The Poetry Of Robert Browning

ner of

led, clinging to her skirts, a pair of wire-clippers clutched in her free hand--the Babe. Harvey Grannis stared incredulousl

nd of his voice, clasping his knees, bumping him with the wir

aring across her head at the others. "The rest of you are puttin' it on her--of

ng away the nervous fright that had possessed her. "I cut the wire that first night--and then I cut it the next night, becau

nsion of the scene slackened a bit, and one or two of the cowboys snickered. But Mrs

learly and distinctly. "Perhaps you understand now why I'm not willing that yo

cow-camp remembered how Grannis's ideas of discipline

me. If you have a mind to let her come and live with me--even par

ittle girl's face and read t

ions of Queen Berengaria slain and herself set to careering about on a strange

ly. "I couldn't spare my baby--even if she were willing to go. Why can't you be contented

public. Grannis w

the best way you know how for all of me. It's lucky it wasn't one of your older

he cattle be allowed to go in and water that night. They were. Nobody interfered with Ruth and Elizabeth when they haule

for some way to dispose of the cattle. It was the next week, in the midst of her perplexities, that Harvey

t to tell you it will be a sight better to live at the Circle G and have a man to look after you than to stay here and star

rral--I'll call them at once. I have a dreadful headache this morning, and when I've explain

that he wouldn't be surprised if she felt call

. "Only just now they are out hauling water from Munson's pond. Bu

r uncle, certain that his coming meant some new disaster.

them to see it as favorably as possible, for in her heart she could think of nothing better--there seemed to be no ot

other left the room. If there was any other w

up the ranch at onc

hose are the terms of the mortgage. I could put

when father comes home. Are you willing to

s, certain now that he would h

e next week," d

our things--Monday, say?" aske

need to bother you. Jonah and Roy can move us

nd I tell you, that I won't have that young horse-thief on my place.

he Circle G, Uncle Harvey

turned, his look of surprise

on, I suppose. And dragging your poor sick mother

Elizabeth said. "Ruth and I are going to t

-five cents at home in her pasteboard box! Perhaps the memory of the triumphant conclusion that matter worked up to, put confidence in Elizabeth's voice. Anyway, Harvey Grann

r Spur household gathered on the porch and resolved itself into

claims, I've a head on my shoulders--whether there's anythin

mon-sense, daughter," said Mrs. Spooner faintly from her r

a good one--I'll ba

l back what Elizabet

knows," chimed in

oolish--for a gal," o

any day, but we'd have had to get rid of the cattle--anyhow that bunch Uncle Harvey shut out from the tank. It seems to me the best thing we can do is to go into Emerald to live. There isn't a sign o

ion, but I can get a job any day. Mr. Pell's son Joe has gone away to school, and he needs a clerk

n you're gettin' on in years," sighed Jonah, dolefully. "Nothin' I kin

ut him! Wherever they went he should go to--that was settled. The tender-hearted Babe, with her arms aro

ite cheerful. "They's a gyarden to make, an' a cow to milk--we can't get along

d enough ground fenced in to keep a cow, besides having the garden and small patches they would be obliged to plant for vegetables and cow-feed. It belonged to Mr. Rouse, the station agent who boarded with

window panes, and whitewashing the interior, so that at last it was converted into a very respectable and comfortable habitation--really m

and her mother drove about in the phaeton, making arrangements for the keeping of the cattle and ponies,

e, scoffing at the idea of taking a third of the increase for his share, until Mrs. S

d the rancher heartily. "No news is good news, I've alwa

arnestly begged that he would be very, very kind to Queen B

sed the doors of the lonely little ranch-house, striving bravely to think that it w

at his treatment of the Spooners that they vied with each other in showing their sympathy and friendship for the family, sending them such loads of vegetables from their gardens and choice cuts of

cant appetite; their hearts were full, but each tried bravely to see only the bright side, and, because they tried so hard, at last became really cheerful, discussing their plans for the

w-feed," said Jonah, "before I git ready to go to gy

yard for a studio--with two display windows, if you please, one for cakes and one for 'takes'. A skylight i

ould, in fact. And I'm expecting my enlarging camera any day. I reckon I'll spoil s

contentedly. "I expect to make money on bread. Cousi

ng to do, mother?" enquire

chine, if you'll try to run the seams straight. Then, as soon as they're made, we'll get some school-books, and a little girl about your size will p

the books in the whole round world!" sighed the Babe, happ

nd all the neighbors who were handy, finding Maudie Pratt a willing and excellent subject, while Ruth in her own

was their first customer, bringing he

s' mother frankly, as she arranged Wilfred's big, smothering collar, and tied anew the huge red bow under Wilmot's chin. "I taken

failed. "They are such cute little fellows. Now, boys, if you'll be real quiet I'll give you a doughnut apiece, in just one minute," she promised

stiff position, with their arms about each other. However, in the end Elizabeth secured a very good negative, "at least it has only one head a

tory to excite the proper amount of interest in their faces, and Elizabeth bade them eat doughnuts at will, to promote happiness that "showed through," she snapped her camera on a most excellent likeness--so good, in fact,

s. Spooner, in her heart, often sighed to think of the free young sou

very ounce of energy the three young people could bring to bear on it. Mrs. Spooner drew a breath of relief when one day she saw her bro

omer in the studio. "I'm proud of your independence, but it breaks my heart to have you girls

business apron and prepared to go out. "As for pleasure--I never was so happy in my life--excep

photographs in the window, having come to a decision as to the style he preferred for a dozen c

r with Uncle Harvey all through the sitting. She was urbane and impr

mer had asked as he arose from his sitting. El

from to-day, I'm pretty well rushed with orders, and can't pro

g else. I suppose he changed his mind, for he went away without another word. I was glad; I wonder w

nine o'clock in the morning. He took the filled envelope Elizabeth handed him wit

izabeth. "We all think them very good. I took the liber

how is Jennie?" aske

," returned Elizabeth promptly, and the

nchman. "That is, I have a little matt

house and the studio. Without waiting for f

Harvey wants

promptness. Mrs. Spooner came out on the front porch and walked down the steps to greet her brother. The Babe, always eager for peace, though still shy of the man who had thought of shooting Queen Berengaria, followed.

e here," remarked Harve

n and the gate, Roy turned with a little annoyance, then he saw that the me

nce the ceasing of her Cuban letters she wa

mething first," Grannis protested, getti

me to," declared Elizabeth, snatching

let the yellow envelope flutter to the ground, where the messenger regarde

, snapping together his receipt boo

tting things rather mixed in his excitement to see what the telegr

otesting again that he had something to say before she read the messag