Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-06-12
BETTY'S
ANSWER
And the U~nhAppineSS
II Caused
BY cLAR1ssA MAcKIB

Ben Fnney squinted thrOughtfully
at 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 rag all
dampened up" muttered Ben regret
fully as be glanced down ut his gala
attire
BE made a brave fgure, indeed, an
he sat on his big black horse he wore
new buckskin breeches-brand new
and snow white Angora chaps, a white
silk shirt with a blue silk handkerchief
tied about his strong brown throat and
a fifteen dollar hat on top Of his fair.
curly hair.
IAN on account Of 9 girl who would
not look twice at me II l was all COW
cred with gold lace. like that army
fellow that's been staying there" sigh
ed Ben as he prlcked 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 medltated upon his chances
Of finding Betty DangerHeld at home.
Old man Danger1eld, as he was To-
cally known. vas pounding out Of the
gate when Ben approached the house.
Another good for nothing cow
%puncherl" snorted Dangerfeld iercely
as they passed.
Ben laughed lightly. They were all
accustomed to Dangerheld's insults
when his rheumatism was more
wrenchlng than usual.
But the big hearted cowboys OF Rat
tie county would have risked more
than Dangerfeld's banks for a smile
and a word from lovely Betty, his
pretty daughter and keeper Of his wild
owed household.
Betty was sitting in the front porch
now, demurely sewing a seam, as a
housewife should.
Wah Ching, the Chinese cook. peered
from his kitchen window and. glimps-
ing Ben's glad attire, cackled shrllly:
Him come, alice samee. velly fine;
him go, chop-chOp. velly fast, alice
samee, velly madI" he muttered.
In truth. while Ben Finney looked
very fine and brave, his heart was
1uttering painfully before 1t made Que
last drop into his shining boots.
To dream about Betty Dangerfield
when he was a dozen miles away wns
one thing; to look into her changing
eyes-now gray. now brown. now green
was another proposition.
He detected mirth and admiration In
her first glance at his gallant form.
He banished the admiration as icti-
tious, and he remembered the quickly
repressed mirth, and his heart found
refuge in the splendid boots.
Good afternoon. Mr.. Finney." dim
pied Betty as she came forward with
outstretched hand and carefully low
cred lashes.
Ben dropped from the saddle and
held her hand In his own big brown
palm for an instant Then the deli
cious second was over. and he was
sitting OF the steps, one knee clasped
in his hands and his eyes devOurinE
her sweet face.
He didn't know what to say. The
heart that might have prompted him
having departed from its accustomed
place under the pocket OF his whitt
silk shirt, was also dumb.
Father has gone Over to River
Bend" volunteered Betty after they
had discussed the weather.
II met him." said Ben: then. will
sudden inspiration he added. VIVA
do you think he said. Miss Bettyr'
Something awful, am afraid
laughed Betty. "Daddy's rheumatism
is bOthering him a lot just now-pooI
dear! What did he say. Mr.. Finney 2
Ben turned brick red. but he kept Of
dOggedly:
"He said. There goes another goOC
for nothing cOwpuncherT explained
Ben.
1t was Betty's turn to blush. and sh,
did It most becomingly.
How horrid Of daddy l must apol
ogize for him. ! am sur he 10 yer!
, fond Of all OF his ~neigEbors. You know
his rheumatism Is very PAINFUL
, 81 don't mind that at all" interrupt
ed Ben, "only / wish he could have eI
pressed It a little differently. II In
/. stead Of saying another cOwpunchel
, he had said, There goes that good 10
nothing eowpuncherr meaning m
D alone, that would have suited me dow
TO the ground"
5 "WhyP' asked Betty. amazed
Because It would have wiped Oh
all the others, showing there was onl
one c0wpuncher coming here. and-Ol
well, you understand, Betty. that /
like to be that oneP' In this name
Ben Finney's heart leaped up for a mi
8 ment's heroic action and prompted h
J. tongue to bold speech
"oh. Mr.. Ftnney-Ben-rm 80 90
( ~" began Betty In a panic shtcke
tone as she started up from her rOcl
ing chair, but
Ban's heart went back TO his heel
He arose and put out q protastin
hand.
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