The Red Cloud chief., 1879-12-18

hIch was not altogether true. The
!" city chap" had begun perhaps ip
rather a trifling mood. He considered
the remarkable interest which h. took
in this little rustic was all due to his
artistic perceptions. About siN weeks
before, in passing through the village.
his horse had stumbled upon q biz
bowldcr In front II The widow door.
and onc of the yellow wheels had come
10 grief. II wa> the most natural thing
in the world for Mr.. Morton to knock
at the nearest door, and equally natural
that the widow should ask him in. Kit
~ lay sound asleep, with her curly head
on the kitchen table. All the yellow tan
glc Of II tumbl"i careIc--ly about iherz-
guI-ite line II her brow and curve ii
her rounded check. Her brown la,hc-
just merged into the flu-h upon h.riaccr
and her red lipS were parted, showing
the white even teeth within. Mr.. Nor
ton was suddenly -cizcd with a color
1T S enthusiasm. The lDw-ccIlcd room.
with IT, wooden ~rafteT- -mok"--ca-pn"d
richly, the quaint primitive fur
UIrure about him. TIA" ruddy face
and rustic attire Of the widow A. she
held ID. candle ~ that il -hpuc fall upon
the sleeping @iTl-al! these impressed
Mr.. Norton mind, entirely, a. be- be-
liovcd. from an ideal point Of view. He
wished AN arts, friend Of his might bc
there al the moment: h. might MAKE a
pretty little penny by the Inspra-
liDu: the whole thing WAS one ~ thOs"
happy lir'Ic effects that 4 G!cuzr could
maxi" a ma>icrpIcc""i
Laws "a mercy said the widow,
with kindly curiosity, there alnt no
body hurt, | hope"
.Oniy the wagon wheel, said Nor
ton.
And YOU want 10 cit {" town. Well,
now. | reckon Joe Com-,pck must bc
up and about vet. saw a light n the
farm a bit ago. II Joc'- up, he'll take
you down To the railroad
Does every body 20 10 bed here al
uightfall2'' sand Nr. Morton, taking out
hi- watch, but finding j, hard To with
draw hi eve, lpng enough from that
picture in Ia. caudlc-light to hook al the
time. 1t cant bee : o'clock"
well. YOU see. ia" Young foin~
vent c~hc,lnut,in@ to-day, and They're
about iuckcr"d out but if youN wait q
minute. IN get a lantern, sos You can
pick your way down the back lane.
That u shortcut T." the Cpm-I"ck farm
and ii jos up, he'll take You down
reasonable. II" cant Toe done his chores
vet.
Il hope he'll bunglr long enough
about hi~ chores {" hc mp when | vt
there. said Mr.. Morton.
He had un, taken hi eyes from the
sleeping beauty, and Ms suddenly sur
pri~c,l to SEE her III, her head from her
arm and open Wild" her eyes upon him,
while the flush dcrpencd in h"r face.
ami even stole down upon her throat
aud IN, white bit Of her neck that was
visible.
''.Io, never hun~ir~ about any thing,
~hc -lid.
al IA" q friend Of yours said Mr..
Morton m"luIaring hi voice Ia a
dcrfully gentle tome.
Never mind what hr is replied
Kitty, holly q" bat he's no bunglcr-"l
that you may hc ~urr."
Here She Slipped away and vanished
uu a dark little staircase, and suddenly
all the charm went ont # the picture.
Tho central figure taken away"
said Nj. Morton 10 himself, - he picked
his WAY L. the Cum-tnck farm, ""t
cuur~, ihr whole effect i married; hut
it WAS 4 fine micrior-vcry fine"
That .~.ccujral figure" followed Mr..
Morton - the farm. and all the way
down L. the railroad. He found Joe
Cnm>'nck up and ready to accommodate
him. and hr had la conccdc with Kitty
that Joe was no hunglcr; there WAS =
quick capacity ahou; the sturdy hands
that handled the rcinS. and a natural
trace aud yigor in all his movement
, .llr little tina, hc had said wa~ tcr~r and
10 the point. hut Mr.. Morton found him
t~ari,uru and reserved after the first mile
, or two. He had vcutnred to speak of
p the idmalrs of the cottage.
Il think it probable the Young girl
WAS one Of the nuiting party OF to-day
said Mr. Morton.
"MI"rr'u likely" said joe.
/, Isn't her name Benson Kitty Ben
SOM
j., Il shouldn't wonder if twas" said
Joe. and rclap~cl into -ruft m"nu~yi!a-
= hlr>. The road WAS rough and dark.
and the drive WAS exceedingly disagree
I able. Mr.. Morton WIS glad To- TALL back
, upon hi, memory and imagination for
\ amusement. The bit of interior he
/. could recall vividly enough t. repro
| ducc :" hi friend sydney that night, if
: he should happen Ia meet him 1T the re-
: rrptiuu. There WAS every shade IF
( brown In the sketch. from the "chrc in
/. the ~rtftrrS Ia the lighter TINS i'm the
I rirl'~ hair. Kitty had been asleep TOR
D three hours II least. and Joe Com>tock
= was dreaming Of her under i:- patch
I work quilt. when Mr.. Morton reached
d the CITY. Il wa> long after midnight
A when hc got 10 the reception, and At
I least one Young heart there had lost all
1 zrSr in the eutcriainmeni-tw" hearts,
I for an cid one in the vicinity had grown
- exceedingly heavy aS the hours wore
: AWAY.
e It's strange Mr.. Morton don't come.
t Madeline" Mrs. Van Nlect said 10 her
daughter.
Yes. mamma" said poor Madeline.
Didn't he>ay he would he he here.
t Madcline?"
n ..Oh YES. mamma; please don't say
: any more about it" and then the elder
r lady walked majeStically away. the
l feathers upon her head nodding in
L mournful unison with her thoughts.
And At that IN Mr.. Morton en-
, Tered. making his WAY 10 a group of cN-
l.. gui>itelv dressed and beautiful women.
j.. who received him with enthusiasm
n there really were 50 very few available
>. parties that season. and Mr.. Morton WAS
n 80 uneNceptionable in every way. and
had shown some decided inclination 10
range himself" and make somebody
comfortable in their mind about the
wretched,y uncertain and ~pvocra>tinat-
inc future. He was still in the market,
: though his attentions had been ra;hcrpro-
d nounced of late 10 Miss Van Nleet: but
she WAS cold and reserved, and must
: take her chance-the tournament was
e open Ia all; 80 al these beautiful wom-
;, eu tiuttered their fans, and in their soft
K IL modulated musical voices said charm
: ING things to the tardy arrival. But Mr..
lie Morton. with many i winning smile and
= whispered compliment, Went l~i>tleS>iy
y by. His face wore that vacuou> and
., - rh6.h =, ,.,-,l...l :.