The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-03-11

'Mercy!'' cried Jamie, ssstruck all Of
q heap as he afterwerd expressed il.
and catching the draft from her hand
I've made q mistake! 'Taint yours.
Gracious! they may be after me with
the officers for this. How could I be SO
5carelessP'' Il; y 4 81
There was nothing to do now but let
out 9. the whole secret, and explain the
mistake. : 5.2 III
a; d And to think I've left that sour old
maid your pretty valentine and taken
her after knocking her down
on on t. the street, too. o dear! it's too fun
N.Y." and overweight Jamie burst into
q peal Of laughter; then checked him
SELF to add soberly: But { it NAV be
more fun. than T d like If she finds out
and sends the officers after me before /
can get back! IL .FS5, n
Jamie swung SO rapidly from laugh
ter to dread that Celia was quite bewil-
dered, but WHOM she did fully under
stand, her terror was. greater than his.
sOh, hurry, Jamie, hurry and take it
back to herG she cried, almost push
ing him into the street. 81 II keepyour
supper warm, but do--d0 go at once!'',
and, grumbling at his own stupidity,
he obeyed.
Upon asking to see Miss Smith, a few
minutes later, he was conducted to q
cozy apartment back of the drawing
room he had seen, and before the serv-
ant could speak, after lifting the por-
there, had an. instant's glimpse at chat
lady, with tear bed immed eyes, sitting
before the tiled fire place, the lost valen.
tine in her hand. She turnei i impa-
.tiently. sss.tAV ell j ohn?'' and, annie
blunderingly explained matters, looked
from him to the valentine and back
again with puzzled and could it be?
even disappointed look upon her face.
It wasn't possible that she would
rather have that bit of perfumed, per
forated paper, with its lines about
"roses'' and ..posies'' and s'loyes'' and
".doves, = than draft for 81, 800, but it
certainly looked so! EEK lif.
Her face did not, however, regain its
sourests look as she asked: sAren't
you the boy who ran into me this morn
iingp', Ell 8
'And now want to rob me!'' she said,
sscowling at him, buv not so ferociously
that he failed to note suspicious CLEAN
in her eyes. $50 your name is Smith, .
she continued, not giving him time to
answer, sand your sister has nv in
itials. What is her given name and
yours?' 5355: ~, r. u s e.
HERS is Celia Herbert, ma am, and
mine is James Gay I was named for
my faith 49, y .iS N, s ,,5l.s;: Z. s5l,sl
:.What! She turned upon him So
suddenly that the boy retreated step
in dismay. Celia Herbert, James
Gay-my, name and hisp" and dropping
into n chair she gazed at Jamie with
eyes that seemed to burn in her pale
face, so piercing and bright they were.
She motioned Jamie to q chair, and,
as the man stepped forward to place it,
turned upon him tiercely.
81 John. what are you waiting fors
Col! and John promptly disappeared.
Then followed rapid questions and
dazed answers, for how could this lady
know enough to ask: 3 Il Z, (, \ q ;.
1...W here is your fatherP, Is he tall,
with brown eyes and mustachep Does
his hair curlp Has he a tiny mole on
the left side Of his nosep Are his eye
brows straight and heayyp Is his hand
large and strong and does he'' (here
her eyes seemed to look straight into
Jamie's souI ..does he wear, narrow,
chased ring on his left little finger:?''
.'He;-he did, ma'am, but - = Il
"But what?'' s 81
He is dead.n Jamie's tone was
low and reYerent, but the lady gasped
ut his words. ~ ST: 5sz
And your motherp'' she whispered.
r., Yes, ma am -she too. Celia and
are all alone" IS . 5..s2 ): ss.,
She rose and tremblingly took ia.
mie' hand in hers, while be was sur.
prised to see how softened her face
seemed. -.. & Y (. 2f3l 81 + :
St James, this is a strange thing. NV
name is Celia Herbert Smith and James
Gay Smith, your father, was my cousin,
the dearest one I had. We quarreled,
and he drifted away never knew
just what became Of him-and to find
his children thus! Yes. yes!'' she
unused, gazing into his face with far.
away eyes, sit is his very loook-so res
olute andproud how, plainly I can see
sitstillt And he gave his little daugh.
ter;a1y name. James, = suddenly rec
1iectin hersen,.W 31,3 IS your sister:
aoM q, - YOU I'VE VINO taxes care o.
your s !. I, !.
4 .. age care q us, ma am, ana we
I've IT. = y tWo snug little rooms with the
nan ISL Ihey re very nice folks
in y ana ne WORKS IN 9 brewery and
sue my res CAKES lot parties. & y re
very c91nlortHaply nxed, ma am; and, II
you y, Please, = n AFRAID Gena VIII De o.;
llishtgneu y u stay sc: SO long. She
ehi ME- =, 2, a ~ sure.
MISS -. -. Smith !atlghed, and the
sel.alheu, Whlte iooK lett her face.
Ihust GET petter. acquainted with
ny cousins a1' and thelr friends, she