Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-12-11

"BOucta is not here, is ne" asked the
bold rider as he took his seat.
'sNOn; hee 90 long time, yes. An oW
70 doc, 'Sieur Hareese? Hi Opes 20
wee" and AlOsine preferred him glass
Of water.
"Oh, Pm very well, mamselle," and
he swallowed the water as only thirsty
man can. ''rm very sorry Boucta Is
gone for I came over here on very i'm
pOrtant business. The truth is, I want
ed to ask HIM a question in which yOu
yourself are somewhat interested"
The sunlight danced on the prairie
sWells. The blossoms Of the wild indigo
and the tall stems Of the bushes IN the
water hole away of beyond the corn
crib seemed to tremble with delight
Roseate hues tinted the cumulous clouds
and the plaintive whistle Of the ''killdee''
overhead became the vOluptuOus notes
OF the hooking bird. Alosine had been
looking forward to this moment for the
last twenty years, and now it had come.
Ali how noble that Misieu Hareese
looked now. Such strength, such dash,
such manly beauty. Her heart almost
choked her. Its PUlsatiOns were rapid
and strong.
Cham ware sorree dat he ham gone,
'Sieur Hareese," she was just able to say.
get was so good OBJ 20 70 to come"
"Oh, don't mention that, mamselle.
I have been thinking over this matter
FOR a long time, and must confess that
was a little afraid of speaking to you
about it. I thought I would see Boucta
first"
As Alosins looked at Aleck Harris now
the tears Welled up into her eyes. She
had seen his comfortable house on the
prairie and had a very fair idea OF his
herd. Even while he was talking she
could fancy herself seated in the big
rOcking-chair on the gallery Of the Har-
ris home, dressed In pink and white cal
leo, with a breastpin of imposing size
glistening in her bosom. She had long
ed for these things all her life.
"Yeesl 'Sieur Hareese, my brudder he
ware nice to me all de time, han 60 knO
what 90 like hi like" Then she thought
that if 'Sieur Hareese waited for her
brother a day would be lost, and In such
affairs a day means an eternity. So,
holding her sunbOnnet before her face,
Just low enough to permit her big black
eyes to peer over the edge, she said:
''Spose mi brudder no come teel dee eeb-
ening, weel 20 tax seat han wait 70 imp
~ can't wait. You see I've got to de-
eide to-day"
She was sure the eventful hour had
arrived. She looked into the open door
at the front room. Surely, the Glare
ese'' house was better than this. She
knew of his carpeted floors, marbletOp
tables and handsome pictures, and she
yearned to become their mistress. She
resolved to draw him out at once.
"Aleck''-it was the first time she
had ever pronounced that name aloud,
and she trembled at her audRcity, but
she must go on. ''Aleck, hi woOed be
much 'biged ef 20 WoOed speak to me
JUS like 70 woOed speak to mi brudder.
Wat 20 want 70 hask i'm 70 can hask
me. Fet viii be all de same"
Aleck Harris looked mp into her face
! squarely and frankly. He had not the
slightest suspicion Of what had caused
those deep blnshes and bright sparkle in
those eyes. He was q mere babe in such
matters.
''Well, if I must, why I must, but I
| brother. You know how hard it is to
move a woman when her affections are
concerned, and I confess I haven't much
faith In moving yOu."-Alosine Whis-
( pered almost inaudibly: "YO' must not
say dat. 1.-The truth is, old man FagOt
over on the bayou, has offered me his
fast mare, that he bought in New Or
leans, for S10O. Now, I know how much
You like that pet horse Of yours, but
prefer him to Fagot's and I came over to
see If you would sell. If Boucta was
here 1 know I could make a trade"
The Young lady was looking him now
squarely in the eye. With every word
he uttered her face grew Paler and paler.
''Sieur Hareesel Stop right dare.
hall de time thinks 20 one gentleman,
han I Railways says so to my brudder,
/ but hi can no stan dis. 70 come ere to
suit a POOR leetle girl hin or hOwn 'Ouse.
| 70 har de most aWefullest man what
never see. Eet is too much, too much, -
and she rushed to her room and threw
herself on the bed.
Harris was staggered. He could not
account for the strange actions OF the
Young lady. He knew he had said
nothing to wound her feelings. But
yvbv TINS outburst2 AT last It dRWned
upon him that the lady had misinter-
prgted his visit as one OF EOOing. 1t
struck him all OF heap. Such a thought
had never entered his mind He could
hear her sobs from an inner ROOM and
they touched him. After all, 1t might
be better for him TO take a wife He
had become tired Of living alone. As he
looked across the prairie dotted with cat
tie. some Of them his own, he reflected
over the matter. He might do worse
AIosine was not bad looking, and was a
GOOD domestic girl. Yes, he would try
| Ii. He called to her, but no answer came,
Then he arose and approached her room.
He was met with q volley OF shrieks-
'sAlosine, my darling, VIII you take
me nov. It is you and not the horse
want.
Alasl his words fell upon a deserted
house. he had hesitated before the
closed door. He felt that 1t would not
lie proper for him to enter, so he called
IL q tender voice. .tAlosinel AlosineP p
but everything vas silent. Fleet as
/ deer the young lady had He'd over the
/ prairie, and she never heard the anectlon-
/ ate call Of her now lover.
He turned, mounted his pony, and
rode homsWard, regret6ng that ne had
I frightened the timed Alosine-
The brother, Boucta, called upon him
/ the next day for an explanation when
I Harris told cf Alozine's misapprehension
OF his object and bargain was made for
her pet horsa Not a word did Harris
say Or his sudden resolution 90 esk the
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