Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-20
"BUT, COLONEL SAM DALLAS WAS NO COWARD. "

"Well, dad" and Winston took cue of
cool impertinence from his parents manner,
''all the way over the Atlantic, half week
in London, all the way back, and two days
at Saratoga. I've played the cleverest game
1 knew against Vic Leroyd. He hasn't got
any careless points away from me. II he's
winning the prize, it's in spite Of the best !
can do"
II will tell you why he is winning her"
said Sheeba, in deep desperation.
''You have been queering our gamer"
was the Colonel's rough accusation.
"No, l haven't. Victor Leroyd loves
MAY, and he is an honest fellow"
"He has broken his pledge not to spoon
on the girl'
"You may be sure that he has not spoken
his love, but you may be just as sure that
she knows of it. Winston does not love
her."
80, I'm inclined to think I do" Winston
interposed. "a fellow can't be positive,
you know. Anyhow, my passion for her
fortune is the intensest sort OF thing you
can imagine" "
you've told her that you love her?" the
Colonel asked.
80, yes, dozen times, in one way or
an0tner.
"What does she say?"
"She doesn't say she's overioyed."
"She doesn't say she won't have it?'
"Not outright She's such deucedly
amiabIe sort of girl, do you see, that she
won't wound chap by anything rude.
rather think she admires me-"
The fellows heartlessness and vanity
angered Sheeba, and she passionately said:
"Now, Sam, you are gambler. Let this
game be fair and won't dispute the result.
Victor and Winston shall offer themselves
to May. She shall choose between them or
refuse them both. If she accept your son, I
will abide by it. The misfortune will be Q
square loss, and won't squeal."
Misfortune? Come, now, mamma"
Winston began, but she ignored him; and
so did the Colonel, whose flush of anger was
hardly mistakable for the heat of exercise.
He growled:
eff she accepts Leroyd, swear to You
that she shall be made ashamed and unhappy
for life. 1 will tell her"
"Stop, stop for heavens sake"
"What's up, parents?" Winston asked
wonderingly '1 don't seem to be on the
inside of this business"
was the wrathful response. "She wants me
to deal honest cards and take even chances
of losing. If we do lose, as there is a sky
above us" and half raised fist menaced
Sheeba, ''she shall be exposed to the girl for
what she is ="
''Keep that from even Winston" the
maddened woman exclaimed, and with her
open palm she struck the Colonel fatty on
the mouth, ''or Zip
The threat was not spoken, and the blow
caused a calm instead of heightening the
storm.
Habitual control of their nerves enabled
the Dallases to compose themselves as the
party drew close together again, and the
Colonel sank the faintest trace of choler in
a hearty insistence upon taking Victor's end
of the hamper. That left the unmarried
five free TO choose companions during the
brief remainder OF the ascent.
Victor and Winston gave each gallant
arm to May Morris, and with their help she
was taken rapidly ahead of the others. The
way was green with turf, yellow and red
with autumnal leaves, gray with rocks and
still more variegated in colors here and there
by wild flowers. Frequently May stopped
between her escorts, or ran little way from
them, to pluck flower, and at length each
hand was strained by clutch Of q big
bouquet.
beautiful, are they not?" as she heIda
bunch before the eyes OF each young man;
"and do smell them"
They let her bury their noses in the
flowers, and neither could discern any par
tiality when she next pressed the two rival
handfuls against her own face. Again she
slipped away from their arms, with .