The Adair County news., 1921-02-02

I'll have to give 1t to YOU" he grum-
bled, although Pm pretty busy this
morning"
"Oh, / think you're so nice" she de-
eIared
A thrill shot through him that was
akin to pain; with difficulty did he
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, a little sifverpoint
runt of Klamath Indian pony, and
Moses, a sturdy pinto cayuse from the
cattle ranges over in Trinity county
'Tll have to ride with you," he am
nounced. "Can't let a tenderfoot like
you go 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 valua-
able time did he give that morning
before the-caIl of duty brought him
back to the house and his neglected
crop of carrots When he suggested
tactfully,. however, that it was now
necessary that his guest and Midget
separate, a difficulty arose. Shirley
Sumner refused point blank to leave
the premises. She liked Bryce for his
hair and because he had been Sc kind
to her; she was a stranger in Sequoia;
and now that she had found an agree
able companion, it was far from her
intention to desert him.
So Miss Sumner stayed and helped
Bryce weed his carrots, and since as
a voluntary laborer she was at least
worth her board, at noon Bryce
brought her in to Mrs. Tully with
request for luncheon. When he went
to the mill to carry in the kindling
for the cook. the young lady returned
rather sorrOWfully 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 I'M
saddling the ponies, Shirley drew
NUGGETS nose down to her and kissed
it. Then she commenced to weep
rather violently.
"What are you crying about?
Bryce demanded Girls were so hard
to understand.
''Tm 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
natically-he had his arm around
her. Don't cry, Shirley" he pleaded.
at 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
ed him immensely. And at parting
she kissed him goodbye, reiterating
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 disconsolate
OH 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 sweeteSt5event that can
OCCUR in any boys existence-the sud
den awakening to the wonder and
beauty of life so pOignantly realized
in his first love-affair-was lost sight
of by Bryce. In a month he had for
gotten the incident; in six months he
had forgotten Shirley Sumner