The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-21
Evening Story
Miss Pretty.
BY ROSE MEREDITH.

Billy Winch halted his horse at the
cross trail and slipped from the sad
die to tighten girth. AS he lifted his
head he heard a light footstep on the
''EIo, Miss Pretty" he cried
The girl stopped short and looked
at him from indignant blue eyes.
There was a lunch basket swinging
from one hand and she. carried some
school books in the other
How dare you speak to me in that
way ?" she asked
He barred his dark head sheepishly
Sorry Ma'am-I didn't know that
II was speaking to you" he said
humbIy.
The lovely young face flushed
deeper, rs It worth lying about?"
she asked coldIy.
Billy Winch stiffened until he
looked like q. handsome bronze statue.
only one man ever called me a liar"
he murnured 6reamily.
Il suppose he's dead now" she re-
torted sarcasticaliy.
He shook his head. He could run
too fast--I expect he's running yet"
Dimples came to her face, but she
rrewned them away and turned off
into g. hypath.
hiking right along-don't you walk in
the tau grass-there might be rat
tiers" he suggested.
She skipped back again. II hope
that's the truth" she said suspiciousiy.
Look behind you-iook out!' She
coiled in the path was a small rat
tiesnake basking In the hot sun.
rs he alive?"
Just now he i@but wait
minute" He whipped out a gun and
fired. There was a furry of dust and
something Topped into the sagebrush
and was still. The horse danced ex-
citedly.
her eyes from death in the light and
sunshine of a beautiful day. How
cruel men are."
I'm be hanged" srowled the ex-
ways did get my goat! Oh. Pretty
Lady. have heart-be still"
You are impossib.e!" tossed Beth
over her shoulder as she ran down
the trail toward Blair's ranch. where
she was boarding. Mr.. Blair was
tees. and Beth Carvel was the new
schoolteacher from the east
Beth thought Billy Winch was
handsome, and secretly she believed
met out in the Stone Gulch country.
But, altho she knew him so slightly
she had been annoyed and finally
angered by his familiarity in calling
her Miss Pretty or Pretty lady
More than once sne had left him
haughtily when he had said 1t to her.
but always there was the same look
OF dumb surprise in his hazel eyes,
while today there had been more than
that, a sudden awakened iook-a blaze
of otnething-what?
Wise as a little schoolma' am must
be, Both had not solved that riddle,
tho she had tossed many a long night
thru.
The next day when she met Billy
Winch she barely inclined her proud
little head.
He stopped his horse and watched
her until her straight, slim form was
out of sight. He sat like a bronze
figure, dumb misery on his face. He
had been waiting for her-to tell her
that he loved her-and that If 1t was
necessary he would go to school. all
over again-altho away back in Mas
Sachusetts he had graduated from
a well-known university.
Hang" snarled Bill Winch. swing
ing his horse about, and in two sec
onds horse and rider were a brown
streak across the plain. After a while
plain was empty Of moving life.
Lunch hour was over and the chill
dren in the little schoolhouse under
the entrance waiting for Beth and her
bell.
Two of the larger boys who rode
home for the midday meal came rae
ing back to the schoolhouse.
to Billy Winch this morning-some-
thing awfuli''
''What-w-was it ?" chartered Beth,
leaning against the doorpost white and
sick. She could see him now-sitting
on 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 boss
CkA 1a1 4rlS- 1,.,I1
him-and he's unconscious yet-they /
took him to Blair's."
The doctor?" gasped Beth.
He was on the way when left |
amt 1t awfu1-and him so kind to all |