The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-03-18


keep 4 pony al our house in Detroit"
she explained. and added hopefully'
.But I'd love TO ride Midget sup.
pose could learn TO ride II somebody
taught me how"
He looked at her again. AZ that
period OF his life he wns Inclined 70
regard girls as a necessary evil. For
some immutnble reason they existed.
and perforce must be borne with, and
II was his hope that he would get
through life and see as little as possl'
bile Of the exasperating sex. Never
theiess. ms Bryce surveyed this win
some miss through the palings, he was
sensible of a sneaklng desire 10 find
favor in her eyes--aIso equally sensi'
Bile OF the fact that the path 10 that
desirable end lay between himself and
Midget.
"Well. / suppose II you want ride
I'll have to give II TO you" be grum-
bled. "althougb I'm pretty busy this
morning"
"oh, l think you're so nice" she de
clared.
A thrill shot through him that was
akin 10 pain; with difficulty did be
restrain an impulse TO dash wildly
into the stable and saddle Midget In
furious haste. Instead he walked TO
the barn slowly and with extreme
dignity. When he reappeared, he was
leading Midget little sIlverpoint
runt OF a Klamath Indian pony, and
Moses, sturdy pinto cayuse from the
cattle ranges over In Trinity county.
arIl have 10 ride with you" he an
nounced. "Can't let a tenderfoot like
YOU 70 out alone on Midget
All afiutter with delightful antici-
patton. the young lady climbed up on
the gate and scrambled into the saddle
when Bryce swung the pony broadside
to the gate. Two hours OF his vaiua-
able time did he give that morning
before the call of duty brought him
back TO the house and his neglected
crop of carrots. When he suggested
tactfully, however. that II was no"
necessary that his guest and Midget
separate, difficulty arose. Shirley
Sumner refused point blank 10 leave
the premises. She liked Bryce for his
hair and because he had been 50 KIND
10 her; she was stranger In Sequoia,
and now that she had found an agree
able companion. II was far from her
Intention to desert him.
So Miss Sumner stayed and helped
Bryce weed his carrots, and since rs
voluntary laborer she was at least
| worth her board. at noon Bryce
brought her IN 10 Mrs. Tully with q
request for luncheon. When he went
70 the mill TO carry In the kindiine
for The cook. the young lady returned
rather sorrowfuly TO the Hotel
Sequoia. with fervent promise TO see
him the next day. She did, and Bryce
took her for long ride up into the
Valley OF the Giants and showed her
his mothers grave. They put some
flowers on the grave, and when they
returned to town and Bryce was un
saddllng the ponies. Shirley drew
Midget's nose down to her and kissed
II. Then she commenced 10 weef
rather violently.
"what are you crying aboutr
Bryce demanded. Girls were so hard
TO understand.
"Tm go-going h-h-h.home tomorrow,
she howled.
He was stricken with dlsmay anc
hade her deslst from her vain repin
ings. But her heart was broken. and
somehow-Bryce appeared to act auto
matically-he had his arm around
her. Don't cry. Shirley" he pleaded
"It breaks my heart to see you cry
DO you want Midget I'll give her Il
you"
Between sobs Shirley confessed thai
the prospect Of parting with him ant
not Midget was provocative Of hei
woe. This staggered Bryce and pleas
ed him immensely. And at parting
she kissed him goodbye. reiteratin;
her opinion that he was the incest
klndest boy she had ever met or hoped
to meet.
When Shirley and her uncle and
aunt boarded the steamer for SaI
Francisco. Bryce stood disconsolat'
on the dock and waved TO Shirlel
until he could no longer discern be-
on the deck. He thought OF his elf
companion very frequently for week
and be lost his appetite. very much &
Mrs. Tuliy's concern. Then tn
steelhead trout began 60 run IN Ee
river. and The sweetest event that cal
occur 10 any boy's eXisteuce-the sud
den awakening % the wonder ans
beauty of ufe 80 poiUautly reailze'
in hIs nrst love.analr-was lost Sigh
81 by Bryce. Do month he had for
satien fbe Incident; 90 So months h'
had forgotten Shirley Sumner
CHAPTER &c.