Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1877-07-28

glow of the the fire, while Bessie, the
maid, who was waiting to brush out her
young lady's hair, glanced askance at
katie's face, and thought how nice il
must be to have q lover.
Suddenly Katie started up.
"How selfish ami" she said, apollo
getically. 81 forgot that Bessie was
waiting"
And IN five minutes the maid was dis
missed, and Katie was all alone, with
the lamp burning softly on the table and
the freight CHANGING on the gilded ara
besques Of the Chinese folding screen,
that shut all draughts away from the
hearth.
Almost at the same time Robert Fall
coner, Just arrived in the late train, was
standing out in the frosty moonlight by
the stable-yard of the Bolton Arms, :"
and close to him stood tall, handsome
man, leaning against the gate-pOst, and
smoking a cigar.
"weil," he said, airily, "this is a
surprised"
AZ don't see why it should be-" re-
turned Falconer. % am to be married
to Miss Conway tomorrow, and | de-
cided to come on tonight instead of
waiting for the morning train. l shall
give them an agreeable SURPRISE" and
his face frightened at the thought.
1.-The wonder is that you should be
here, KARL Porter"
"IPn
The young mans eyes turned evasive-
ly away from the others frank glance.
"Oh, we lawyers are here and there
and everywhere. I've had libel case
in the town, and it has brought me
down occasionally"
"Who was that woman you were talk
ing to when first came IMP" carelessly
questioned Falconer. "She seemed an
noyed or angry"
Porter laughed again, this time mere
constrainedly than before.
ats only woman from the other
end of the town." said he. ''I've paid
her pretty daughter few passing at
tentions, and she wants to take the mat
ter an serieur. These country people
are SO desperately in earnest. Here
comes the hostler; now you'll be off"
But fate had ordained otherwise.
The only horse left in the stables was
hopelessly lame.
'.But if the gentleman could wait an
hour or"
"Wait an houri" echoed Mr.. Fall
coner, "and it's after IL already! No,
thanks, nv good fellow. It's an easy
two miles. | could walk it in less time
than that"
"But it's a bitter night, sir, for all
the moon shines so bright" urged the
man, " and you'll be famished with the
cold"
"No matter. My friend here will
lend me his fur-trimmed Ulster-eh,
Porter?' laughingly demanded Fall
coner.
"With all the pleasure in life," KARL
Porter languidly made answer; ''that is,
if you are actually determined to commit
such an eccentricity."
"Wait until your wedding-eve comes,
and see how you will feel about it, re-
torted the bridegroom-elect, as he but
toned the long wrap about him, and
turned up the fur collar to protect his
neck from the cold. swell, au revoir.
l shall expect to see you al the wedding
breakfast tomorrow, remember" And
with the long, swinging stride of
practiced walker, he disappeared down
the road.
All this TRANSFERRED at about II 80. and
the little alabaster clock on Miss Con-
ways mantel pointed to ~ precisely,
when, still brooding over Mr.. Falconer's
letter, something like tremulous culver
of chill air across her made her start in
stinctively and look up. The lamp il
Illuminated only small portion of the
room, but the silver radiance of the full
moon, shining in through the easement
across which Katie had forgotten to