The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-04-21
, TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
MISS PRETTY
ny Rose Meredith


tfom the saddle 10 tighten a
ifth. AS he lifted his head he
haard q light footstcD on the SAND
Mad bounded into the saddle.
''tIo, Miss Pretty" he crIed.
The girl stopped short and look.
ed At him from indignant blue
eyes. There was u lunch basket
swinEing from one hand and she
carried some school books In the
other.
How dare you speak to me in
that way?" she asked.
a He barred his dark head Sheep
fshly.
asorry Ma'am--1 didn't know
that l was speaking to you" lie
said hurnbly.
The lovely young face. flushed
deeper. us 1t worth lying about"
she said eoldly.
Billy Winch stitfened until he
looked like a handsome bronze
statue. "only one man over call
ed me q liar" he murnured
Hsroamlly.
II suppose he's dead now" she
retorted sArcastically.
He shook his head. HE could
run too fast---I expect he's rum
ming yet"
Dimples came to her face, but
sket frowned them away and turn
ed of into a bypath.
.1'm getting on tho trall--we're
Viking right along-don't you
walk in the tall g~rass--therc
might be rattlers," he suggested.
She skipped back again. II hope
that's the truth" she said sus-
piciously.
.Look behind ~you--look out +"
She backed away with a little
scream, for coiled in the path was
asmall fattlesnakc basking in the
not sun.
rs he alive?"
Just now he. is--but walt a
minute" He whipped out a gun
and fired. There was a furry OF
dust and something Topped into
thes sagebrush and was still, The
Horse danced excitedly.
"oh " screamed the girl, shut
ting her eyes from death in the
iisht and sunshine Of a beautiful
6ay "How cruel men arc
ss1'll be hanged .growled the
exaggerated Mr.. Winch. "Wimmen
always did get my goat oh,
Pretty Lady, have a heart-be
stillta
You are impossible" tossed
Beth over her shoulder as slio ran
down the trail toward Blalr's
ranch, where she was boarding.
Nj. Blair was chairman Of the
board OF school trustees. and Beth
Carfel was the new school teacher
from the east.
Beth thought Billy Winch was
handsome, and secretly she be-
lieved he was the incest cowpunch-
er abe had met out In the Stone
Guleh country. But. although 'sho
knew him SO slightly, she had been
annoyed and finally angcrGd by
his Familiarity in calling her
aNfisa Pretty" or Pretty Lady"
More than once she had left him
hapghtily when he had said 1t to
her, but always there was the
same look OF dumb surprise III his
hazel eyes, while today there had
been more than that, IL sudden
awakened look-a blaze Of some.
zhing-what?
Wise as a little schoolma'am
must be, Beth had not solved that
riddle, though she had tossed
many a long night through.
The next day when she met
Billy Winch she barely inclined
her proud little head.
He stopped his horse and wat
ched her until her straight, slim
little form was out OF sight. He
sat like a bronze figure. dumb
misery on his face. He had boen
bwatting for hcr--to tell her that
no loved hcr--and that II 1t was
necessary lie would so TO school
all over again--although away
Rway buck IN Massachusetts he
had graduated from u well-known
university.
'tHangt snarIed Billy Winch
SSinsing htR horse about, and in
seconds horse and rider we're
K brown streak across the plain.
After a while they disappeared
suddenly, and the plain was empty
Of moving life.
Lunch hour was over and the
children in the little schoolhouse
under the ~cottonwo9ds were draw
Sing near the entrance waiting for
eth and her bell.
Two of the larger boys who rode
home for the midday meal came
racing back to the schoolhouse.
%'0h, teacher! Something hap
pened to Billy Winch this morning
something awfuliY
"What.-w--was it," Chartered
Beth, leaning against the doorpost
white and sick. She could see him
now-sitting his horse like a
young centaur-that hurt look on
his face
"He was riding like everything
like he does when he's mad or
when he's after somethin'-.and
his hoss stepped into a gopher
mole and threw him-and hos
unconscious yet-they took him 10
EBlatr's."
"rhe doctor?" gasped Dear.
He was on the way when I
Sieft-ain't 1t awful-and him SO
Kind to all US kids-letting US ride
Miss Pretty and"
Miss what?" screamed Beth.
Miss Pretty-that's the name
Of his hoss-the one he always
Hdes-sometimes he calls her
sPfAttv IadVsn