| Show L 1 Story Of the Day Ia ill L THE TIlE COWBOY AND THE TilE L LADY DY I. I f Continued from yesterday od sir what lovely weather were we're having co cowboy boy responded kindly and as he did not move from his horse o os or orS s vol vel felt emboldened to tell him of her misfortune to which ned attentively and sympathetically i Mis said he respectfully ant no other train passes through 11 ilon tomorrow The nearest ranch is mine mine but but you couldn't stop there Im I'm Im I'm all alone atone with a Chink cook and a Greaser Greaser ih LIt Ellen looked at him and then entirely without volition a large tear t- t down her soft sort to strike terror to the h heart at of ot the c cowboy I nt take on on Miss Hiss he hastily pleaded and then with a smile cried gi 1 l I Ill I'll take you up on the horse In front of me and arid well we'll go over t to m my lid fid get a bite to eat and then Ill I'll hitch up to the buckboard and drive you Parson arson Adams They're Easterners he he come out here for his health 43 S 19 Adams will be right glad to s see e you ething in the young fellows fellow's honest face convinced Sarah t that at he spoke t fir and she gave him her hand and he pulled her lightly up onto the theIn them In fn m front of him The horse shied and ana the cowboy gently put a bluem blue- blue rm lm m around her waist apologizing as he did to so by saying j 1 kinder skittish an not used to petticoats twill be safer sater thi this ou dont don't mind ih Ellen Ellen blushed but she bravely said she didn't mind and in fact odd oddlY fy lY r seem after she got used to the strong arm that held her so steadily an n to think that she rather liked It hours' hours ride they came cam to a story one-story mud house and as Joe turned the door she gazed with curiosity at the first ranch she had h. h To her Eastern eyes It was rough and primitive but off In the disse dis- dis le se a glorious purple haze of mountain peaks and the sky seemed bluer Atmosphere clearer than she had ever seen It before le ed her carefully from the horse she looked up and said My gra- gra hat a a lot of Gods God's sky you people have out here and then without comment she followed him through th the low door Into the living g rO room I r t. t w 1 I or I t of th the house At his Ills call a noiseless Chinaman trotted in with a tin basin some water and a dilapidated comb The cowboy left her alone and strode out put to hitch up the buckboard As she washed the tear stains and dust from her her face and straightened her hair she observed that on the the- little little- table lay a well-thumbed well wavy grammar and arithmetic in company with a a coverless Through the low open window floated the sound of voices and she saw the cowboy talking to an looking evil-looking Mexican who pointed to the with a a. knowing leer house and anti said Varry Tarry pretty lady lady and and a fine tine night for love The cowboy answered quietly See here Lopez that lady Is jest as safe site In this this ranch as sister my would be be an if you feel that youve you've got to make any more remarks about her Jest remember ther's a cartridge in my roy Iron that's jest to git acquainted ac cc- with your brains The Greaser said no more but Sarah Ellens Ellen's heart fluttered Her experience with men ha had been limited and this one seemed to her a remarkable specimen The Chinaman served them with heavy hot biscuit fried potatoes and canned baked beans and their supper over they set off at once for the parsons parson's ranch The early Western moon was rising and a delicious breeze came from the west Sarah Ellen so long restrained by surrounding conventionalities to the utmost the freedom of the enjoyed prairie and the companionship ip of the cowboy who in name Dome ways seemed tender and thoughtful as a woman She had never In her life had hada a a. sympathizer and now under the spell of the mystical moonlight she unconsciously poured out eit more of her soul to this quiet listener than she was aw aware re of ot so t t. at when the lights of the ranch shone out the cowboy knew rn most st of her pitiful life story and with parsons parson's the sense of friendship that confidence inspires she felt she had known the big honest fellow for years instead of hours He left her with the Adams family cheery hospitable people who were delighted to welcome a pilgrim from the beloved East and the big clock struck 11 before Mm Mra Adams showed her to the spotless little room she was to occupy Sarah Ellen snuggled down on her rustling corn husk couch and lay staring at the broad stream of white moonlight that spread across the floor through the open window She knew the room was empty save for herself yet In that moonlit strip she could see a tall blue figure with fringed b buckskin trousers trousers and many strange fancies flitter through her mind In short Sarah Ellen had fallen tallen In love She was sitting on the little pOrch after atter breakfast next morning when the cowboy came riding toward her through the brilliant sunlight As she how well he sat on his horse and what a youthful air of freedom there noticed was In every movement of both horse and rider she felt a s strange ange little flutter in the cardiac region and wondered that she had never before observed how becoming becom becom- ing a blue flannel shirt was wa's to a sun-browned sun lad with broad shoulders The cowboy tied his horse to a sapling and then crossing to the porch raised his sombrero with a radiant smile and said cheerfully Mornin Good morning responded Sarah Ellen Its a fine mornin said the cowboy after a pause A very fine morning responded Sarah Ellen with emphasis And then silence fell upon them Suddenly the cowboy cleared leared his throat and Ive been fYe f began began Yes Ye said Sarah Ellen Elien sweetly But the wellspring of his eloquence ran dry and another painful silence followed burst out Suddenly with an evident effort he See here you dont don't have much fun chasm chasin round after that cantankerous old aunt o 0 yourn an Im I'm kinder lonesome out here her all by myself myself-I I aint got much but Ive I've got a little money an my ranch could be fixed ups up's nice as' as this one if there was vas a woman round to show me how Spose you marry me an stay here here here-a a while anyhow If anyhow if If you dont don't like It I ken sell out an move up to Denver or some big place what place what do you say say say-Is Is it a n. bargain C Not Not a a. very sentimental proposal but in his honest e eyes es and In the thc quaver in his voice Sarah Ellen saw the emotion he lie could not express She swallowed once or or twice and she walked over to him and holding out her hand said Yes Its It's Its It's a a. bargain The cowboy gasped Well Ill I'll be and then he re reached ched out and gathering her close to the blue flannel shirt pressed on her upturned mouth as tender a kiss as ever fell on the lips of or a New England lady Still holding a protecting arm around her pe he ie turned his head and called Hey parson heres here's a job of for you to do and then Ill I'll hustle back to the ranch Then as his disengaged arm stole back to Its former position through the brown waves of Sarah Ellens Ellen's front hair hall came a subdued a-subdued subdued murmur that sounded like Well Ill I'll be d rn d II S |
