The Osceola times., 1884-09-20

and educated to quick expedients by the
practical exigencies of the section.
"No," replied young Daniel, pleasant
ly; "no mail has come in yet. You know
she only went over to Flintville last
Monday. Wen hear from her to-mor-
row or next day"
ave might 60 around to the hotel, and
make sure" said George Locke. "Mrs.
Piatt, will you await me here-oh as
sure you there is no impropriety. The
most irreproachable ladies of the camp
make no scruple of ceming in here to see
the collection of minerals and ores.
These things are different on the From
tier, you know. Here, Henry, will you
show Mrs. Piatt your cabinet?"
"Your plan seems to me far-fetched
and melodramatic," said young Daniel,
| gloomily.
George Locke had unfolded his plan
of action, based on information his prot
egee had given in their slow walk from
the postofiice to Daniels"
But all the Southerner's magnetic elo-
quencc could not convince the younger
man.
at is bit theatrical" Mr.. Locke con-
ceded; ''but practicable, think. At all
events it's our only salvation"
What is the use to discuss the mat
ter" said Jack Daniel, bitterly. Mrs.
French would no more let the Aylmer
come into her house, for any purpose
whatever, than she would go down to
the Continual ann accompany the Ayl-
mer in one Of her songs !'
"Mistake, Jack. You don't know
Mary Frenchs true heart and sweet
womanly charity as ! do. Jack, it's a
great pity you two could not have met
on equal ground. Or failing that, it's a
pity you ever met at all. Confound
this free and easy frontier life ! In any
place where social regulations exist
Mary French would never have come in
contact with a man in your position, and
you'd have been spared deal of suffer-
ing"
George" cried the other, fercely
what's the matter with you to-night?"
| For, indeed, this turning the knife in
another's wound was most uncharitable
of George Locke, the tactful He put his
hand on the young mans shoulder
"Jack," he said-and the tenderness of
his tone was like the tenderness of fa-
ther-"Jack, don't you know ] saw how
deep a wound you got tonight from
| Carries mother? You're fighting against
your own soul, Jack, as well as against
your love. Give it up and 90 away from
| this. Begin all over in a new country,
and with Mary French-I believe you
could do it. You ought. Nature made
you for each other"
"See here said Daniel, doggedly, "if
you want to risk your own fate, don't let
any scruple about interfering with me
deter you. I've had my little lesson; !
shall never aspire to Mrs. French's hand
again. Meanwhile, that poor old soul is
left, forlorn and weary, in place that
seems to her polluting, no doubt. Let
us get back to her"
"Jack," said Locke, 81 will tell you a
bit of secret. ] am not marrying
man. | was married at twenty five, and
within year my wife became insane.
Hereditary-bu it had been kept from
h ,r, poor girl She has been in an asy-
lum these twelve years. Now, as you
say, let us return to Mrs. Piatt. Make
some excuse for my leaving her, and
daily about for a while, before you bring
her up to Mrs. French's. | must have
time to explain to Mary"
"All right; but you understand have
nothing to do with to -mOrrows business
Barney Heiman will help you. He's
Just the man-horest, and hearty, and
true; not 80 overburdened with style as
some of the fellows who rank him"
you'll come with Carrie, yourself"
said George Locke, bluntly
Not /! Good God! don't you see the
difficulty of the situation?-the delicacy?
How can meet Mary French in com
panv with the Aylmer?"
"None TIE less you will do it. Precise
ly for the reason of your complicated re.
lations, we don't want Barney Heiman,
or any other, involved. Gene, Jack,
brace up, and have some style about
YOU said Locke. Disgusting his sympa-
thy in slang. "You must meet the OBJ
legations you have incurred. You're not
the first man who has found his honor
rooted in dishcnor.'"
Physically, Mrs. French was an admir-
able match for the noble mold of George
Locke's commanding type. Her we'll
built form was large, compact, and plump.
Her cheeks were ruddy, her gray eyes
clear, and her round facial lines all sweet
and wholesome. She was the sort of
woman men are apt to fancy-a sort of
domestic goddess. But it does not al
ways chance a goddess smiles on the
plans of the sons of men. George Locke
was astonished to find that his friends
objection to his proposition was based
on personal reasons. The mere detail
that it involved juggling with the reli-
gious faith of another had nothing re-
pugnant to her strong rationalism. He
perceived quite plainly that letween her
compassion for the unfortunate mother
and the zest she found in his original if
irreverent idea, she was fairly inclined
to confederacy-until the statement of
the Magdalen's identity. Mr.. Locke had
of course, been quite cognizant that Mrs.
French had broken with her intended
husband, week before the day set for
their marriage, on discovery of his en-
tanglement with the Aylmer And yet
he had confidently expected that gene
rosity and sense of justice would ignore
personal feeling in dealing with the mat
ter in hand.
'You talk as ifthat poor girl were the