Dodge City times., 1883-03-01

|
her pleasure in the ordinary concerns
were very dull and insipid.
She was just reading in the novel:
"Isabel. startled by the clash of bayo-
nets, darted frantically up the compan-
ion-way," when suddenly it seemed TO
her that some one was walking in the
room overhead.
"Perhaps it s Joe," she thought; and
going to the loot of the stairs, she called
him.
No answer followed.
''Any one up there?''
All was as still as the grave.
cit was only my fancy she said to
herself, and for ten or fifteen minutes
became once more absorbed in the vol
ume, when she heard footsteps. This
time well-dressed young man came
from the vines around the corner of the
porch. T.lda let fall the book with q
cry of alarm.
'.Pray don't be afraid" said the new
conner, in a pleasant voice. Il am a
friend of your fathers and have come
to ask a favor
.'Papa is at church." said the girl,
reassured. The man looked to her like
a gentleman. He had black eyes and
hair, and the "divinest smile!'
''Indeed! I'm very sorry. / was
| stopping at the hotel at the Center, and
! was robbed of my money and watch
last night. This morning received a
dispatch that my mother is i'll, and i
want to get home on this account, for
fear it's dangerous illness If l had
the money, [ could hire horse and
buggy to take me 10 Dash, where the
express train for New York is due this
afternoon. l am entirely without
money, and hoped I could borrow
twenty-five dollars from your father.
He knows me, and if he has it with him.
l am sure he would loan it to me. Now
| must wait. suppose, till he returns
from church, and then it will be too late
to catch the afternoon express Though
if | could only get to Dash. possibly l
might find some acquaintance there who
would help me out OF my difficulty"
''How sorry am that the horses are
all gone! l could drive you there my
self if Thunder was only here" said
Tilda.
Thunder! What fine name for a
horse! l wish he was here And to be
driven by so beautiful a young ladyw
and he stared at her pretty face
II named HIM after the colt driven
to death by the mad Duke of Argyle"
said Tilda, growing insensibly more and
more confidential.
"Ah! l might have known you were
something superior to the farmers
daughters in this regon-that is, judg-
ing from those have seen.''
" And seem to forget that you are
stranger said Tilda, blushing with
pleasure. 'If you were not friend of
my father -
"Certainly, one in whom he has the
utmost confidence; and talking of
strangers, | knew rich young fellow
who fell in love only last summer with
a pretty girl in log-cabin. He was
hunting. The father would not allow
his daughter to say much to him. But |
upon my word, if you'll believe me,
they were married in tn ee days after
he first saw her. He took her off on a
fast horse, and the old man chased
them with a yoke of o. en-. Fact Did |
you ever hear anything more ridicu-
lous? Now they are living in fine style
in Paris
"Splendid! just like a storyr' sad
Iilda. But then, l would 90 to the
ends of the earth with one l loved''
All, then, my sweet girl, 90 with
am rich and we'll connected, and
but come to think of Tiny money
and my watch are gone, and my mother
is S ok waiting for me-
'.Of course, l would not 90 with you
under any circumstances" said Tiida,
mildly.
But if come again 10 WOO, perhaps
o win you in the regular orthodox
perhaps YOU would not obiect?'
1ilda, with averted face, blushingly
'eplied that she could not tell.
And you will accept this diamond
that belonged to my mother.
md is family heir-loom--to remind
'Ou of me- while I am pone2''