Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-07-09

q furious pace, DandanaS nutteflng,
skirts streaming, and one was calling
I'm shrill command, "0h, Billr'
AS they neared the gate the driver
drew up with word of surprise
"Why. howdy, girls? Howdy?" he said,
with an assumption of innocence
Were you wishin' fer to speak to meT
"Oh. shut upr' commanded one OF
the girls, a round faced, freckled romp.
"You know perfectly well that Berrie
is going home today. We told you all
about it yesterday"
"Sure thingr' exclaimed Bill. "Td
forgot all about it"
you've been countin' the hours till
you got here know you"
Meanwhile her companion had slip.
ped from her horse. 'Well, goodby,
Molly. Wish l could stay longer"
"Goodby. Run down again"
81 will. You come up"
The young passenger sprang to the
ground and politely said: MAY I help
you in"
Bill stared, the girl smiled, and her
companion called: "Be careful Berrie,
don't hurt yourself, the wagon might
pitch"
The youth perceiving that he had
made another mistake, stammered an
apology.
The girl perceived his embarrass.
ment and sweetly accepted his hand.
81 am much obliged, all the same"
Bill shook with malicious laughter.
"Out in the country girls are war
rauted to Jump clean over measly
little hack like this" he explained.
The girl took seat in the back cor
ner of the dusty vehicle, and Bill open
ed conversation with her by asking
what kind of a time she had been hav
ing 'in the east"
Fine" said she.
"Did We get as far back as my old
town."
"What town is that. Bill?''
ooh. come off! You know I'm from
Omaha"
mo; 1 only got as far as South
Bend"
The picture which the girl had made
as she dashed up to the pasture gate
her hat rim blown away from hel
brown face and sparkling eyes-united
with the lindliness in her voice as she
accepted lis gallant aid, entered a deep
impression on the tourists mind, but
he did not turn his head to look at hel
PERHAPS he feared Bills elbow quite
as much as bis guffaw-but he listened
closely, aud by listening learned that
she had been "east'' for several weeks
and also that she was known, and ia.
vorably known, all along the line fol-
whenever they met a team. or passed
a ranch some one called out, Hello
Berrie" in cordial salute, and the men,
old and young, were especially pleased
to see her.
Meanwhile the stage rose and fell
over the gigantic swells like a tiny boat
on a monster sea, while the sun blazed
ever more fervently from the splendid
sky, and the hills glowed with ever
increasing tumult Of color Through
this land of color, Of repose, of ro-
nance, the young traveller rode, drink
ing deep Of the germless air, feeling
that the girl behind him was won
drous part Of this wild and unaccount-
able country.
/ He had no chance to study her face
again till the coach rolled down the
hill to "Yancy's," ranch house, where
they were to take dinner and change
horses.
With intent to show Bill that he did
not greatly fear his smiles the youth
sprang down and offered hand to as
sist his charming fellow passenger to
alight, and she, with kindly under
standing, again accepted his aid, to
Bills chagrin, and they walked up the
path side by side.
This is all very new and wonderful
to me- the young man said In expla-
nation, but | suppose it's quite COM
monplace to you-and Bill"
ooh, no-it's home"
"YOu were born hereT'
/ "NO, | was born in the east, but I've
lived here ever since | was three years
old"
"By east you mean KanSaSF
"No, Missouri" she laughed back at
him.
She was taller than most women
and gave out an air Of fine unconscious
/ health which made her good to see, al
| though her face was too broad to be
pretty. She smiled easily, and her
teeth were white and even. Her hand
he noticed was as strong as steel and
brown as leather. Her neck rose from
her shoulders like that of an acrobat,
and she walked with the sense of Sc
curity which comes from self reliant
strength
She was met at the door by old lady
| Yancy, who pumped her hand up and
down. exclaiming: my stars! I'm glad
to see We back! Pears like the country
is lust naturally goin' to the dogs with
out YOU. The dance last Saturday WAS
a frost, so | hear-no snap to the fid-
dim no gimp to the jiggin'. 1t shore
ly was pitiful."
Yancy himself, tall, grizzled, sue
cinct. shook her hand in his turn.
MAS right, girl, the country needs We.
I'm scared every time We go away fer
fear some Teller will snap ye up"
The young tourist-he signed W. W..
Norcross in Yancys register-watched
her Closely and listened to every word