Delaware tribune, and the Delaware state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1877-18??, 1877-10-18

To my surprise my companion answered
quietly: 20, that's all right. Two heard
Of him. Ell you don't feel like checking
me through, or il you'd rather put G. O..
DIS on my back, why it's all the same to
me. III play it'll alone. Only you just
count me In. Say Sylvester al the time.
That's me-"
What could oppose to this mans quiet
assurance9 felt myself growing red
with anger aud nervous with embarrass-
ment. What would the correct Sylvester
say to meY What would the girls-I was
young man then, and had won an entree
to their domestic circle by my reserve
known by less complimentary adjective
among the "boys"-whst would they say
to my new acquaintance Yet I certainly
could not object to his assuming all risk
on his own personal recognixances, nor
could resist certain feeling Of shame at
| my embarrassment.
We were beginning to descend. In the
distance below us already twinkled the
lights in the solitary rancho of Lone
Valley. I turned TO my. companion.
But you have forgotten that don't even
know your name. What am to call
your"
"Thet's so," he said, musingly. 'Now,
let's see. 'Kearney' would be a good
name. It's short and easy like. Thsr's a
street in Frisco the same title. Kearney
II h."
But" began, impatiently.
"Now you leave that all to me-" he
interrupted, with superb self-conadence
that ! could not but admire. 1.-The name
Amt no account. It's the man that's
responsible. Ell was TO lay for man
that reckoned was named Jones, and
after fetched him found out on the
inquest that his name was Smith--that
wouldn't make no matter, as long as I got
the man."
The illustration, forcible as 1t was, did
not strike me as offering prepossessing
introduction, but We were already at the
rancho. The barking Of dogs brought
Sylvester to the door of the pretty little
cottage which his taste had adorned.
briefly introduced Mr.. Kearney.
"Kearney will do-Kearney's good enough
for me-" commented the soi distant
Kearney half aloud, to my own horror and
Sylvester's evident mystiAcation, and then
he blandly excused himself for moment
that he might personally supervise the
care of his own beast. When he was out
of earshot drew the puzzled Sylvester
aside.
81 have picked up-I mean have been
picked up on the road by gentle maniac,
whose name il not Kearney. He is well
armed and quotes Dickens. With care,
acquiesence in his views on all subjects,
and general submission to his commands,
lie may be placated. Doubtless the spec
tacle of your helpless family, the contem-
plation of your daughters beauty and
innocence may touch his fine sense of
hunor and pathos. Meanwhile, heaven
help you and forgive me-"
1 ran up stairs to the little den that my
hospitable host had kept always reserved
for me In my wanderinCs. fingered
some time over my ablutions, hearing the
languid gentlemanly drawl of Sylvester
below mingled with the equally cool, easy
slang of my mysterious acquaintance.
When came down to the sitting.room l
ves surprised, however. to find the self
styled kearney quietly seated on the sofa,
the gentle May Sylvester, the 'Lily Of
Lone Valley" sitting with maidenly awe
and unaffected interest on one side of him,
while on tho other that arrant firt, her
cousin Kate, was practising the pitless
archery of her eyes, with an excitement
that seemed almost real.
"Who. is your deliciously cool friend ~
she managed to whisper to me at supper
as sat utterly dazed and bewildered
between tho enrapt May Sylvester, who
seemed to hang upon his words, and this
giddy girl of the period, who was empty.
ing the battery Of her charms in active
rivalry upon him. "Of course we know
his name isn't Kearney. But how roman
tic And isn't he perfectly lovely? And
who is he ?"
replied with severe irony that wai
not aware what foreign potentate was ther
travelling inoogniiO in. the Sierras of Cali
fernia, but that when his Royal Highnesi
was pleased to inform me, I should b.
glad to introduce him properly. "Unti
then," I added, II fear the acquaintanc,
must be Morganatic."
"You're only jealous of him." she sale
pertly. "I.ook at May-she is completely
fascinated. And her father. too"
And actually the languid, world-sick
cynical Sylvester was regarding him will
q boyish interest and enthusiasm almos
incompatible with his nature. Yet sub
init honestly to the clear headed reason o
my Own sex, that 1 could see nothing
more in the man than ! have alread,
delivered to the reader.
! In the middle of an exciting story o.
| adventure, of which he, TO the already
| prejudiced mind of his fair auditors, wa
evidently the hero, he stopped suddenly
'tIts only some pack train passing tn
bridge on the lower trail" explained Syl
/ vester. $50 on
l 1T may be my horse Is trile oneas,
| = ~. Al. ov1n-o1
3 she amt used to boards and covering.
t Heayen only knows what wild and deli
cious revelation lay in the statement o
this fact, but tho girls looked at eaol
other with cheeks pink with excitement =
' Kearney arose, and with quiet absence o
l ceremony, quilted the table.
, "Ain't he just lovely" said Kate, gasp
!. ing for breath, 'snd 50 witty"
II "Witty !" said the gentle May, with JUS
the slightest trace of dehlnoe in her swee
o voice. "Witty, my dear why don't yo
I see that his heart is just breaking wit
1 pathos2 Witty, indeed; why, when he wa
a speaking of that poor Mexican woman tha
was hung, I saw the tears gather in hi
eye. Witty, indeed"
q "Tears, laughed the cynical Sylvester
' ''tears, idle tears. Why, you sill
q children, the man is man Of the world
y philosopher, quiet, observant, unassun
q ing"
o "Uuassuming Was Sylvester intox
Q Gated, or had the mysterious strange
/" mixed the sinsane verb" with the faml
J. poltage? He returned before coul
= answer this self-asked inquiry, and r.
sumed coolly his broken narrative. Fine
d ing myself forgotten in the man had s
IL I AL 10 s,&r tS ,,,x, f,sa,,1
o I retired to rest early, only to hea
is through the thin partitions, two hours late
r enthusiastic praises of the new guest fro
10 the voluble lips Of the girls, as they chatte
!, together in the next room before retiring
10 At midnight was startled by the SOUL
Q. of horses hoofs and the jinging of spu
ie below. A conversation between my ho
and some mysterious parsonage in Il
Ar darkness was carried on in such low tol
IN that could not learn its import. As Il
Is cavalcade rode away, I raised tho windo'