The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-12-02
Select Story.
THE PINE TREE.

1t may have been that Dan Bresford's
health was poor,or it may have been that
his memory was good-more likely the
latter-but certain it is that in October
he found it necessary to drop office work
and take another run into the mountains
for rest, as he had done early in the May
before.
No doubt the failing health would
have found any fresh air and out of door
life beneficial, but memory and something
else argued that the region of the South
Park was the very best to be had, and
that Tom Larkin's ranch afforded the
finest accommodations of any in the
mountains, without mentioning the
sweet eyes, the winning voice and the
trim figure of pretty Bessie Larkin, old
Toms only daughter
1t may have been that Dan Bresford
only remembered the glorious mornings,
the perfect days, the tranquil evenings
that only the fresh breath of the pines
and the companionship of the great
peaks called him back to the little ranch
in the South Park, but when he dropped,
travel-stained and weary, from his sad
die at the well remembered door, and
saw, dimly outlined in the flicker of the
fire elight within, certain form that he
had not forgotten all summer long, the
folly of further deceit was swept tar from
him, and in the glad beat of his hear,
he found all that he had come for--the
full joy of being once again in the
presence of the only woman whom h'
loved.
For he would not disguise it now, no
even from the true.eyed who gave hin
her hand with little tremor and a glat
blush, when her old father had greeted
their returning guest, and called her for
ward, and Bessie saw in Bresford's fac
all that she had dreamed since he bad
her goodbye, five months before so tina
without a word, two hearts We're happ,
in the mountain ranch that night.
| Two hearts, and perhaps three; for oil
Tom had some fresh tobacco, and, more
over, he admired the "city chap as on
among a thousand, being capable an
willing to endure a frontiersman's lif
without murmur-but not the fourtl
For there was fourth.
Carl Desmond, old Toms assistant, wa
not happy.
| Carl was newcomer, q man some To-
ty years of age, whose past was utterl
unknown to the ranchers about the parl
but who had proven himself goo
huntsman and herdsman, and who ha
found a home in the cabin of Tol
Larkin three months before
Since his advent little had been learI
ed of him EXCEPT that he had come frol
'the river" and whether an outlaw or
murderer no one knew. 1t was euoug
to these rough hewed diamonds that II
man was good shot, brave and civil
they cared for little else, and o,althoug
a comparative stranger, he had alread
made himself place in the park.
And he had done more. He had fa
en- deeply in love with Bessie Larkin.
The girl knew it, but even befol
Bresford's second advent the thought {
any lover but one was distasteful to he
and little wonder is it that she had lookt
with more and more GOODNESS upon Il
gathering passion of this half Germa
half-Spanish sultor, until he had grow
almost desperate at the girls resistanc
And now that Bresford had appear
-now that the love light which he hi
striven in vain to awaken burned
Bessie's eyes-now that the love
were together and knew each of Il
others affection-Carl Desmond saw tn
his suit was doomed to certain failure
And as the night grew over old Ton
ranch this mans heart was far from hs
py, but within it despair held sway, a
later fierce desire for revenge.
But even as this took form the natl
cunning of the unsuccessful lover pli
ned for him, and, from the day that
came, Bresford found Desmond an apl
rent friend, thoughtful, willing and sile
yet ever at his side, with suggestion
information, if desired.
From the first the newcomer v
j. pleased, but Bessie, knowing more IL
her lover of the man, doubted the int
of Desmond's acts; and so it happen
one glorious evening, as Bresford t
the girl We're returning from Il
canter along the plain, and rode cl
together in the golden, purpling twill