The National tribune., 1888-05-03


ued Mr.. McClosky apologetieally, he's known
me a long time"
But his daughter had already dismissed the
question with her usual directnesS. IN be
down IN a few moments, father" she said after
a pause, but don't say anything to him about
it-dont say I was abed"
Mr. McCiUsky's face beamed. "1ou was
sllers good girl, jimmy, he said, dropping on
one knee the better TO imprint a respectful kiss
on her forehead. But Jenny caught him by
the wrists, and for moment held him captive.
Father said she, trying to fix his shy eyes
with the clear, steady glance Of her own, ali
the girls that were there tonight had someone
with them. Name Robinson had her aunt;
Lucy Rance had her mother Kate Pierson had
her sister-ail, except me, had some other
woman. Father dear" her lip trembled just
little, " wish mother hadn't died when was
so small. / wish there was some other woman
IN the family besides me. ! amt lonely with
you, father dear; but if there was only some
one, you know, when the time comes for John
and me e"-
Her voice here suddenly gave out, but not
her brave eyes, that were still fixed earnestly
upon his face. Mr. McClosky, apparently trac-
ing out pattern on the bedquIlt, essayed
words of comfort.
Thar Amt one ofthem gals ez you've named
jimmy, ez could do what you've done with
whole Noah's ark Of relations at their backs
Thar amt one ez wouldn't sacrifice her nearest
relation 90 make the strike that you hey. Ez
10 mothers, maybe, my dear, you're doIn' better
without one" He rose suddenly, and walked
toward the door. When he reached ii, he turn
ed, and, In his old deprecating manner, said
Don't be long, jimmy" smiled, and vanished
from the head downward, his canvas slippers
asserting themselves resolutely to the last.
When Mr. McClosky reached his parlor again.
his troublesome guest was not there. The de-
4.f,7 lae,Ti nr-
four books lay upon the floor number of
Photographic views of the Sierras were scatter
ed over the sofa, two ofa-piilows, a newspaper
and a Mexican blanket, lay on the carpet as
if the late occupant of the room had tried to
read in Tecumbeut position. A French win
dow opening upon a veTanda, which never be-
fore in the history Of the house had been I'M
fastened, now betrayed by Its waving lace cur
tain the way that the fugitive had escaped.
Mr. McClosky heaved a sigh Of despair. He
looked at the gorgeous carpet purchased in Sac
ramentO at q fabulous price, at the crimson
satin and rosewood furniture unparalleled IN
the history Of Tuoiumne, at the maSsively
framed pictures on the walls, and looked be-
yOnd it. through the open window, to the reck-
less man, who, fleeing these sybaritic allure
ments, was smoking a cigar upon the moonlit
road. This room, which had so often awed the
youth Of Tuoumne into tilial respect, was evi-
IDENTIFY a failure. 1t remained to be seen if the
Rose" herself had lost her fragrance. -" l
reckon jimmy viii fetch him yet" said Mr.
5icClosky with parental faith.
he stepped from the window upon the veran-
da; but be had scarcely done this, before his
figure was detected by the stranger, who at
once crossed the road. When within few
feet of McCi0sRy, he stopped. " TOu persistent
old plantigrader' p he said in a low voice, audi-
bic only to the person addressed. and face
full Of affected anxiety, " why don't you go TO
bed2 Didn't ] tell you to go and leave me
here alone? In the name of al that's idiotic
and imbecile, why do you continue to shuttle
about here? Or are you trying to drive me
crazy with your presence, as you have with
that wretched music-box that I've just drop
ped under yonder tree? It's an hour aud q
half yet before the stage passes; do you think,
do you imagine for single moment, that can
tolerate 500 until then, eh2 Why don't you
speak2 Are you asleep? You don't mean to
say that you have the audacity to add SOM
nambuiism TO your other weaknesses? you're
not low enough to repeat yourself under any
such weak pretext as that eh?
A fit Of nervous coughing ended this extra
/ ordinary exoTdiUm; and half sitting, half lean
Ing sgainst the veranda, Mr. McClosky's guest
turned his face, and part Of slight, elegant
| figure, toward his host The lower portion of
/ this uptuned face wore an habitual expression
Of fastiGious discomfort with an occasional line
] of physical suffering. But the brow above was
/ frank and critical and pair of dark, mirthful
/ eyes, sat in playful judgment over the super.
sensitive mouth and its suggestion.
g allowed TO 90 to bed, Ridgeway," said Mr.
| BIcClosky meekly; but my girl Jinnys jis
| got back from little tear up at RObinson's, and
amt inclined to turn In yet You know what
! girls is. So 1 thought we three would jist have
4 3 social chat together 10 pass away the time
You mendacious old hypocrite! She go
/ back an hour ago" said Ridgeway, as tha
savsge-looking escort of hers, who has beer
haunting the house ever since, can testify. N!
belief Is, that ike an enterprising idiot as yOg
are you've dragged that girl out Of her bed
that we might mutually bore each other"
Mr.. McCiosky was too much stunned by thi
/ evidence Of Riageway' apparently supcrhumal
/ penetration TO reply. After enjoying his host
confusion for q moment with his eyes, Ridge
ways mouth asked grimly,-
And who is this girI, anywayf"
"Nancy's"
Your wifes?"
Yes But look var, Ridgeway," said nc
Closlyy, laying one hand impl0ringly on Ridge
ways sleeve, not word about her to jimmy
She thinks her mothers dead-died in Mis-
souri, EhI"
Ridgewsy nearly rolled from the veranda 1
an excess Of rage. Good God DO you meai
TO say that VOC have been concealing from he
a fact that any day, any moment, may come t
her ears? That you've been letting her groN
up IN ignorance Of something that by this tim
she might have 0gtsrOWn and forgotten? Tha
you have been, like besotted old ass, all thes
years slowly forging thunderbolt that any on
may crush her with2 That but here Ridge
ways cough took possession of his voice, an
even put a moisture into his dark eyes, as b
looked at McCl0skys aimiess hand feebly en-
ployed upon his beard
But" said MeCi0sky, "look how she's done
She's held her head as high as any Of 'en
She's TO be married in a month TO the riches
man in the country; and" he added cur
ningly, Jack Ashe amt the kind o man I
sit by and hear anything said Of his wife or be
relations, you bet! But hush-thats her foe
. on the stairs. She's cummin'."
She came. / don't think the French windO
ever held finer view than when she put asd
, the curtains aud stepped out. She had dressc
] herself simply and hurriedly, but with a w
: mans knowledge Of her best points; so tn;
you got the long curves Of her shapely limb
: the shorter curves Of her round waist an
shoulders, the long sweep Of her yellow braid
the light Of her gray eyes, and even the del
cate rose OF her complexion, without knowiE
r how it was delivered 10 you.
The introduction by Mr. McClosyy was brie
] When RidgeWay had got over the fact that
e was 2 o'clock in the morning, aud that Il
{ cheek Of this Taoiumne goddess nearest hi
c was as dcwy and fresh as an infants, that 81
. lo0kedlike Marguerite, without, probably, ev