Maniates Belle Kanaris - Penny of Top Hill Trail стр 8.

Dont put that on! he exclaimed, making another search under the seat and bringing forth a soft cap. She set it jauntily on her curls.

How do you feel now? Well enough to ride on?

Yes; I am feeling fair and warmer every minute.

When the car started, she relapsed into silence. The sunshine was flooding the treeless hills and mellowing the cool, clean air. Up and down, as far as the eye could follow, which was very far in this land of great distances, the trail sought the big dominant hills that broke the sky-line before them. The outlook was restful, hopeful, fortifying.

How are you all right? he asked presently.

Perfectly all right. Its grand up here in all these high spots.

Wait until we reach the hills around our ranch, he boasted. Then he laughed shortly. I say our. Im only the foreman.

What are you going to tell her about me? she asked curiously, after another silence.

He slackened the pace and looked at her closely. The sweater and the sunshine had brought a faint tinge of wild-rose color to the transparency of her skin. The flippancy and boldness so prominent in her eyes the day before had disappeared. She looked more as she had when she was asleep in the moonlight. A wave of kindness and brotherliness swept over him.

I am going to tell her, he said gently, that you are a poor little girl who needs a friend.

Is that all you will tell her?

You may tell her as much or as little of your story as you think you should.

You are a good man, but, she added thoughtfully, the best of men dont understand womens ways toward each other. If I tell her my sordid little story, she may not want to help me at least, not want to keep me up here in her home. Ive not found women very helpful.

She will help you and keep you, because he hesitated, and then continued earnestly, before she was married, she was a settlement worker in a large city and she understood such

As I, she finished. I know the settlement workers. They write you up or down in a sort of a Rogue Record, and you are classified, indexed, filed and treated by a system.

She isnt that kind! he protested indignantly. She does her work by her heart, not by system. Have you ever really tried to reform?

Yes, she exclaimed eagerly. I left Chicago for that purpose. I couldnt find work. I was cold and hungry; pawned everything they would take and got shabby like this, looking down disdainfully at herself, but I didnt steal, not even food. I would have starved first. Then I was arrested up here for stealing. I wasnt guilty. Bender had no case, really; but he wouldnt give me a square deal or listen to anything in my favor, because my record was against me. You cant live down a record. There is no use trying.

Yes, there is! he declared emphatically. I have always thought a thief incurable, but I believe she could perform the miracle.

How old is she? demanded Pen suddenly.

I dont know, he answered vaguely, as if her age had never occurred to him before. She has been married ten years.

Oh! Did she marry the right man?

She certainly did. Kingdon is a prince.

Any children?

Three; two little fellows as fine as are made, and a girl.

I adore children.

I am glad to hear you say that. Every good woman loves children.

And you really think theres the makings of a good woman in me?

Yes; I think so, he answered earnestly, and if theres but a spark of goodness in you, she will find it and fan it to a glow.

She made a wry little grimace which fortunately he did not see.

This goodness is nauseating me, she thought. I shall beat it back about to-morrow.

Look! he cried, as the road made a sharp curve. There it is!

You can lift your eyes to the hills! What a love of a place way up on tiptoes. Ill be the little fish out of water up there!

Top Hill Tavern was on a small plateau at the summit of one of the hills. The ranch-house, long, low and fanciful in design, connected by a covered portico with the kitchen, dairies and buildings, was misleading in name, for a succession of higher hills was in sight. A vined pergola, flower gardens, swings, tennis courts and croquet grounds gave the place a most unranch-like appearance.

As they rode up to the entrance porch, a woman came out of the house, and instantly the big, appraising eyes of the little newcomer felt that here was a type unknown to her. She was slender, not very tall, but with a poise and dignity of manner that compelled attention. Her eyes were gray; her lashes, brows and hair quite dark. There was a serenity and repose of manner about her the Madonna expression of gentleness but with an added force.