El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-03

II IRA HARDY was awaiting his
r, wife at the door OF the farm
house as she and her escort came
pantingly up the path.
In spite of the large umbrella of
which Reeves had made his boast
! Mrs. Hardy was a much dampened
| little figure as she stepped forward
4 into the lamp light Of the front hall
! Yet she was smiling
] Mr.. Reeves was so kind about
/ bringing he home" she said Jane
| ran on ahead Of US, but he took good
I care of me"
Yes Augustus added. 7 thought
| that your daughter could take better
care Of herself than your wife could
SO I insisted that Mrs Hardy must stay
under my big umbrella But even that
did not keep off all the rain. for the
wind blew II sideways
Jane, listening at the head Of the
stairs, giggled softly. How ready this
man was TO take to himself credit for
the action that had been a ruse on her
part to elude him, But her mirth was
short lived. as her fathers voice rang
out peremptorily. though kindly.
'Janiei" he called. Some down and
see Mr.. Reeves as soon as you've taken
your wet buds" Then she heard him
add to his guest 'She got quite damp.
though she missed the worst of the
storm But she was so heated up from
1
cold. so sent her up to put on some
dry things. Come right in and take
a chair. won't you-unless you're
afraid TO stop in your wet clOthes?'
"Oh, no; I'm not very Wet" the Wis
itor replied. These clothes don't soak
in the water much
So he was going to stay and talk,
James heart sank Yet there was no
escaping him this time. Fortunately,
her father and mother would be pres
ent, and that was much better than
walking close to him under his UNI
brella.
Jane Goes to sitting Room.
She took a long time TO change her
dress. but at last when she could defer
the ordeal no longer, she came slowly
down into the sitting room
My how hot it is in here" she ex-
claimed.
Yes" her mother agreed. the lamp I
makes it hot. but we don't dare sit I
outside in a thunderstorm. dearie."
Il suppose notP' Jane said, sinking /
into the chair nearest the door. Then. /
as silence ensued. she added lamely. !
What a heavy storm it is
IT'S needed" Augustus said. with a /
touch Of reprOOf in his voice. Until
last Mondey We hadn't had rain for
three weeks"
His manner of speaking to her as II
she were silly little child irritated I
the girl She thought of how Ned /
e
marks about the storm with a hearty
1T sure is"
You farmers always say that rain
is needed" she observed flippantly 4
never yet saw a rain-no matter how
involvement it was-that some farmer
did not try to stop ones complaints
with the remark, It's neededr For nv
part. / hate. rain" =
You wouldn't make a good farmer"
Her mother tried to laugh away her
child's petulance.
4 shall never be farmer declared /
the girl The life doesn't appeal to
me-"
What allied her tonight. unused her
father, that she should say such thines
where Augustus Reeves was2
And what" Augustus Reeves
lueried pompously, are your plans
Tor your life2"
4 have expected to be teacher ,
she answered politely, recalled 10 her
better self and to more gentleDess h,
he expression of anxiety on her mar,
snts' face pa z
Where
She hesitated. and as she did So "a
sretted her speech anent farmers 81
ried to correct the unfortunate IN, ,
preston she might have made.
From my remark about not want