The Bozeman courier., 1926-07-23

ing. NOChlng, the veterinary surgeon add
ed, looking back from the door, could
have saved that COW. It had three legs in
the grave when / was called in"
Mr.. Shields, on leaving the MelhamptOn
Arms, chose to take a stroll towards the
upper part Of the town. AS he passed the
trim privet hedge which projected the
Doctors garden from the vulgar gaze, he
caught sight OF light frOcks upon the
lawn, ana be distinctly heard Roses
laugh. He walked slowly onward, deep in
thought. He himself had never passed up
the DeLlagged way and rung the front
door bell OF the doctors residence, without
q certain 1eeling Of awe. He had never
even been invited into the garden where,
TO Judge from his mOmentary glimLse and
what he could hear, Rose was much at
home. Near the top Of the hill he passed
which was more Of a scOwl. A hundred
yards or so further he paused and looked
around, meaning to retrace his steps. Al
most as Harry FOulds passed the doctors
gate, however, Rose issued from Il. The
horse dealer raised his hat calamity, and
the two walked down the street together
Mr.. Percy Shields swOre.
The next morning, at his usual time he
was back in the bar parlOr Of the Melhamp-
ton Arms. Rose was there, and greeted him
much as usual. She did not even make q
remark as to his prolonged absence. In a
minute or two, however, she left the room,
and although Mr.. Shields waited for q
quarter Of an hour, there was no sign Of
her return. On this occasion. perhaps, he
allowed his feelings to Outrun his discre-
''NIrs. DOwdswell," he said, ''I was sorry
to see Miss Rose with that fellow FOulds
last night"
"And why, pray? her aunt asked coldly.
Hes not good enough for her"
There amt many young men who are,
to my way Of thinking was the curt re-
Fly. THAT'S not my business, though. Or
yours, If you'll excuse me saying so, Mr..
Shields. A girl chooses for herself, nova
days, and Rose isn't any easy sort to
move. If she means having Harry FOulds,
she'll have him and, after all, she might
do worse. He's got a tidy bit Of money
and he only wants looking after"
The bar was invaded at that moment by
Mr.. Meekes, the local draper, and a COM
mercial traveller who had just secured a
good order and was loudly demanding the
wine list Miss Rose presently returned,
but as there seemed no chance Of speaking
to her alone, her recalcitrant suitOr soon
took his departure. He spent several eX
ceedingly uncomfortable days, paying
many visits to the MelhamptOn Arms, but
at no time being able TO obtain more than
a few moments unsatisfactory interview
with Rose. On the fourth afternoon he was
passing the inn with the firm intention of
not glancing in, when he heard a knock
at the window. He hastened into the parlOr
to find to his discontinue that the sum-
mons had proceeded from Mrs. DOwds-
well.
''NIr. Shields" she said, you'll forgive
my calling you in, but I've lost my temper,
and that's a fact, and when I'm in a tenn
Ler I must talk to some one or there's
trouble"
The veterinary surgeon, noticing the
angle of the spectacles, and Mrs. DOwds-
wells high color, edged a little towards
"I'm in rather a hurry this afternoon" :"
he began.
"Just you let your hurry take care Of it.
self for a time and listen to me-" Mrs.
DOwdswell insisted. ''YOU know very well
that I'm not an unreasonable woman, and
/ you were kind of friendly yourself with
Rose once. just put the matter to you.
Do pay her twenty shillings week and
her keep to go out taking tea with all the
gentry in the place, while I stay here doing
her work? Do 1 or do I nOt?"
Mr.. Shields murmured words Of sympa-
thetic negatiOn, whereupOn Mrs. DOWdS-
we'll produced a letter from her pocket
and thrust it into his hand.
"Read this, will your" she enjOined.
/ Mr.. Shields accepted with reVerent fin
/ gers the sheet Of note paper with its
/ familiar coat Of arms, and read the few
i lines thereon:
MelhamptOn Hall, Tuesday.
Dear Mrs. DOwdswell:
Could you be so kind as to spare Miss
Stanbury for an hour or two this after
niece was so charmed with her the other
day, and is anxious to improve her &C.
Florence stOurtOn.
"Well, I'm dashed" he muttered.
81 put it to yOu3 Mr.. Shields" Mrs
! DOwdsweIl continued, her voice still raised
| "dO I pay Rose for this sort Of thing
I told her what thought about it and she
simply laughed at me. I've had enough OF
it. The moment she gets back here, there's
a months notice waiting for her She car
| go and live with her fine friends if she
wants to. She belongs to the gentry, and
a girl that belongs to the gentry is NJ
use to me-"
wA+ +bo sor,o +i,,o, A. c1,io15, ,-o,,
tured to remark, cit must be very crafty
"Stuff and nonsenser' Mrs. Dowdswel
. interrupted. "Stuff and nOnesnse, I say
{ Mr.. Shields The girls got her living t.
, earn. She won't marry a respectable yOuni
maa who's bead over heels in love will
her"
= "DO you mean Harry FOulds?" the vet
? erinary surgeon interrupted eagerly.
81 do Mrs. DOwdswell admitted, sane
if he does take a glass or two, there's man!
others of us have the same falling, and /
none Of us had, Whatd become Of m!
, business, I'd like to know? The girl hat
, better have gone for a gOverness to star
, with. She's no manner of use here"
Mr.. Percy Shields left the inn ant
! mounted the hill out Of the town, fire
: with a great resolution. Arrived at a Ger
tain position, from which he commando
the entrance to the hall, he climbed a gate
I lit a btpe and with an air Of dOgged de
% termination settled down to wait. An hO
\ passed-cwO hours. 1t was close upon ei
when a familiar figure came out Of th
I lodge gates and turned towards the tOWE
), Mr.. Shields knocked the ashes from hi
4 pipe, took a short cut across a field; an
! made q rather abrupt appearance in from
OF Rose. She started a little, but apparent
g lily recognized him with relief
''Why, If it isn't Mr.. Shields - she ez
i, claimed
SHope didn't startle your" he aske
70 anXiOUsly. 81 happened to be up q
g Farmer CrOcOmbes and saw you coming.
a "NOt at all" she replied, "Only for
! moment was rather afraid &C was SON
: ]. one else, some one I didn't particular
|. Mr.. Shields stroked his mustache. It Wa
n an excellent start
y 'I'd like the, privilege Of walking hon
y with you, Miss Stanbury," he said.
81 Granted" the young lady acQuiesce
+ politely.
@Iv'e in a sort Of way some news Z,
L you" Mr.. Shields continued. ''RErs. DOwd
10 well called me IN this afternoon. and b
Is tween you and me she was in a rare o.
, temper"
= "I'm not surprised" Rose confesse
2. "I'm afraid I am rather a trial 20 her
"She's complaining OF your getting
= many invitations" her companion col
R fided
IS. Rose sighed.
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