Dodge City times., 1888-01-05

| es'N ~ "teo I'LL APOOSiOI0 " uOuOt tuo
questions and explanations had passed
between them. No doubt that tn,
Colonel was customer of Jacks, who
innocently and naturally enough
would make no attempt to conceal hi:
friends occupation. It was now tha'
Tom bitterly Iepented him of having
shirked his obvious duty of informing
Colonel Vaughan of what he must by
this time, have learned from a thirC
party. In vain did roor Tom endeavol
10 console or uphold himself with des-
perate hopes that Mabel Vaughan
would be true to him and the Colonel
would be mercifuL He remembered
the fate of the presumpluous Mr.. Wal
nut and groaned.
Tom skunk into Southdore, hoping
to gain his hotel without coming
across the Vaughans He wanted
time for consideration and for rehec-
tion; in fact, to compose his mind for
the ordeal of facing the angry and
indignant parents. But some venge-
full fate seemed to be dogging his foot
steps that day, for who should he run
against quite suddenly and unexpect-
edly on turning a corner but the
Colonel and his wife. and Miss Mabel
Taken unawares. and oppressed by a
guilty and craven spirit, he glanced at
them falteringly. doubtingly, nervous
ly, and hurried past before giving him.
self time to uncover The Vaughans
evidently perceived him, for they
showed signs of confusion, but none,
alas! Of recognition. and Tom painful
ly realized that he had been cut dead
1t was not until some hours later.
after having wandered disconsolatcly
along the sea-shore in the depths of
frenzied melancholy and despair, with
distinctly suicidal tendency. that
poor Toms dropping spirits began
family to revive from the recol-
lection that in his agitation. he had
omitted to take off his hat to the
Vaughans. Was it not possible that
he was himself to blame for what had
occurred? Might they not have been
affrontcd at his behavior and thus let
him go by without recognition? The
idea passed through the gloom of
Toms depression like ray of sum
shine through November fog. though
its effect was unhapplly, hardly less
evanescent. In his heart the poor fel-
low felt that the hope was wild and
delusive. but still he clung to it. and
hugged it through the dreary, wakeful
night. and resolutely presented it as a
shield against the inccssant attacks of
his dismal forebodings. As early the
next morning as he could decentlv do
SO. he presented himself at the Flag
staff Hotel to apologize, to explain.
to grovel in tho dust if necessary. at
the feet of the Colonel, though he had
such dire misgivings of the result of
his mission that. sickening as the news
was, it seemed almost a relief to him
to learn that the Vaughans had sud-
denly left by the night train the even
ing previous.
1t was remarked by his hotel ac-
quaintances that Tom was very much
changed during the remainder of his
stay Mt Southdore. His moods were
uncertain and alternated between the
deepest depression and the most
boisterous hilarity. He became care
less of his personal appearance. drank
more than was good for him. and. in
short, contrivcd to diminish very con-
siderably the good impression he had
labored to create. He was probably
dimly conscious of this, for he cut short
his visit. and returned TO town some-
what abruptly.
Tom had hitherto always found that
getting back to business after the holi-
days had wholesome. SOLDERING effect
upon him, for the prosaic details of his
shop were inconsistent with romantic
ideas. But. if he had hoped to forget
Mabel Vaughan, he soon discovered
that he might as well have remained
at Southdore for all the consolation
the change brought Hm. There could
be no doubt al0ut it that he
was deeply-ncy miserably-in
love, for no o:hr term could
be fifty applied to 50 unpropitious an
attachment. In London, somehow,
the Vaughans seemed to Tom to be
further away frosl him. more immcas-
urably removed from his sphere. so
to speak, than at Southdore Never
theless. he made wild resolves. in
frantic moments. to seek out Colonel
Vaughan and Mabel at any cost. and
might possibly have done SO had he
known their address. But there were
three Colonel Vaughans in the Court
G,:de," and Tom shrank from the nee
essary inquiries; while in his lucid in
,ervals he stoutly and wisely deter
mined to struggle with and overcome
his infatuation.
Nearly two months had elapsed
since his fatal meeting with Jack
Brace before Tom happened to come
across that volatile individual
again. He naturally felt extremely
awkward in regard to him, seeing that
Jack had the right to say that he had
behaved inhospitably to him at South
dore. However, he at length met him
accidentally one day. when Jacks
friendly greeting manifested so for
giving a spirit that Tom ventured. not
without some trepidation, to ask for
news of the Vaughans.
Haven seen the Colonel since that
day down at Southdore, answered
Jack, with his jolly laugh.
I'm afraid l offended him some