The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-16

!
unconsciously on his arm. lie grasped this
| face changed.
| Il couldn't waitan longer to see you. Flip
| 30 | camo hero anyway" ho went on gayly. Il
| thought 20 hang round and get a chance 10
| speak to you first. when l fell afoul OF the old
man. He didn't know me, and tumbled right
in my little game. Why; do you believe he
wants to hire me for my grub and liquor. to
act az u sort of sentry over you and the ranch n
And here he related with great gusto the sub
stance OF his interview. e reckon as he's
that suspicious" he concluded. I'd. better
play it out now as I've begun, only it's mighty
hard l can't see you here before the fire in
your fancy toggcry. Flip. but must dodge In and
out OF the wet underbrush in these yer duds
OF yours that l. picked up in tho old place
In the Gin and Ginger Woods"
Then you came here Just TO see me 2" asked
Flip.
Il did"
For only that2"
only that"
Flip dropped her eyes. Lance had got his
other arm around her waist. but her resisting
little hand was still potent.
Listen" sho said at last without looking
up. but apparently talking to tho ntrudng
arm when Dad comes I'll get him to send you
to watch the diamond pit. 1t isn't far; it's
warm. and"
What"
I'm come after bit and see you. Quit
foolin' now. If you'd only have come here like
yoursolf-like-lke-a white man."
The old man." interrupted Lance, would
have just passed mo on to the summit.
couldn't have played the lost fisherman ON him
at this time of year"
'Ye could have been stopped ut the Cross
ing by high water you silly" said the girl.
1t was" This grammatical obscurty re-
ferred to the stage coach.
Yes. but might have been tracked to this
cabin, And look here. Flip" he said. suddenly
strengthening himself and lifting the girls
face to a level with his own. Il don't want you
to lie any more for me. 1t amt right"
All right. Ye needn't go to the pit then.
and won't come"
Flip"
And here's Dad coming. Quckl"
Lance chose to put his own Interpretation on
this last adjuration. The resisting little hand
was now lying quite limp on his shoulder. He
drew her brown. bright face near his own felt
her splced breath on his lips. his cheeks. his
hot eyelds. his swimming eyes. kissed her.
hurriedly replaced his wig and blanket and
dropped beside the fire with the tremulous
laugh of youth and innocent first passion. Flip
had withdrawn to the window. and was looking
out upon the rocking pines.
He don't seem to be coming" said Lance.
with a half shy laugh.
No." responded Flip demurely pressing her
hot oval cheek against the wet panes; Il
reckon / was mistaken. You're sure" she
added. looking resolutely another way. but still
trembling like a magnetic needle toward
Lance. as he moved slightly before the fire.
you're sure you'd like me to come to your"
Sure. Flip2"
"Hushw said Flip as this reassuring query
Of reproachful astonishment appeared about to
be emphasized by q forward amatory dash Of
Lances; hush! he's coming this time. sure"
1t was. indeed. Farley. exceedingly wet ex-
ceedingly bedrasgled. exceedingly sponged out
as to color. and exceedingly profane. 1t ap-
peared that there was. indeed. tree that had
fallen in the run" but that. far from divert
ing the overflow into the pit. 1t had established
back water" which had forced another out
lot. All this might have been detected at once
by any human intellect not distracted by cor
respondence with strangers. and enfeebled by
habitually scorning the intellect OF its own pro-
gentor This reckless selhshness had further
only resulted in giving "rheumatics" to that
progenitor, who now required the external ad-
ministratlon Of opodeldoc to his limbs and the
internal administration OF whiskey. Having
thus spoken Mr.. Farley. with great prompti-
tude and infantine simplicity. at once barred
two legs Of entirely different colors and
mutely waited for his daughter to rub them.
II Flip did this all unconsciously, and with the
mechanical dexterity Of previous habit 1t was
because she did not quite understand the
savage eyes and impatient gestures OF Lance
in his encompassing wig and blanket, and be-
cause it helped her to voice her thought.
Yen never be able to take yer watch at the
diamond pitto-night. Dad" she said: and I've
been reck'nin' you might set the squaw there
Instead. can show her what to do"
But to Flip's momentary discontinue. her
father promptly objected. Mebbee I've got
suthin' else for her to do. Mobbee may have
my secrets too-eh2 2" he said. with dark sig
niflcance. at the same time administering
significant nudge to Lance. which kept up the
young mans evaporation. No. she'll rest yer
bit just now. I'll set her to watchin suthin'
else. like as not, when want her." Flip fell into
one OF her suggestive silences. Lance watched
her earnestly. Modified by single furtive glance
from her significant eyes; the rain dashed
against the windows and occasionally spattered
and Kissed In the hearth OF the broad chimney,
and Mr.. David Farley, somewhat assuaged by
the internal administration Of whiskey. grew
more loquacious. Tho genius OF incon-
gruity and Inconsistency which generally ruled
his conduct came out with freshened vigor
under the gentle stimulation OF spirit. "On
an evening like this" he began. comfortably
settling himself on the floor beside the chin
ney. ''ye might rig yerself out in them new
buds and fancy hxins that that Sacramento
shrimp sent ye. and let your own flesh and
blood see ye. II that's too much to do for your
ole dad. ye might do it to please that digger
sQuaw as q Christian act" Whether in the
hidden depths OF the old mans consciousness
there was feeling Of paternal vanity in show
ing this wretched aborigine the value and
Importance Of the treasure she was about to
guard l cannot say, Flip darted an interroga-
tory look at Lance. who nodded quiet assent.
and she flew into the inner room. She
did not linger on the details OF her toilet.
but reappeared almost the next moment
in her new nnery, buttoning the neck OF her
gown as she entered the room, and chastely
stopping at the window to Enthusiastically
pull up her stocking. The popularity OF her
situation increased her usual shyness; she
played with the black and gold beads OF hand
lan alnak 49, 90