Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-08-25

Norcross. already deeply ,,in aea
| in the present and future Of ~ girl
| whom he had met for the first time
only the day before. was quite ready
! to give up his trip to Meeker. s4as
EARLY on the second morning he went
! to the postotfice-which was also the All
telephone station-to get a. letter Or
message from Meeker. He found ne1Ts
Their. But as he was standing In the f5s
door undecided about taking the stage
! Berea came into town riding tine Day
pony and leading blaze faced a. DUCK E't.li II
skin behind her. :ssSS@
Her face shone cordially as she CALI call
ed out, "Well, how do you stack Up IA
this morning?" S.s
'"Tiptop," he answered. in an attempt n
| to match her CHEEKY greeting W
"Do you like our town better 81 f
"Not bit! But the hills are magnifi-ss
cent"
"Anybody turned up from the mill 2
| mo. I haven't heard a word from
there. The telephone is still out Of U
! commission"
| .sThey can't locate the break Uncle
| Joe sent word by the stage driver ask -
| ing US to keep an eye out for you and
send YOU over. I've come to take you d
over myself"
'"That's mighty good Of you, but It's t 2 81;
good deal to ask" y. p. -se,, VI n sssf Sss#
| II want to see Uncle Joe on business,
anyhow. and you'll like the ride better "a. I;
than the journey by stage"
| Leaving the horses standing with
| their bride reins hanging on the
ground. she led the way to the office.
"When father comes in tell him
where I've gone and send Mr.. Nor
cross packs by the first wagon. 5ssS85
you'd better take my bay" said
Berea. "Old Paintface there is little
notionaL" ..,7,.e
Norcross approached his mount with
| a caution which indicated that be had
at least been instructed in range horse
psychology. and as he gathered his
reins together to mount. Berrie re-
marked: III
! Il hope you're saddle wise. s8s5ss
Il had "A few lessons in a riding
school, he replied modestly.
Young Downing approached the girl
with low voiced protest- Is. You
oughtn't to ride old Paint. He nearly
pitched the supervisor the other day.
! '.Fm not worried she said and
swung to her saddle. &s ssa$
The ugly beast made off in q tear
ing sidewise rush. but she smilingIy q
| called back, "All set" And Norcross
followed her in high admira ton
! Eventually she brought her broncho to
subsection, and they trotted Off togeth-
| err along the wagon road quite comfort
ably. By this time the youth had for
| gotten his depression. his homeSick-#
ness Of the morning. The valley was
again enchanted ground.
! After Stacking along between some
rather sorry fields of grain for mile
or two Berea swung into a side trail
Il want you to meet my mother she}sa
said. M
The grassy road. led to a long. one
story. half log, half slab house which
stood on the bank of small. swift.
willow bordered stream. s " 53S5s
This is. our ranch" she explained
| "All the meadow in sight belongs to q
u.s. y r. 'a@5 - at##
| The young easterner looked about IN Il
| astonishment. Not Il tree bigger than
| his thumb gave shade. The gate of a
! the cattle corral stood but a few feet
| from the kitchen door. and rusty beef
| bones, bleaching skulls and scraps Of #
| sun dried hides Uttered the ground or
hung upon the fence. Bxteriorly the
| low cabin made drab. depressing pic
turs, but as he alighted. upon Berea's
| invitation and entered the house he n
| was met by a sweet faced, brown hair
| ed little woman. in neat gown,
| whose bearing was not in the least
! awkward or embarrassed.
This is Mr.. Norcross, the tourist III
| told you about" explained Berrie.
Mrs. McFarlane extended her small n
| hand with friendly impulse. TIN very
| glad to meet you. sir. Are you going y
to spend some time at the mill ?" h
II don't know. l have Il letter to Ii
Mr.. Meeker from Il friend of mine who
hunted with him last year-a Mr., Sut
ler'
MIR. Sutler! Oh. we know him very
well. Won't you sit DOWN."
The interior of the house was not
only well kept. but presented many
evidences of refinement. A mechanical
piano stood against the log wall, and NJ
books and magazines. dog cared with n
use, Uttered the table, and Norcross.
feeling the force of Nash's half ex-
pressed criticism of his superior" lis Il
tened intently to Mrs. McFarlane's
apologies for the condition of the farm
yard.
"Wen," said Berea sharply, "if we're &
to reach Uncle Joe's for dinner we'd
better be scratching the hills And
to her mother she added. ''Pll pull In #
about dark" #
The mother offered no objection te
her daughters plan, and the young peo
pie rode off together directly toward
the high peaks to the east.
Among Those Present.
did Blinks exhibit at the horse