The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-11-12

low sittin' over there on the window;
the one with the pink shirt"
Shelby was upon his feet instantly.
so thoroughly startled by this sudden
denouement as to scarcely find words.
"But say, hold onr' he exclaimed
excitedly. 81 don't belong to this
bunch; I don't even live in Ponca. 1
just came along to help out"
The girl looked from face to face
in bewilderment, which, judging from
the expression of her eyes, was al
ready verging on anger.
what does the man mean?" she
asked hurriedly of the preacher, who
stood nearest. you said l was to
choose and now he refuses. Did this
one not come pledged?"
II am afraid not, my dear. I did
not know, but he claims otherwise.
He Is not Ponca man."
She fronted Shelby, standing
straight, indignant, her eyes flashing
coldly.
And you won't marry me?"
II can't-that's ALL" he STAN
mered. ooh, HI! What did you want
to pick me out for?"
The girls eyes rested hard on his
face, then wandered slowly down the
line of the others and her lips set
firmly.
well, then, this play has gone far
enough" she said shortly. give been
square with you ALL but I amt going
to be made fool of no longer. Now it
is time for you gents to get out o. here.
pointed out the fellow I'd take an
there amt another one O. the bunch
Ill even look at. / amt so crazy
,pout gettin' married; it's only because
lie SAID 1T was the will o. God that
have. Now Pm dole. l picked my
man an there amt nuthin' else here
Ia touch with pair of tongs, so Won
might as well save your breath and
get out. 1 don't want to talk any more
to any of you" ...-.. ~
But, my dear child"
stop that Pm no dear child: I'm
woman; an this place is mine, even
II 1t is shack. You get right ont
o mere, the whole kit an caboodle of
you"
Shelby was the first to slide forth
through the half-open door, glad
enough to escape into the cool night
ar mis- face burning as though on fire,
MS mind in tumult of emotion. He
mad no sense of humor left lust an
Ii'-uetned feeling of modification and
regret. She had been Justly indig-
haht and he felt profoundly sorry for !
me part he had played. BY heavens
ohe was some girl; no mere wishy-
Washy creature to be laughed at and
ignored. He'd like to tell her so. Per-
maps he would. there would be reac-
t'on after awhile, when those fellows
We're all gone. Her burst of anger
would die away and she would shed
tears or modification. 1t would he
a nice thing then if he could 90 hack
mere all alone and comfort her. ex-
pam how 1t happened and show ber
now impossible it was for him ~
- y
''u'u see the men plainly |
enough, outlined in the light as they
descended the steps one by one and |
IIeh raded away in the darkness
! hev were a disconsolate, discounted
nuhch, with downcast faces and siIon+ |
, ,IE, me preacher and Mccarthy came
,ast, the former still talking, his voice
slI 'ollis, out evidently to no purpose,
Tor something behind kept imnaI,,ns
MIN forward and even while he cluns
TO the step for one final effort tha door
in his face and Shelby heard
the sharp snap of lock.
Wei, I'll be dr. calculated
Mac, his temper utterly giving way
II she amt a Wildcat Lord. but ia
sure pity the Teller who did marry
her. Come on, old buck, there IS no
s use stayin here. wonder where
Shelby went?"