Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-07-14
NIX pail. which isn't drink In a man.

ner o. speak1n'. | can't rightly Iecllect
that | ever seen a missus leanin' over
either side of n bar in this country, but
I've strayed some from the home fence
IN you may be surprised, Mis- Wayne,
to know tibet they's lands where no one
amt never heerd tell on barman an
where barmalds is some commoner'n
the milkin' brand"
"YesT' said Mrs. ]. Y. encourag-
ingIy.
'Sho' thing" replied Kemp; 81 seen
'em. l won't forget the fust time be-
cause l was considerable embarrassed.
l missed steamer in Moo Yawk an
the firm was in hurry, so they sent
me acrost to southampton, an while
was waitin' for the Brazil boat a Teller
I'd picked up on boa'd showed me
around some. Well, it want long be-
fore he corralled me, quite willin', in
a bar. l pulled off my hat and he
says, why d'you take off yo' hatP and
l says, why don't you take off yourn?
Don't you see they's lady hea'? Then
he bust out laughin' and everybody
that was nea' enough to hea' bust out
laughin' an the missus behind the bar
laughed, too, though somehow it didn't
sound as If she laughed because she
couldn't hep it."
Kemp paused to blush over the mem
DRY. He did not notice that the Judge
and j. Y. had drawn quietly nearer
and that the rest Of the group of
grown-ups were intent on his words.
"They's times" he continued, when
it's fittln' that man should be without
shootin' irons an that was one of 'em,
l can't rightly say what would have
happened but guessin's easy. When
he was through laughin the Teller that
was shown me around slapped me on
the back and seq, That amt no lady:
it's barmaid.' An then they all
laughed some mo- and the missus lust
kind O. laughed an l mought "a been
dreamin', but thought l seen look
in her eyes tibet says she wasn't laugh.
in inside at all. Ever sence then I've
been Of opinion that a missus has no
call to handle drinks an l ce'tainly
hope I'll never see one a'doin' of it
under the home fence"
Kemp stayed at Maple House for a
week. Before he left he was known
throughout the countryside. His lanky
figure, dropping mustaches, domed hat
and the way he held out the reins in
front Of him when he rode marked him
from the start, and when the youth
of the surrounding farms learned that
he was genuine cowboy that had
ridden everything with four legs, they
worshiped from afar and gloried in
casual approaches.
Just before he went away Kemp
took it upon himself to call on Alx,
Alan led him to where she sat on the
lawn among the trees at The FRS and
left him. Alix looked up in wonder at
his tall, lank form. Kemp held his hat
in his hand and twisted it nervously.
, mis- lansing" he said, 81 want
you should let me say few words to
We. | seen Mister Lansing bout five
weeks ago.
Alix sprang to her feet, her pale
cheeks aflame. "Yesw she said
'When-when is he coming?" She
sank down again and buried her face
in her hands. The shame of putting
that question to a stranger over
whelmed her.
, Kemp sat down near her. "Sho, Mis-
, Lansing" he said, don you take II
, hard that you're gettin' word Of Mr.
Lansing through me. Him an me an
Lieber's ben most pardners."
? Tenderness had crept into Kemp's
, drawl. Alix looked up. Please" she
, said, tell me all about him-all about
, these years"
Kemp hesitated before he spoke. 81
? amt got the words ner the right tt
tell you all about them three years
Mis- Lansing, an can't tell you al
, about Mr.. Lansing, cause the biggest
part O. some men don't meet the eye
it's inside on 'em. Thets the way Il
. is with Mr.. Lansing. l en- tell you
= though, thet Mr.. Lansing is well an
;, strong-strong enough to swing a steer
by the tail.
That's what l know. Now I'll tel
We some O. my thoughts. Mr.. Lansing
want born to be a maverick. Righ
: now, I'm willln' to wager, he's headed
for home and the corral, but he aim
J comm on the run--he's browsin' ant
chewin' his cud.
: when l seen him five weeks ago
thought on hog-tytn' him an brinsin
i him along, cause Mr.. Wayne had tol
| me about you an the two-year-olu. Btu
it come to me that woman of sperit-
one Of ourn-wouldn't want her mar
y should be brought in. She'd sooner
e he'd hog-tie hisseff."
Alix' head hung in thought. He
. hands were clasped in her lap. Al
Kemp's last words sank in the frs
!, smile Of many days came to her lips
Kemp rose and said good-by. Witt
his hat pulled we'll over his brows anC
n his hands in his pockets, he slouchet
It toward the gate.
t Alix jumped up and followed him
I'LL - -