Year: 1871

ner delayed vengeance upon his luckles0
head, but for the prompt interference OF
Culpepper. Thwarted in this, she threw
herself upon the ground, and then into
unpicturesque hystericks. There was a
line moral lesson, not only in this gro
tesque performance of sex which cannot
afford to be grotesque, but in the ludicrous
concern with which it inspired the two
men. Culpepper, to whom woman was
more or less angelic, was panied and SYM
pathetic; the Colonel, to whom she was
more or less improper, was exceedingly
terrified and embarrassed. Howbeit the
storm was soon over, and after Mistress
Dolores had returned little dagger to its
sheath Cher garter) she quietly took her.
self ont of Madrona Hollow, and happily
out of these pages forever. The twom
left to themselves, conversed ia low tones.
Dawn stole upon them before they sepa-
rated; the Colonel quite sobered and in :
full possession of his usual jaunty self
assertion; Culpepper with a baleful glow
in his hollow cheek, and in his dark ewes
a rising fire.


The next morning the general ear Of
Madrona Hollow was filed with rumors Of
the Colonels mishap. 1t was asserted
that he had been invited to withdraw his
female companion from the floor of the
Assembly Ball at the Independence Hotel,
and that failing to do this both were ex-
PEELED. 1t is to be regretted that in 1854
public opinion was divided in regard to
the propriety Of this step, and that there
was some discussion as to the compare
tive virtue of the ladies who were not ex-
PEELED, but it was generally conceded that
the real casus 6elli was political. rs this
dashed Puritan meetingP" had asked
the Colonel, savagely. ''It's no. Pike
County shindig." had responded the floor
manager, cheerfully. You're Yank |"
had screamed the Colonel, profanely and
qualifying the noun. "Get! you border
ruffian," was the reply. Such at least
was the substance of the reports. As, at
that sincere epoch, expressions like the
above were usually followed by prompt
action, a fracas was confidently looked
for.


Nothing, however, occurred. Colonel
upon the streets with somewhat of his
usual pomposity, little restrained by the
presence Of his nephew, who accompanied
him, and who, as universal favorite, also
| exercised some restraint upon the curious
and impertinent. But Culpepper's face


wore look of anxiety quite at variance


with his usual grave repose. The Don


don't seem to take the old mans set back
kindly" observed the sympathizing black
smith. 'r'aps he was sweet ON DolO-
res himself" suggested the sceptical ex-
preSSman.


| 1t was a bright morning, week after
this occurrence, that Miss Jo Folinsbee
stepped from her garden into the road.
This time the latch did not click as she
cautiously closed the gate behind her.
After moments irresolution, which
would have been awkward hut that it was
charmingly employed, after the manner of
her sex, in adjusting bow under dim
pied chin and in pulling down the fingers
of u neatly fitting glove, she tripped
toward the settlement. Small wonder
that passing teamster drove his six
mules into the wayside ditch and inn
perilled his load. to keep the dust from
her spotless garments; small wonder that
the Lightning Express" Withheld its speed
and flash to let her pass and that the ex-
pressman, who had never been known to
exchange more than rapid monosyllables
with his tellow-man, gazed after her with
breathless admiration. For she was cer-
tainly attractive. In a country where the
ornamental sex followed the example of
youthful Nature, and were prone to over
dress and glaring efforescence, Miss JOS
simple and tasteful raiment added much
to the physical charm of, if it did not act
ually suggest sentiment TO. her presence.
1t is said that Euchre-deck Billy, working
in the gulch at the crossing, never saw
Miss Folinsbee pass but what he always
remarked apologetically to his partner
that .'he believed he must write letter


home" Even Bill Masters, who saw her


in Paris presented to the favorable criti-


cism of that most fastidiOus man, the late
: Emperor. said that she was stunning, but
big discount on what she was at Madrona
, Hollow.


1t was still early morning, but the sun,


with Californian extravaganza, had al
ready begun to beat hotly on the little
chip hat and blue ribbons, and Miss 10
: was obliged to seek the shade by a by-path.
Here she received the timid advances of q
vagabond yellow dog graciously. until,


emboldened by his successes, he insisted
upon accompanying her, and becoming
! slobberingly demonstrative, threatening
her spOtless skirt with his dusty paws,
: when she drove him from her with some
slight acerbity, and stone which haply
fell within fifty feet OF its destined mark.
Having thus proved her ability to defend
herself, with characteristic inconsistency
she took small picnic, and gathering her
white skirts in one hand, and holding the


brim of her hat over her eyes with the


other, she ran swiftly at least a hundred
yards before she stopped Then she be-
gan picking some ferns and few wild
flowers still spared to the withered fields.
and then a sudden distrust of her small
ankles seized her, and she inspected them
narrowly for those burs, bugs and snakes,
which are supposed to lie in wait for
helpless womanhood. Then she plucked
some golden heads Of wild oats, and with
a sudden inspiration placed them in her


black hair, and then came quite uncon-
sciously upon the trail leading to Madrona


Hollow


Here she hesitated. Before she ran the


little trail. Vanishing at last into the


bosky' depths below. The sun was very


hot She must be very far from home.
Why should she not rest awhile under the