The Portland daily press., 1872-03-20

W.
ticed you yesterday, and you are the prettiest
young one ever did see. Got no father nor
mother, Ell? Going west with your brother,
en- Give us kiss, there's dollp'
In an instant she leaped to her feet
Child as she was, she resented the insult
that had been offered her with woman's of
Tended pride and anger.
"How dare you?' she cried. go away.
If you touch me, I'll call my brother"
''Ah, now, young one, you're fooling," he
said insolently. "You look older than / took
you for. I'll warrant no boy, except your
brother has kissed them lips O. your'n, and
Pm bound to have one-so nowW
As quick as flash she drew from her pock-
ct pistol Mark had bought for her at Leaven-
worth, and which he had since taught her to
use skilfully. She cooked the pistol and it's
four small dark tubes were promptly present.
ed to the eyes of Burk for inspection. He
started back in unaffected horror and amaze
ment
''The little vixenp' he muttered. ''She acts
like highwayman instead of a Shrinking
girl She beats all p
II was only fooling," he said aloud. 81
didn't mean nothing. Don't say nothing
young one. I'm off, o
And he fastened to beat retreat his
own proper quarters.
Gays light laugh rang after him hooking
ly.
Course herr' muttered Burk. s.Blue lack
would tame that wildcat spirit of her'n, and
wish he may do it, that's all. I'll make 'em
acquainted, blest if DON'T"
The train was ready to resume its march.
Come up into the wagon, Mark" said the
girl coaxingly. 81 have something to tell
you.''
Mark climbed up beside Gay, his boyish
face full of tenderness and affection as he
looked down upon his adopted sister.
''Well, what is it, little Gay? he said as she
hesitated.
"Have you noticed that man Burk, who
joined us with the other train at Kearney
City?" asked Gay
'Pve seen him and noticed him." said
Mark. "Mr. Landlord has poor opinion of
him. He's a confederate of Blue jack the
outlaw. What have you to say about him
Gay?"
"He wanted to kiss me back at the haiti
said Gay composedly," and, as you were b usy
l just pulled out my pistol and scared him,
He thought meant to shoot him, and went
off to the rear of the train.'
Marks boyish brows grew stern, and his
eyes flashed. -,
''The coward and villainv' he exclaimed.
''Pll horsewhip him for that. How dared
hep
Don't get into trouble on my account, dear
Markp' exclaimed Gay, in alarm. ssHe's
bad man, and he might kill you. He didn't
kiss me, and have taught him to keep his
distance, so that he won't trouble me again.
Don't speak to him, Mark, please don'tH'
But Mark would not promise
About sunset Landlord beheld in the dis
lance solitary horseman, who, upon looking
back and observing the train, wheeled his
horse about, and rode rapidly toward it. As
he approached it, he said: SOL
Are you the conductor of this train, sir ?
l am bearer of dispatches from Fort Kearnev
to Fort Sedgwick. Will you grant me the
protection OF your train during the remainder
of my journey?''
What is your name? ?"
"Fallon. Lieutenant Fallon," was the re-
ply, and he offered to show his credentials,
Landlord babe Lieutenant Fallon welcome.
and offered him the freedom of the camp.
Fallon ate supper with the Whitmans, and
after conyersing until a late hour, retired to
the rear Of the train to sleep. After all was
stili, he rolled over on the ground until he
came to the side of Burk.
"Burkv' he Kissed.
Burk started, with smothered oath.
'Who calls ?'' he growled.
flush, you idiotp' Missed Fallon, between
his teeth. 'Have fooled YOU and the boys
as easily as fooled the conduct Or of the train
Don't you know me? haven't got nv card
case with me, but I'm Blue Jack, at your ser
wee! Ha, ha! The serpent has got into
Eden! Lt4tl+
81 and the boys have looked for YOU to ioin
us all day." said Burk. ''But of course we
didn't look for you in this disguise.''
Upon the morning after the counterfeit
Lieut.. Fallon had Joined the wagon train, the
camp was astir as usual at daybreak. The
train halted at noon on the river bank, oppo-
site lovely island. At sunset they again
halted, aud for the night.
In the course of the evening Lieut., FalIon
approached Gay, and said:
Miss Heber, must say to YOU that Won
are startlingy like former friend of mine. 1t
seems almost as it she stood before me as 1
nrst knew her. 1t is strange, startling CO.
incidence. could almost thirk-but no. I'm
possible! You are the sister of Mr. Heber. are
you not ?''
Gays pure face flushed. uaa m
YES" she answered, with some hesitation.
The disguised Blue Jack turned vet whittier.
He mad marked that hesitation, and his won
der at it thrilled him with sudden fear.
"You do not look like your brother. Miss
Heber? he remarked
81 have been told so before,'' said Cav dry
ly.
"And you are his own sister,, persisted
Blue Jack, with agitation.
Il do not know your motive for making
such inquiries, Lieutenant" said Gay, after a
moments thought. Il do not therefore know
how to reply to you. l should like to know
the name of your friend whom l resemble.
but for an answer to your inquiries 1 must re-
fer you to my brother''
Gay Heber seized the first opportunity to
inform her adopted brother OF the particulars
OF her singular interview with the false Lieut.,
Fallon. f#E e ~
II told him to speak to you, Mark she
said, "but my heart has been on fire ever
since. What if he should have known my
mother?'
''He looked like death when he first saw
your face, Gay" said Mark thoughtfully. at
was as IT he had seen a ghost"
Gay started, and exclaimed:
From the moment / beheld the man |
shrank from him. had an instructive fear
and adherence Of him. Oh, Mark, dear Mark.
don't let him know any more about me than
he knows nOwp'
II will not, Gay" said Mark soothingy
III ne Is your father, he shall not know that
you are his daughter
The promise comforted Gay, who smiled
family through the gloom that had fallen np-
on her.
As some young people came toward the
Hebers, Mark arose abruptly, and went to
look after his oxen.
Gay was about to join Mark, when the false
Lieutenant Fallon approached him, offering
him cigar.
''Fine evening, Mr.. Heber," said the dis
guised Blue Jack courteously. 'What You
don't smoke? Smoking is vice. I wish /
could break myself of it. Your sister is a
lovely child, or girl, should say. She must
be fifteen years old. Is she not ?''
"She is but child yet, lieutenant-only
fourteen-yet she is more womanly than many
girls of eighteen
"Only fourteen" said the pretended lieu
tenant musingly. 'I-I had fancy that she
was fifteen. l knew a child once-perhaps
she's dead nOw-but if she were living she
would be fifteen years of age, and the very
picture of your sister. And, oddly enough,
that childs name was the same as your Sis
ter's-Gabriellev
Mark repressed start, and turned away
his paling face from the keen scrutiny of the
scheming william.
1.-The child l alluded to- continued the
false lieutenant, chad black hair and brown
eyes; rather singular combination; but her
mother, poor creature. had had the same fea-
lures, and had been great beauty in her day.
She was New York belle, la belle Gabrielle!
But she went insane, and wandered away
with her child and was never heard of more.'
''If you had seen the New York dailies of
thirteen years ago." resumed the false lieu
tenant, "you could not have failed to notice
striking advertisement offering thousand
dollars reward for information of the where
abouts OF an insane woman and her child
The reward was afterward increased to five
thousand dollars. Did you never hear of the
advertisement, Mr.. Heber?"