Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-03-12

out here buying timber, and we i've
In Michigan"
Her gaze wandered past Bryce Il
where his Indian pony stood with he'
head out of the window of her box
stall contemplating her master.
"Oh. what dear little horse :!
Shirley Summer exclaimed. "WhoS'
is he?'
"Tain't n he. It's a She Ant
she belongs to me-
"po you ride herr"
"Not very often now. I'm getting
too heavy for her, SO Dads bought mt
n horse that weighs nine hundred
pounds. Midget only weighs five
hundred" He considered her mo
ment while she ga2ed In awe upon
this man with two horses "Can you
ride a pony" he asked. for no reason
that he was ware Of,
She sighed, shaking her head re-
signedy. I'VE haven't any room to
keep a pony at our house in Detroit"
7 she explained, and added hopefully
"But I'd love TO ride Midget. sup
pose could learn to ride If somebody
/ taught me how"
He looked at her again. At that
period of his life he was inclined to
regard girls ms Il necessary evil. For
some immutable reason they existed,
and perforce must be borne with, and
1t was his hope that he would get
through life and see us little rs posi-
Bile of the eXasperating sex. Never
theless. ms Bryce surveyed this win
some miss through the palngS he was
sensible Of a Sneaking desire 10 find
favor In her eyes also equally senSi.
bic of the fact that the path 10 that
desirable end lay Between himself and
Midget.
"Wnl. suppose if you want ride
I'll have TO give 1t TO you,' he grum
bled. although I'm pretty busy this
morning"
"Oh. | think you're 50 nice" she de.
clarcd.
A Thrill shot throug him that was
akin to pain; with difficulty did he
restrain an impulse 10 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 a little sllverpont
runt of a Klamath Indian pony, and
Moses, a sturdy pinto cayuse from the
cattle ranges over in Trinity county.
an have to ride with YOU" he an
nOunced. cant let n tenderfoot like
you 90 out alone on Midget"
All atlutter with delightful anticl.
patton, the young lady climbed up on
the gate and scrambled into the saddle
when Bryce swung the pony broadSlde
to the gate. Two hours Of his yaua-
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 1t was now
necessary that his guest and Midget
separate difficulty arose. Shirley
Sumner refused point blank TO leave
the premises She liked Bryce for his
hair and because he had been so kind
to her she was a 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 as
voluntary laborer she was at least
worth her board, at noon Bryce
brought her In to Mrs. Tully with II
request for luncheon. When he went
to the mill TO carry in the klndling
for the cook, the young lady returned
rather sorrowfully to the Hotel
Sequola, with a feryent 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 I town and Bryce was I'M
saddlng the ponies, Shirley drew
Midgets nose down to her and kissed
1t. Then she commenced to weep
rather violently.
"What are you crying aboutT
Bryce demanded. Girls were so hard
TO understand.
I'm go-going h-h-h-home tomorrow "
she hOwled.
He was stricken with dismay and
babe her desist from her vain repin.
ings. But her heart was broken, and
Somehow-Bryce appeared to act auto
maticaly-he had his arm around
her. Don't cry. Shirley" he pleaded.
ut breaks my heart TO see you cry,
DO you want Midget? I'll give her to
YOU
Between sobs Shirley confessed that
the prospect of parting with him and
not Midget was provocative of her
woe. This staggered Bryce and pleas
eu him immensely. And at parting
sh~ kissed him goodbye, reteratng
her opinion that he was the incest
kindest boy she had ever met or hoped
to meet.
When Shirley and her uncle anG
aunt boarded the steamer for San
Francisco, Bryce stood dlsconsolate
on the dock and waved to Shirley
until he could no longer discern her
on the deck. He thought of his elfin
companion very frequently for week
and he lost his appetite, very much to
Mrs. Tully's concern. Then the
steelhead trout began to run IN Eel
river, and the sweetest event that can
occur In any boys exlstence-the sud
Il