Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-05-31
Halls RANSOM.
A Supposed Friends Treachery,
and q Brave Mans Reward.

and q Brave Mans Reward.
Congratulate me. Ned. l have
won her! Won her at last in the long
racer' exclaimed Hal Clinton. burst
ing into his friends room late one
evening, and thus interrupting his
quiet smoke. Fancy, old fellow"
he continued. 'once l was jealous of
you, knowing your destinations could
accomplish any thing upon which You
might determine, but" and almost a
blush overspread the bright. handsome
face at the memory. Il know now
that l was wrong; that my darling S
heart was all my very own; and to-
night her sweet lips have confirmed
the story. Why don't you say some
thing? Why don't you tell me you are
glad for me-"
A moments silence followed Hal
Clinton's question:. Was it only the
shadow from the lamp which made the
others face so white and stern. or
caused the muscles about his mouth to
seem to twitch?
A close observer would have thought
him overmastered by some strong emo
ton. but whatever it was, by power
full effort he conquered it; and rising
from his seat, extended his hand.
There is scarcely need of words.
my boy. between Us. l can only
say. if you have won Miss Dinsmore,
you have secured prize such as is rare
~ drawn in the lottery of life.
The two friends, as they thus stood
for moment hand locked in hand.
presented powerful contrast. One
light and the other dark; one whose
sunny blue eyes. now beaming with
happiness, were ever the index to the
loyal, generous heart. The other,
whose dark depths served but to con-
ceal the workings of the soul Six
months before they had started to-
gether to make the tour of Europe.
and on the steamer had met MIR. DIns-
more and his family on pleasure tour
like themselves. The discovery
of many mutual friends soon
ripeled their acquaintance into friend
ship. which in two hearts at least, soon
developed into love, until, having met
at various times in their wanderings
in the valleys of Switzerland, Hal
Clinton won from the girl he loved
the promise to become his wife-a
promise to which her parents readily
gaze their seal, and which. in his first
glad eagerness. the young man con-
fided to his friend.
For an hour he ratified on of all his
gay hopes and anticipations. the plans
upon which they had already decided.
too full of his own happiness to note
how strange and apathetic was his
listener. Not until the door had closed
at last upon him. with tina echo of his
bright goodnight ringing through the
room, and the sound of his retreating
footsteps died along the hall. did the
others self-command forsake him.
Then he started to his feet as stag
brought to bay. the drops upon his
forehead showing the torture to which
he had been subjected
And he has won her with his bow.
ish. handsome face-curse him! Won
her whose one kiss or smile would
gladly have purchased with my life.
But the race is not run yet, the goal j:
not vet reached. Yet he comes to me tc
congratulate him! Oh! bitter mockery
of fate:"
The words seemed wrung from him
one by one as he uttered them aloud in
the silence of the night, pacing up and
down the narrow confines Of his cham.
her.
Fool-blind fool-that he is. never
to have penetrated my secret; and
binder I, that in my madness failed
to see he had conquered. Conquered,
do say? Is there, then. no hope?''
and sinking once more in his chair,
and burying his face in his hands, be
sat mute and motionless until thu
morning sun streamed full, into the
room.
Its hard luck. Ned. that we should
have been trapped like this Iwould
NO. care SO much If it were not that
knew Elm would be anxious said
Hal Clifton to his friend. as they sa
opposite each other, on rude stones II
. cave so dark neither could see tn.
Others face.
A few days before and they hat
started out on an expedition up tn,
mountains Laughing at the warning,
they had received that Italian brigand,
had accosted and robbed some trav
elers but short time previously
only to be met by the bold marauder,
and commanded to halt their few ar
ticles Of iexelry ruthlessly taken from
them. and themselves held as prison
aS until the ransom the banditti fel
suse they could command bad beel