYING another eowpunche
he had said There goes that GOOD fl
nothing cowpuncher" meaning II
alone, that would have suited me dow
to the ground
Why asked Betty. amazed.
Because it would have wiped o,
all the others, showing there was on
! one coWpuncher coming here, and-o
. we'll, you understand Betty, that
, like to be that onen' In this mann,
Ben Finneys heart leaped up fo.. M
ment's heroic action and prompted b
tongue to bold speech.
oh, Mr.. Finney Benin so so
~" began Betty in a panic stricke
tone as she started up from her roc
, ing chair, but
Ben's heart went back to his heel
He arose and put out protestir
hand.
Never mind, Miss Betty. Don