Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-01-19

She decided upon paying brief visit 10 a
certain remote village, best made known
by a sentence copied from a previously
mentioned note Of Mr.. Richard Oxford's:
Il shall often think Of him. far away in
that quiet little village Of Drifton In Penn
sylvania.n
Informing her aunt that she had heard a
great deal about the coal mincs and the
unique sccnery Of the mining district Of
Pennsylvania, she declared her intention Of
Immediately inspecting tho region around
about Hazlcton, in Luzernc County.
Under assumed names, thcy registered at
little hotel in the village Of Upper Lehigh,
within two miles OF Drif.on, in Pennsyl-
vania
Prof John Fairfax, a dignihcd, gray
haired old gentleman, was in charge Of fe-
male seminary in tho town. He was wcll-tO-
do only in tho size Of his family, consisting
Of several daughters and two sons, Arthur
and Dana Fairfax.
Mr. Arthur Fairfax was abscnt--no one
knew where. Still this fact, although not all
rcassuring, was by no means conclusive
proof Of his guilt. SO 'my Lady Lydia" re-
solved 70 profit by his absence.
Ere her departure she had learned much
about the town, more about tho FaiITaxcs,
and, most Of all, about Mr.. Arthur Fairfax.
She heard, too, the history Of hi. disappoint-
monts and his present unhappy state Of in
decision. But, tho more she learned about
him and the moro she saw Of his fathers
family, the more she began TO think that II
was impossible that he should be any thing
else but innocent
Lydia was what might be called prnc-
teal dreamer; and, 10 be candid, many Of
her musings latterly were chiefly upon one
eubject, and much In tho following extra
ordinary vein:
Her estates were largo; her tenants man
fold. They, Of course, would vote for the
man OF her choice, should he offer himself
Gs Parliamentary candidate. How much
better would be her life could she marry a
man whom she might thus help How much
happier Than II mated with some roUc, her
equal in wealth and station, perhaps, but
tired Of life and in BIAS; whom was no am
bition and no apparent interest in the world
az large.
These, and thoughts like these Instant
~ fioatcd through her mind. Can she be
blamed If thoy were in connection with but
one man.
Her very mission, together with tho ex-
tremely satisfactory results Of her invcsti-
cations as 10 Fairfax's character aud ante
ccdonts were such as could scarcely fail 10
interest the coldest and most fastidious
woman. Lydia found her interest growing
SO warm that she, at last, allowed herself
10 como 10 a dclnitcly-shapcd resolve, al-
though somewhat staggered at first, by the
very boldnoss and unwomGnly nature Of
the latter. In character IL was somewhat
as follows;
When she should eventually find this man,
Fairfax, he and fate together with little
n
hersolf must once and Tor all ''docde this
natter as she was pleased 20 call il.
But deep down in her heart was the con
yiction never uttered, yot all-poworful that
for what she gaye she must receive genuine
coin IN return.
Let the reader pause o moment before
uttering his hastily-formed opinion as 10 the
somewhat remarkable course adopted by
this equally remarkable young woman, and
allow the writer 10 repeat certain facts al
ready given.
She had always been accustomed 10 hav-
ing her own way. She had lived long
enough In her own country 10 realize the
false and mcrccnary spirit OF most OF the
men whose rank would allow them % aspire
30 her hand. Something m her heart told
her that WHOM she esteemed this Fairfax,
she was esteeming genuine man. But her
very rank and wealth, she thought, would
be apt 10 hold him aloof, even II he 'yere 10
fall In love with her; perhaps most impOr-
tnnt-fheir respective homes were In widely
different continents and events might never
again throw them into each others way
Thus reasoned Madamoisellc Lydia, and
II she reasoned oddly aud somewhat DIFF
fercntly FROM tho conventional ways Of
precise society, she. at least, reasoned cor
rectly and naturally, aud followed not
form, but her own heart. As Emerson has
it, she had written on the lin.cls Of her
door-poBt, 'Whim'"
But where was this Fairfax 10 be foundl
His own fanily did not know. She y-es at
hor wits end 20 discover some means 70
learn his whereabouts and to meet him, 80
that tho meeting might appear accidental
Fortune helped her, as Il always helps
those who help themselves.
Ere leaving the village abe made q part
Ing coil en- the Fairfnxes Tho family was
n great JOY a letter had Just that mo-
mont been received from the niissing son.
Mre Fairfax wes reading Il aloud, and her
csllor taking kindly intorcst aud begging
hpf " proc>edl shq c9a.innoa
e. a..