Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1914-04-24
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MOUNTAIN MERCURY
Rx TEMPLE BAILEY.


HI phlre sky behind him. Then. as he
III came nearer. he wigwagged a welcome
III With his red bandanna
III America had a little shawl about
| her shoulders for, in spite Of the sun
\ chime, the February day was cold, and
ii she used II for an answering signal.
H Then. smiling. she waited
n You're mighty anxious" said the
II young man On horseback, as she ran
HI down the road to meet him.
], IT'S st. Valentines day" she told
1 him archly, "and I'm 1ookin for one"
I. He handed her a little box.
Il Wen" he said shortly, you've got
IT,"
The girls eyes were like stars as
i she united the string.
II IT I'd "a known" he went on slow.
\ ~. as he watched her. "if I'd "a known
| that New York fellow was sendin' you
somethin' nice. I'd have gone him one
! better"
oh" she caught her breath quick
iy. but you couldn't 80 him one bet
ter than this, jeff"
She held up for him to see a spark
ling ieweled heart, swung on a sIen-
der chain.
There's a card In the box" she
went on. and read It with eager eyes |
Jefferson bent down from the sad /
die.
What does he say?" he demanded
masterfully
Il amt goin' to tell you" She stood
away from the horse. 1T wasn't in
tended for any one but me-"
well, you're goin' to read 1t to
me" His head was up and his
bronzed young face was stern
q amt goln' to read it to you.
How'd you like to have me read your
letters to some other fellow?"
lie waived the question.
Tn goin' to read what's on that
card" he reiterated
He dismounted and came toward
her
For a moment she seemed to medi
tate flight; then her blue eyes met
his brown ones IN defiance.
You can't force me to give 1t to
you"
Eyes can" Again his face was ,
stern. III you don't give It to me I'll
take II from you, 'Merlky."
Something in his air of quiet deter =
mination touched the primitive in the
girl. II was thus that men made them y
selves master of her kind. 1t was
thus they won the women of the q
mountains. :,
"Oh. we'll" she said sulkily-but ~
back In her eyes smoldered admira- r.
ton -
He took the card and read the "
verses aloud, and his lazy drawl
seemed to add romance to the words:
This jewel. dear, is but the sign
OF my own heart; both sweet, are ..
thine.
send them as a Valentine ~
TO one love" ~
81 guess he loves you. all right" he 80
'aid slowly. -
Yes" Her tone was exultant.
And he wants to marry your" tb
YES" "
JEFF tore the card into little bits. no
DON'T" she cried s''
Let the four winds take it," he ~
aid bitterly. 81 knew there was trou- 81,
lie ahead when that man came up an
rom New York to paint In the hills.
ou hadn't ever seen such man, and mi
Q hadn't ever seen such a woman
$ you-you had the beauty OF a wild .
ird, and he was used to seem tame nv,
nes. That's why he fell in love with the
ou. and that's what would make you mi
nhappy II you married him 10,
You amt fit to be Gagged In that ZOO
tile fiat of his. | went there when ,,l,,
was In New York. and l felt like ers
as in a trap. He showed me the 49,,
ectric lights that had shades like ovo
'wers, and his pictures, and some W.
faded rugs, but | kept thInkin' how ~
u'd die among all those tall build
gs with all that noise" =
She shook her head. and the color go
mo and went In her cheeks. a. -
But he'd give me pretty Clothes"
Q said. Don't you think I'd look 'ne
% in pink silk dress and a pink see
I with a feather7" We
You lock nice in anything" he said 'ne
rely. ito me. You look nice In that II
Bingham you've got on, with that iron
rsted shawl around your shoulders. Il
I he'd have to dress YOU up-and aftel
N you wouldn't be the girl he fell his
love with In the hills--and he'd 1t
npare you to those city women, and to h
er while he'd be ashamed of weel
l." Il
oh, how dare you, Jeri" Her OF II
ce shook with indignation. maxi
He would" the man went on dog. thinl
ly. you don't talk like them. and 'Meri
don't act like them-it's kinder to "Je
to give him up" In h,
But he said he'd learn me. and He
, me the things to look right In" 80,
. came anu STOOD over her' and '
S love nothin' but clothes" he de- and /
ided. care you willins TO sell your coat
zee Of happiness for a pink silk Ills
10