The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-05-20
A BROKEN IDOL.

Mark Challoner had lived to be forty
three years old before he saw a woman
he cared enough for 10 ask her TO be his
wife; but the time had come for him At
last. as ii comes 10 all men once in their
existence, the only thing for which life
seemed worth living for-and it dated
from the minute he had first seen Laura
Bertram's witching face.
1t happened SO accidentally-Mark
Challoner, a grave. business man, head
Of a prosperous city firm, had many O
time felt almost terrified to think how
nearly 1t had come TO not happening at
all. He had been late for his train
something that did not occur once in q
year. so regular and methodical were
his habits-and n dainty young girl.
with big. velyety-brown eyes, and car
nation pink cheeks, and a mouth like
twin strawberries for l~usciousness Of
tint and temptingness of beauty, was
late too. and the two met, fate order
ed. on the platform at Ludgate Hill,
three seconds after the train had left.
That is exasperating, to say tho
least" he said. rs he turned, with q
half-vexed smile, towards his fellow
miserable.
iHtns Nhtn ~ saw lnt Truthful, GA-
quisite face. in all its girlish bloom and
beauty. there went a feeling ovor and
through. and about him that was
strangely unlike anything he ever be-
o had experienced in his forty-three
years.
She made her broad white forehead
quicker into a charming little frown a.
she turned from the receding train to
his plain. honest face-just such a face
as q woman would ~instinctively trust
out of a thousand faces anywhere.
Il am very much disappointed. I
wouldn't have missed il for anything;
my friends will meet the train and won
der what has become Of me-"
She turned back, disconsolately. tow
ards the ladies' waiting-room.
If you will allow me to be of SER
vice." he said. gravely, with that delic-
iously strange sensation thrilling all
over him, 81 will telegraph for you;
and as / also have to wait for the next
train. l shall be most happy to sec you
safely TO your friends"
Thanks, very much, please do telo-
graph for mo to MI. Lancaster, at the
Willows. Buckley, and explain. ! am
his niece"
MI. Challoner's face suddenly bright
ened.
''Mr. Lancaster is q valued friend Of
mine. i am quite sure he would truss
you with me-" and he smiled. MY
name is Mark Challoner I; my home e
just the other side Of Bromley"
That was their very informal intro
duction; and. four hours later, Mrs.
Lancaster repeated it, tremendously,
in her drawing-room ut the Willows.
And then
Well, il had nearly all happened in
the Winter, nearly all of which season
Laura had spent with her uncle and
aunt. and tho consequence was tina
Mark Challoner had asked tho girl t.
marry him, and she had not said him
nav.
In all the wide world there was no
u happier. prouder man than Mari
Challoner.
II will be so good-so good TO her.
10 was thinking rapturously. Ssh,
shall have everything in the world sh,
Tants-thcre shall not be n wish un
gratiiied that | can hear her OK
press or imagine she thinks. NJ,
bright. bonny, little. darling, who hai
flooded my grave, quiet life with sucl
blessed sunshinei My little Laura!
wonder how it ever came to pass tina
she could care for mePn
1t certainly did seem somewha
strange, when a purely d~isintcrestet
party took it into consideration. Laur:
Bertram, young-twenty or more year,
younger than he; she was radiantl,
beautiful. gay and girlish, while hel
betrothed was grave, quiet, almost re
firing in his disposition. and possessing
very few claims to being considered ,
good-looking man.
But he was, SO thoroughly good. II,
was rs gentle as n woman, vet ever,
bit manly and resolute in whatever h,
did or said; and. with n might and
force that sometimes amazed himself
he loved the girl that promised to be hi.
wife, and who had let him clasp her Il
his heart, and received his ardent kisse.
on her smiling mouth.
x Yes, he was happy-undeniably, per
fectly happy; and into that rapturou,
peace, that brooded like a blessing ovei
him, a friend Of his entered. q man hon
est and true, and sarcastic and plain
spoken, but whose out-nnd-out freenes.
of speech had never touched Mark I'm,
til this occasion, when, 30 very natural.
ly, Laura's name was mentioned.
II haven't said anything about youl
engagement, for | really didn't think i,
would mount to much," John Clayton
said, in his off-hand way.
Didn't think il would amount Il
much!' Mark repeated. in u sort OF
amazed, mechanical way.
mo. 1 thought it wouldn't. and hop
ed the same. / don't approve Of it, by
any means, Mark. That girl don't care
a straw for YOU"
MIR. Challoner looked at him in as
tonishment for a second, then a slow.
red stain anne into his face.
THAT sounds rather rough. old fol
low. Don't forget its a sacred subject
to me-"
STUFF and no~nsense! It's o subject
that can't be too highly illuminated
with all the common sense that can be
broughtto bear. tell you. you are in love
until you are blind rs u bat, and l shall
do my duty by you. That pretty little
girl don't care that for you, Mark; and /
hato to see you mako such an idiot OF
yourself"
'.See here. Clayton" and Mark Chal.
loner's low. cool voice WAS ominou.lv