"Grey, Zane - Betty Zane" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grey Zane)

this stranger had been decidedly flippant. He had familiarly spoken to her as
"a pretty little girl." Not only that, which was a great offense, but he had
stared at her, and she had a confused recollection of a gaze in which
admiration had been ill disguised. Of course, it was that soldier Lydia had
been telling her about. Strangers were of so rare an occurrence in the little
village that it was not probable there could be more than one.

Approaching the house she met her brother who told her she had better go
indoors and let Sam put up the pony. Accordingly, Betty called the negro, and
then went into the house. Bessie had gone to the fort with the children. Betty
found no one to talk to, so she tried to read. Finding she could not become
interested she threw the book aside and took up her embroidery. This also
turned out a useless effort; she got the linen hopelessly twisted and tangled,
and presently she tossed this upon the table. Throwing her shawl over her
shoulders, for it was now late in the afternoon and growing chilly, she walked
downstairs and out into the Yard. She strolled aimlessly to and fro awhile,
and then went over to the fort and into Captain Bogg's house, which adjoined
the blockhouse. Here she found Lydia preparing flax.

"I saw you racing by on your pony. Goodness, how you can ride! I should be
afraid of breaking my neck," exclaimed Lydia, as Betty entered.

"My ride was spoiled," said Betty, petulantly.

"Spoiled? By what--whom?"

"By a man, of course," retorted Betty, whose temper still was high. "It is
always a man that spoils everything."

"Why, Betty, what in the world do you mean? I never heard you talk that way,"
said Lydia, opening her blue eyes in astonishment.

"Well, Lyde, I'll tell you. I was riding down the river road and just as I
came to the end of the clearing a man jumped out from behind some bushes and
grasped Madcap's bridle. Imagine! For a moment I was frightened out of my
wits. I instantly thought of the Girtys, who, I have heard, have evinced a
fondness for kidnapping little girls. Then the fellow said he was on guard and
ordered me, actually commanded me to go home."

"Oh, is that all?" said Lydia, laughing.

"No, that is not all. He--he said I was a pretty little girl and that he was
sorry I could not have my own way; that his present occupation was pleasant,
and that the situation had its charm. The very idea. He was most impertinent,"
and Betty's telltale cheeks reddened again at the recollection.

"Betty, I do not think your experience was so dreadful, certainly nothing to
put you out as it has," said Lydia, laughing merrily. "Be serious. You know we
are not in the backwoods now and must not expect so much of the men. These
rough border men know little of refinement like that with which you have been