The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1916-12-01

fN. Illt@s tit SihtSs iiN fiAAi''A'sT
clerk pfoduced smaller size. Leaving
orders 10 have 1t sent home, she
stepped over 20 the store lunch coun-
ter nearby and ordered coffee and
sandwiches. on her right, two girls
were talklna shop busily and scatter
ing personalities freely.
"AIy boss is like somebody crazy to-
dov." said one. between bits of her
cheese sandwich. "First he telegraphS
an order fer lot Of camping stun,
then ne cancels it with another tele~
gram. and Just as I'm dropping the
confirming letter in the box he ups and
reuslatcs the order
"NIust be in love" suggested her
companion.
"Jobn Marchmont in love? Not
much" said the other, assuFedly,
Hes in a rage cause up in the mdun'
tains. where his cottage used to be
the only one for miles, some gink has
built some brand-new cottages and
rented them furnished. l heard hln
tell some fellow that he supposed edcA
family wdtihl have so many children
or dogs or marlidpeable daughters that
his bachelor quiet Would be lost in the
shuGlc.'
The first day at their cottage Madge
and her mother were content to sit
quietly on the porch, but the second
morning Madgp eagerly announced her
intention to take long tramp. A lit
tie later she cpme to her mother with
a look of intense disappointment.
"Oh, mother, just 1dOkr' she eN~
claimed, holding at arms length a
broWH tweed hat. "They've sent me
a hat big ehougb for old King Cole"
"But, dcarie," said her mother
chcorfulIy. "lf you're sire you tried
on n smdfiere one, send this back and
! exchange it. If you'll hurry you cara
! get il in this mornings mail, for Sandy
says the rural carrier gets to our DoA
| about ten o'clock"
FIadee wrote a hurried ffOte 10 the
Departments store, and made the hat
into Il rather Awkward bundle. Then
| she hurried down the winding road to-
vard the row of mail boxes on the
main roadway half a mile distant.
When there remained at least 0be-
fotfrrl of the distatisan7t to cover Madge
saw the little covered hiaiI cart with
| ito two Jogging sorrel ponies steadlIy
oDproachlng the boxes. She started to
run. aud moment later she heaFN
somebody else running behind her.
Looking over her shoulder, she saw
n tai man descending the road toward
her in long, easy Strides Evidently
he TOO. was trying to catch the post
man. and Mndgc began to lag IN tire
home that he would offer to act as re-
Inv for her. but to her astOnishment'
he swung past the next Instant with
ont even look at her. Thinking only
of her desire to get that troublesome
hat back to the store, and seeing no"
iu,uossible il was for her to keep pace
with this tail man, Madgc called out to
him. appealingly;
aWou't you please take my pack
age?'
The man halted, though the look he
tbrcyy at her over his shoulder showed
nlnftlIv thot lie was confused ana dls-
pleased with a barely n0lieeaDic
shruc. he came back q few steps AMI
reached for her package.
Meanwhile. the sorrel ponies had
gained ON him, and although he yelled
vigorously, he was neither seen nor
heard by the stolid driver inclOsed III
the little covered cart.
"Oh. Tn terribly sorry I delayed
YOU" said NIodgc MS she overlook
him and reached for the offending
p2cI,aee and letter. "Tve half notion
now TO keep the cid hat and wear it,
big or little, just for spite at its mis-
chicfmaldng."
"IIat?" The man looked at Madge
I'm questioning surprise. "Why. l was
sending back a hat too. It's too
small"
"AIinc was too big" laughed Madge'
2 and further condolences ended in the
r discovery that each had the hat in
% tended for the other. The man pre-
{ scnted his card to Madge and assured
l ncr of his desire to he neighhorly.
, II came up earlier than usual this
. year" he said, cas- means of-of-'
e ooh. ! know" exclaimed Madge, as
\ she read thc namc John Marchmont
q on his card. 1t was some weeks later
=. though before she confessed that what
! she knew was that he had come M
{ early 10 escape the children and dogs
e and marriagcablc daughters of his
e new neghbors and by that time ht
had already confessed his complete re
nuuciatlon Of the desire for bachelor
solitude.
(Copyrisht 1916 by the Mcclure News