Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-13

sCcRets In amazemenr at the sight tina
met them, all unprepared.
Across spacious room, hung with ric]
curtains, carpeted with costly rugs O
Oriental make, furnished with many
coy chair and couch, and tables covere,
with dainty bric-a-brac, and shelves witt
tempting books, lighted by several larg
and beautiful astral lamps, some witt
colOred shades of crimson and gold ant
delicate tint of blue, there stood close t,
the opposite wall large piano of tin
class known as the grand" rare enough
among the railway towns west of thu
Mississippi states, but utterly UNLOCKED
for here, a weeks long march from tn,
nearest of the Texan railways. That il
itself were sufficient cause for much sur
prise, notwithstanding the measure o.
| preparation he had had in Mrs. Law
rence's remarks.
The sight that well nigh took hi.
breath away was something far more
than the interior of luxurious and
beautifully appointed room. Nothing
that had been said or limited prepared
him in the faintest degree for the appa.
rition facing him, seated at the piano, OF
performer utterly unlike the ''cow
puncher" whom he had met in the morn.
ing. The fellow" now bending over the
key board was young, exquisitely fail
and graceful woman. Even as he stood
there in the full glare Of the parloi
lights, she lifted up a pair of soft,
shaded, lustrous eyes and saw him.
The music stopped with sudden shock.
Tannhauser was undone. The firm
white, shapely hands fell nerveless in
her lap; a pallor as of faintness sho'
over the wild eyed face, only to be in.
stantly succeeded by flush that surged
up to her very brows. Startled she
might have been for an instant; scared
not bit of it! One instant only OF
hesitation. then she rose and swept gal.
lantly forward to meet him.
Instinctively Perry's hand went up to
the visor of his forage cap and barred the
bright, curling crop of hair. Speeches.
with amaze, he could only bow before
her and wait her question; but it was a
moment before she could Speak. Brave
as she was, the sudden apparition of a
stranger staring in upon her solitude
from an open easement was a shock that
served to paralyze the vocal cords. He
could see that she was making gallant
effort to control the tremor that had
seized upon her and to inquire the pur-
pose of his coming. He could see, too,
that the sight of the uniform had reas-
sured her, and that there was neither in
dignation nor displeasure in her beauti-
full eyes. Reserve. of course, he expected.
Did you wish to see any one?' wan
finally the forr2 her question took; and
Perry had time to comment to himself,
''Enochsh. bv Jc-@er' before be answered
uu; Duu ret me nrst ask your par
don for this intrusion. | had no idea
there was woman at Dunraven BY
knocking at the front brought no answer,
and hearing the piano, followed the
veranda. Believe me, | am as surprised
as you could possibly have been"
Perry voice was something greatly in
his favor. 1t was modulated and gentle
when in conversation. and with even a
caressing tone about it when he spoke to
women. Evidently the sound was not
unwelcome to this one. She stood erect
her fingers interlacing as she clasped her
hands in front of her and looked him
well over with her brave eyes. The color
ebbed and flowed through the creamy
whiteness of her face. but the roses were
hn OF
the house of Lancaster
''And-you wished to see--whom?'
she presently asked. with courtesy in
every word
Why. | hardly know" answered
Perry, with a smile that showed hi;
white teeth cleaning through the curl
ing blonde mustache "A sergeant of
my troop has been missing since morn
ing. His horse came back to the fort
just as we were on parade at sunset
bleeding and without his rider We
have searching parties out all over the
prairie, and | was ordered to come here
to the ranch to make inquiries.
She hestated moment-thinking
My father is at home. but fear he il
not well enough to see you Mr. Ever
is with him, and he might know viii
you-would you step in one moment, and
| will go and ask?'
Thank you very much. wish you
would not trouble yourself. | presume
l can go over to those stable building, OF
wherever it is the men sleep; they would
be most apt to know if our sergeant ha:
been seem
"Oh, mol it is no trouble: besides, they
are all asleep over there by this time,
fancy They have 70 Us out so very early,
don't you know"
But Perry had stepped inside even as
he offered to go elsewhere-a fact that
the girl had not been slow to notice, fol-
a quizZical little shadow of smile how
cred for an instant at the corners of hel
pretty mouth. Pray sit down" she said, /
as she vanished into an adjoining room,
leaving Ned Perry standing gazing afte,
her, spell bound.
He listened TO the swish OF her trailing
skirts through the dimly lighted room
beyond, through an invisible hallway, /
and then TO the quick pit-a-pat of hei /
feet up some uncarpeted stairway. He /
heard her moving quickly, lightly, along
the corridor of the upper story until the /
footballs We're lost at the rear of the .
house. then distant tap upon a door /
way, and soft voice, barely audible I
calling, Papa" He heard her speal .
again, as though in response to inquiry
from, u-itb,p. ba hoard bar roiSa ba, ;