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ractory cattle to keep within the bounds of decorum and order。 Bud was the only cowboy off the stage that I ever saw who looked like one on it。 He wore the sombrero； the chaps； and the handkerchief tied at the back of his neck。
Twice a week Bud rode in from the Val Verde Ranch to sup at the Parisian Restaurant。 He rode a many…high…handed Kentucky horse at a tremendously fast lope； which animal he would rein up so suddenly under the big mesquite at the corner of the brush shelter that his hoofs would plough canals yards long in the loam。
Jacks and I were regular boarders at the restaurant； of course。
The front room of the Hinkle House was as neat a little parlor as there was in the black…waxy country。 It was all willow rocking… chairs； and home…knit tidies； and albums； and conch shells in a row。 And a little upright piano in one comer。
Here Jacks and Bud and Ior sometimes one or two of us； according to our good…luckused to sit of evenings when the tide of trade was over； and 〃visit〃 Miss Hinkle。
Ileen was a girl of ideas。 She was destined for higher things （if there can be anything higher） than taking in dollars all day through a barbed…wire wicket。 She had read and listened and thought。 Her looks would have formed a career for a less ambitious girl； but； rising superior to mere beauty； she must establish something in the nature of a salonthe only one in Paloma。
〃Don't you think that Shakespeare was a great writer？〃 she would ask； with such a pretty little knit of her arched brows that the late Ignatius Donnelly； himself； had he seen it； could scarcely have saved his Bacon。
Ileen was of the opinion； also； that Boston is more cultured than Chicago； that Rosa Bonheur was one of the greatest of women painters； that Westerners are more spontaneous and open…hearted than Easterners； that London must be a very foggy city； and that California must be quite lovely in the springtime。 And of many other opinions indicating a keeping up with the world's best thought。
These； however； were but gleaned from hearsay and evidence： Ileen had theories of her own。 One； in particular； she disseminated to us untiringly。 Flattery she detested。 Frankness and honesty of speech and action； she declared； were the chief mental ornaments of man and woman。 If ever she could like any one； it would be for those qualities。
〃I'm awfully weary；〃 she said； one evening； when we three musketeers of the mesquite were in the little parlor； 〃of having compliments on my looks paid to me。 I know I'm not beautiful。〃
（Bud Cunningham told me afterward that it was all he could do to keep from calling her a liar when she said that。）
〃I'm only a little Middle…Western girl；〃 went on Ileen； 〃who justs wants to be simple and neat； and tries to help her father make a humble living。〃
（Old Man Hinkle was shipping a thousand silver dollars a month； clear profit； to a bank in San Antonio。＇）＇
Bud twisted around in his chair and bent the rim of his hat； from which he could never be persuaded to separate。 He did not know whether she wanted what she said she wanted or what she knew she deserved。 Many a wiser man has hesitated at deciding。 Bud decided。
〃Whyah； Miss Ileen； beauty； as you might say； ain't everything。 Not sayin' that you haven't your share of good looks； I always admired more than anything else about you the nice； kind way you treat your ma and pa。 Any one what's good to their parents and is a kind of home… body don't specially need to be too pretty。〃
Ileen gave him one of her sweetest smiles。 〃Thank you； Mr。 Cunningham；〃 she said。 〃I consider that one of the finest compliments I've had in a long time。 I'd so much rather hear you say that than to hear you talk about my eyes and hair。 I'm glad you believe me when I say I don't like flattery。〃
Our cue was there for us。 Bud had made a good guess。 You couldn't lose Jacks。 He chimed in next。
〃Sure thing； Miss Ileen；〃 he said； 〃the good…lookers don't always win out。 Now； you ain't bad looking； of course…but that's nix…cum…rous。 I knew a girl once in Dubuque with a face like a cocoanut； who could skin the cat twice on a horizontal bar without changing hands。 Now； a girl might have the California peach crop mashed to a marmalade and not be able to do that。 I've seenerworse lookers than you； Miss Ileen； but what I like about you is the business way you've got of doing things。 Cool and wisethat's the winning way for a girl。 Mr。 Hinkle told me the other day you'd never taken in a lead silver dollar or a plugged one since you've been on the job。 Now； that's the stuff for a girlthat's what catches me。〃
Jacks got his smile； too。
〃Thank you； Mr。 Jacks；〃 said Ileen。 〃If you only knew how I appreciate any one's being candid and not a flatterer！ I get so tired of people telling me I'm pretty。 I think it is the loveliest thing to have friends who tell you the truth。〃
Then I thought I saw an expectant look on Ileen's face as she glanced toward me。 I had a wild； sudden impulse to dare fate； and tell her of all the beautiful handiwork of the Great Artificer she was the most exquisitethat she was a flawless pearl gleaming pure and serene in a setting of black mud and emerald prairiesthat she wasaa corker； and as for mine； I cared not if she were as crtiel as a serpent's tooth to her fond parents； or if she couldn't tell a plugged dollar from a bridle buckle； if I might sing； chant； praise； glorify； and worship her peerless and wonderful beauty。
But I refrained。 I feared the fate of a flatterer。 I had witnessed her delight at the crafty and discreet words of Bud and Jacks。 No！ Miss Hinkle was not one to be beguiled by the plated…silver tongue of a flatterer。 So I joined the ranks of the candid and honest。 At once I became mendacious and didactic。
〃In all ages； Miss Hinkle；〃 said I； 〃in spite of the poetry and romance of each； intellect in woman has been admired more than beauty。 Even in Cleopatra； herself； men found more charm in her queenly mind than in her looks。〃
〃Well； I should think so！〃 said Ileen。 〃I've seen pictures of her that weren't so much。 she had an awfully long nose。〃
〃If I may say so；〃 I went on； 〃you remind me of Cleopatra； Miss Ileen。〃
〃Why； my nose isn't so long！〃 said she； opening her eyes wide and touching that comely feature with a dimpled forefinger。
〃WhyerI mean；〃 said I〃 I mean as to mental endowments。〃
〃Oh！〃 said she； and then I got my smile just as Bud and Jacks had got theirs。
〃Thank every one of you；〃 she said； very； very sweetly； 〃for being so frank and honest with me。 That's the way I want you to be always。 Just tell me plainly and truthfully what you think； and we'll all be the best friends in the world。 And now； because you've been so good to me； and understand so well how I dislike people who do nothing but pay me exaggerated compliments； I'll sing and play a little for you。〃
Of course； we expressed our thanks and joy； but we would have been better pleased if Ileen had remained in her low rocking…chair face to face with us and let us gaze upon her。 For she was no Adelina Patti not even on the fare…we