The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-05-03
THE ROAD AGENT.
A STORY OF OUR FRONTIER
Continued.

HOA--ib was h1 WOulu-uS IODD6T. Nils
Lee or Jdlia Windsor. 1 could not b
mistaken in her identity.
As may be readily imagined, I wa
not long in seeking an introduction t.
her. If, on her part, she recognized
me, she maintained her composure ad
mirably. A small red spot, rising il
her face and fading instantly, was tn
only sign of anxiety that l could detect
If 1 had thought her beautiful in hel
ugly attire, two years before, 1 found
her doubly so now. The expression O
care and grief has passed out of he
face, bat it had left its traces in he
soft eye and in the tremulous outline O
her mouth. An air of quiet thought
fulness-the repose Of a soul heavil,
chased with sorrow-had a supreme
charm for me.
l had not been sitting near her tel
minutes, before it became painful,
apparent to me that my solitary life wa
was a very cold and selfish one. Thil
beautiful girl had lived and loved ant
suffered for another. If her experience
had been a sad one, 1t had likewis,
been noble. Somehow my adventur,
with her that memorable night seemed
to give me a right to her regard. Per
haps it was because I had never forgot
ten her, and that the simple memory o.
her had kept her always close to me.
Be that as it may, when l left hel
that night it was in a very unhapp!
frame of mind. Emotions had beer
aroused in me that would not be put
asleep again. For the FIRST time in my
life l knew what love meant-love for
large-hearted noble woman
/ had hoped that I had secured the
means of a familiar intercourse with
Miss Lee, by which might be enabled
to enlarge my acquaintance with her,
but o found that l was mistaken.
Converse with her L might, but never
freely. Enter her house when and as
often as l chose, but her sympathy not
at all. She seemed to hold me firmly at
a distance. With all my efforts, !
could not even establish a cool friend
ship between us.
Did she remember me, then, and hate
me for my Knowledge of that one dark
event in her past history? 1t seemed
so, indeed. Yet vas she blind2 Could
she not see that 1 loved herP Or was
it because, while sacrificing herself for
her fathers sake, 1 had inflicted the
wound whose scar she would carry to
the graveP Either way / was supreme
ly unhappy.
Six days elapsed before 1 summon
ed up the courage to put her feeling to-
ward me to the test. One afternoon l
entered her presence firmly resolved to
declare my love for her and abide by
the result. l could not be more wretch
ed than 1 was, and my love might at
least teach her to respect me.
She was alone when 1 entered. Some
thing in my face must have alarmed
her, for she arose hastily, and would
have left the room had l not called her
back.
''Julia Windsor" / said, will You
hear me?"
''That is not my name" she faltered,
turning very white.
mo; but it rus your name that night
in the far west, when you pointed r
pistol at my head and demanded my
money. Do you remember that nightp"
She made no reply for Il moment, but
stood with her face averted; then she
suddenly turned and confronted me
with a gesture OF contempt.
Eyes, I do remember" she answered
p~assionately. cam likely to forget
it while this, inflicted by your hand, re-
mains?" She pushed back her hair and
laid her finger upon the scar upon her
temple. "You struck me down, but to
pay me for my wound you left your
money in my pocket. 1t saved my
fathers life-for that l thank you.
But you may cancel all. Go tell the
world what you know. Wake the
tongue of SANDER against me. Say that
once upon q time / lived in abject
poverty, under an assumed name, and
that to succor a perishing father I rob.
bed passengers upon the road in male
attire, l do not fear you"
"You need fear nothing" 1 answer
ed, quietly, ''except that l shall love
you too much for your noble scarifce.'
"Love me!' she echoed, looking al
me suddenly with filing eyes. 81
thought that you despised me for my
unwomanly action"
Then you wronged me deeply" re
turned, approaching and taking heI
hand. "My remembrance of that night
is full of admiration and respect. Sine
I have known you intimately hav'
learned to love you--how truly ! hav'
no words to say
"But l threatened you with a pistol.
she answered demurely.
sit was harmless" / returned, smil
ing. 81 kept i'll have, it at hom'
now"