The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-02-09

-A 40 nos say t W1Il-E1ve ne back that
Energy for which my own people in the
faf past were famous"
he Colonel listened approvingiy. Then
opening his heart, Monsieur Alexis said
that Is might be presunptuous on his
part 10 throw himself st the MERCY of his
new friends, but would the Colonel allow
him to accompany him and Miss Nc
Biddis to Denverf Even more than that,
he had good deal of money about his
| person, and it was q risk to carry it
around, and the Colonel might arrange 80
as to have it sent to Denver.
The Colonel was quite taken aback.
Such unlimited confidence he hardly ex-
pected. Then the Colonel consulted
Almeria, and she blushed and sec med to
be in doubt.
would it not compromise me 2" she
inquired;
Almery, there is . ranch on Powder
Creek-I had TO take it lest year-what
I ifswoCid JUST nt the case. / don't commit
myself noways, until / see how he pans
out"
"Oh, papa that's one of your horrid
business terms. am sure that the long
railroad travel is thing dread, and you
going to sleep most of the time, and pass
ing hours on the smoking Car, aud nobody
to talk TO-"
swell, then, guess we can fix it;
anyways, if we take the trip together, /
will always be within call. It's q good
ranch, Almery, aud worth all the money
ask for it, and if he shows up well, I'll
act square by him. There's only one
thing: he seems SO blessed innocent and
con6ding like
When NJ. Alexis met Miss McBiddie
that evening, he touched her gloved fin
ger-tlps with his lips. Almeria gave a
little gasp, half surprise, half pleasure.
Her confusion was manifest, and he no
ticed it. "Forgive me-" he said. "It
was only Russian custom expressive Of
heartfelt gratitude. am like child,
and cannot repress my feelings 1t will
be such happiness for me to see this new
land under delightful auspices"
That night Almeria had more dreams.
She was fairly prudent young woman
not yet twenty eight. If it we're con-
quest she had made, she had no fancy to
exhibit her triumph, and Monsieur Alex
is, though he had been rather demon
strative-just once-showed no further
sign Of exultation.
They had great deal to say to one
another. The weather was pleasant, the
moon at her full, and Almeria was hap
pier than she had ever been in her life
before. 1t would be on the cars that NJ.
Alexis would tell the whole story of his
life. Of course such man as that, a
man evidently of the world, would have
to be forgiven for his faults. He was
free he had told her that plainly enough;
but then she would not be quite satisfied
with that; and the Colonel, who was
shrewd, would make further inquiries;
but if she loved him, and she felt as she
did, she would be wfetched woman if
matters turned out not so roseate as she
hup1G for Yet the recital. the acting of
her romance, might take place as the two
we're speeding over the monotonous prai-
ries.
M. Alexis had never looked brighter,
more ell CANT, than when the steamer was
near the dock 81 am such an infant,
my dear Colonel, that put myself en-
tirely under your CHARGE" he said, with
pleasant smile.
Then Miss McBiddie laughed, and
made a cunning remark that he was a
fairly well-grown baby to be hauled
=. a.ound in leading-strings. But" she
added, "if he was real good, not trouble
some, and did not bother with too many
questions, she would take him and her
father that night to the theatre. That
should be his first sightseeing in New
York. You see, the opera at Denver and
New York may not be as good as in Paris
bat - s0G4
Almeria tried to remember in which of
dress, and wondered if the Gust om-house
people would delay her much, and the
probabilities of her wearing her lovely
silk that very night.
IL have little curiosity" said NJ. Alexis,
"about New York, and care nothing for
huge cities, for they all wear family re-
semblance. The bigger they grow the
more marked the likeness l shall like
Denver far, far better than New York.
Now l must 60 down to my room, and
will come up again in moment, and l
will efrace my individuality as would
little duckling under the protecting wing
of its parents"
Then the Colonel, who had gone to the
ships side, called his daughter. "A'-
merry" he said, with glee, "it's awful
kind there's a whole Colorado deputa-
tion on the dock awaiting for u.s." And
the Colonel waived his handkerchief, as
did his daughter.
1t was all done in = second, though the
arrangements necessary to bring about
the climax had been under careful prep
aration for fully sixty days beforehand
Of quarantine ground, alongside of the
visiting doctor, there had come or board
of the steamer a man who looked neither
hard nor rough, only determined. The
Captain of the steamer he did not even
nod to, but he at once sought out the
ships surgeon, and said few words to
him. The waiter had NJ. Alexis's bag
and satchel, and monsieur had just fitted
on his gloves, when hand was clapped
on his shoulder, and the determined-look-
ing man said, in low voice, which Mon
sieur Alexis heard distinctly, though
steam was roaring through the escape
pipe: 4" l arrest you"
Why?" inquired NJ Alexis, without
even quakiny.
"Don't make any bother, but come
quietly along. Your game is played.
No use of my going over i all Here is
my warrant. Don't say anything.
- N