Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-04-15

i
and quite idle. TIC obtained conven
tional introductitu- Gwynno wa,
his name-and he constituted himself
E1iie's veritablc double. On the street.
at church, Mr.. Bert Gwynne was al.
ways present, and he assumed the atti-
trde with such an of-course-it-is-agree.
able-to-you air, that Ellie became in.
ccnsed. and determined TO give him a
piece Of her mind.
One day he commenced to poke fun
at "old Gabc Barker" Then the
dynamite exploded.
Hes not old" she flashed.
Forty II he's an hour" insisted the
provoking.
''T say he is not" declared the frank
little lady. ANY how he's not pre-
suming boy;" greatacrimony in the last
words.
Hell make you marry him after
while; now you see. lie bought up cv-
cry one Of those notes, " cried the badly
conducted.
"what notesp Tell mer' Efie was
aflamc.
Your fathers Who do You sup
pose paid the debts? Why. Gabc Bark
er, out Of his own pocket This very
house is his" continued he.
"You are wicked person, and don't
believe one word you say" burst out
Ellie.
1T isn't such mighty thing after
all. I'd do ever so much more, Ellie,
II you'd let mo. But You called me
presuming, and il made me angry
80 YOU are. / hate You, and Tn
going this minute TO Mr.. Barker" She
flung on her hat
II wouldn't Let il alone. He's
well able TO do il II he wishes" Bert
thought he had never seen Ellie so de-
sirable. as with that angry pout and
the infinite air Of scorn with which she
regarded him.
"NIr. Barker, is it SOP Tell mo.
will know" with tear-fushcd face she
raidcd in on him. "They say that papa
died-insOlvent and--and you bought
up his no-otes, aad-tell mel" she im-
plorcd passionatcly.
''Eflie, don't you will be III. Who
told you such cruel things?" He shut
fed his papers in agitation.
"Bert Gwynne. He says IL is the talk
OF the place, and"
Heavens! What has she almost said;
Hell make you marry him after n
while" He marry herl such an insig-
nificant nobody.
"Efic, listen; am not going to deny
what have done
Then YOU did ohr' She went
down BY the still old clients chair in
n heap, and hid her face in her hands.
4srLf1I ,,.k,s ,,,1I J,1 Tt,a or.I
itors threatened. There was nothing
to pay them, and you looked so little
and helpless. Besides. il is only dis
charging an old obligation. Your
father was very kind TO me when was
poor lad. Ellie. don't be angry
(Sob, sob from the rounds of the
chair.
"Is the house yours too?n
"By heavens. Ellie, II you ask me any
thing more I'll deny every thing dcs-
peratcly.
rs ii, l sayP" tcmpcstuously.
yes"
Gabrielle Barker was as ahashed rs IL
he had been confronted with selling IL
legal whisky.
''Do you hold those notes?"
("Confound that meddlcsome Gwynne
boy; I'll thrash him to morrow, il |
live). Yes, Efiic, but they are yours
have left them to you in my will
Hero they are" laying bundle in her
lap.
Take them away. I will not have
them. she said excitedly. "Unlcss-
Mr. Barker-you tell me how Lean
pay--you.
'Will you. If l tell you, EiIic?"
He opened his arms, and she crcpt
close to his heart, whispering:
'Yos, Gabriel"
"How could you afford it? Didn't II
take quantities Of money!
"YOu remember an uncle who died
in California year ago? He left me a
hundred thousand dollars. | have
saved twenty-five thousand and tho
house; so you won't be quito destitute,
sweetheart" "
destitute? Sheba's queen was not a.
wealthy. She didn't own my Gabriel -
They were married in the morning.
That evening, as they sat together in
the library (for they took no wedding
Journey, he leaned toward his white
robed treasure.
"Efiic, will you burn those notes for
meP"
He kindled q bright blaze on the wide
hearth, and Ellie took the fat bundle
and commenced, woman-likc, to unite
il.
mo, nor he objected. ''burn it So"
"But II viii burn quicker" the will
ful little fingers tugged at the strings.
81 desire you not to open il. Ehie.n
''But, Gabriel, will Out dropped
a sealed letter. directed to ''Aliss Eflie
Ford" Underneath was scrawled:
10 be delivered in case of my death" "
The despoiling fingers closed upon it
greedily.
"No, Ellie" he pleaded
Gabriel solemnly, ''listcn, and
believe me; I shall never bo really
happy unless read this letter"
I've thought the same.
Hush about Eycl ] never ate any
interdicted apples. and the nineteenth
century Eve deliberately seated herself
to enjoy her forbidden fruit. Il was
letter Of impassioned love. but Just at
It's close was the clause he did not wish
her TO see. IL showed a jealous pang
at her preference for Bert Gwynne.
But that one sentence Of renunciatiOn
bound her 10 him more closely than n
world Of prOtestations. "My fruo love,
how could you imagine such a thing!
That stupid boy! should never have
loved you as well, Gabriel. if hadn't
read this. for It shows you noble fell
low. It'd Bits.
TO THE POINT.