The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-12-14

/ eSSA
contemptuously-away and then bend
down lower, as though gazing into her
shaded eyes, Mrs. Lawrence could stand
it no longer.
"Mr. Graham" said she, "isn't your
friend, Mr.. Perry, something of flirt?"
"Who?-Ncd?" asked Mr.. Graham, in
well feigned amaze and with sudden
glance towards the object of his inquiry.
"How on earth should know anything
about it? Of course you do not seek ex-
pert testimony in asking me. He tries,
suppose, to adapt himself to circum-
stances. But why do you ask?"
"Because see that he has been induc-
ing Mrs. Belknap to take off that little
tassel on the button of his cap. He has
worn it when off duty ever since he
came; and we supposed it was something
he cherished; know she did"
Graham broke forth in peal of merry
laughter, but gave no further reply, for
just then the colonel and the doctor left
their chairs, and, sauntering over to the
hammock, brought mighty relief to Bel
KNAPP at the whist table and vexation of
spirit to his pretty wife. The Irritation
was broken at most interesting point
and Perry, rising suddenly, came over
and joined Mrs. Lawrence.
If she expected to see him piqued or
annoyed at the interruption and some
what perturbed in manner, she was
greatly mistaken. Nothing could have
been more sunshiny and jovial than the
greeting he gave her. A laughing apol-
ogy to Graham for spelling his tete-a-
tete was accomplished in moment, and
then down by her side he sat and plunged
into 4 merry description of his expert
ences at dinner, where he had been
placed next to the chaplain's wife on the
one hand, and she had been properly ag-
grieved at his attentions to Mrs. BelknaD
OH the other.
"Iou must remember that Mrs. Wells
is very strict Presbyterian, Mr.. Perry;
and, for that matter, none of us have
seen n dinner such as the colonel gave us
this evening for ever and ever so long.
We are quito unused to tho ways of
civilizations; whereas you havo Just come
from the cast-and long leave. Perhaps
it is the fashion to be all devotion to
ones next door neighbor at dinner"
"Not if she be as rcpclcnt and vcner-
able as Mrs. Wells, assure you. Why,
| thought she would have been glad to
leave the table when, after having re-
fused sherry and Pontet-Canet for up
wards of an hour, her glass was filled
with champagne when she happened to
be looking the other way"
"lt is the first dinner of tho kind she
has ever seen here, Mr.. Perry, and l
don't suppose either Mr.. or Mrs Wells
has been up SO late before in years. He
would have enjoyed staying and watch
ing whist, but she carried him off almost
as soon as we left the table. Our society
has been very dull, you know-only our
selves at the POSTAL this last year, and
nobody outside of it,"
Zone would suppose that with all this
magnificent cattle range there would be
some congcnial people ranching near
you. Are there mono at alp
Absolutely none! There are some
ranches down in the Washita country,
but only one fine one near us; and that
might as well be ON tho other side of the
Atlantic. No one from there ever
comes here; and DIR. Quin is the only
living soul in the garrison who ever got
within the walls of that ranch. What
he saw there he positively refuses to tell,
despite all our entrcaty."
"You don't tell Inc there's a ranch
with a mystery here near Rossiter." ex-
claimed Mr.. Perry, with sudden interest.
"Why, l do, indeed Is it possible
you have been here two whole weeks
and haven't heard of Dunraven Ranch?'
"I'vc heard there was such thing; I
saw it from distance when out hunting
the other day. But what's the mystery?
what's the matter with it?'
"That's what we all want to know
and cannot find out. Now, there is an
exploit worthy your energy and best
efforts, Mr.. Perry. There is a big,
wealthy, we'll stocked ranch, the finest
homestead buildings, we are told, in all
this part of Texas. They say it is beau
tifully furnished-that it has a fine
library, a grand piano, all manner of
things indicative of culture and refine
ment among its occupants-bu the own
er only comes around once or twice a
year, and is an iceberg of an English
man. All the people about the ranch
are English, too, and the most repellent,
boorish, discourteous lot Of men you ever
saw. When the Eleventh were here
they did everything they could to be
civil to them, but not an invitation
would they accept, not one would they
extend; and SO from that day to this
none of the officers have had any inter
course with the people at the ranch, and
the soldiers know very little more. Once
or twice year some very ordinary look
ing men arrive who are said to be very
distinguished people-in England; but
they remain only a little while, and go
away as suddenly as they came"
And you have never seen any Of
them:'
"Ncver, except at distance. Nor
has any one Of the officers, except DIR.
Quin."
"And you have never heard anything
about the inmates and why they keep
up this policy of exclusiveness:"
1--WE have heard all manner Of things
some of them wildly romantic, some
mysteriously tragic, and all Of them,
probably, absurd. at all events, Capt.
Lawrence has told me he did not wish
me to repeat what had heard, or to be
concerned in any way with the stories
afioat; SO you must ask somebody else.
Try the doctor. To change the subject,
MIR. Perry, see you have lost that mys-
terious little silken braid and tassel you
wore on your cap button. l fancied
there was some romance attached to it,
and now it is gone"
Perry laughed, his blue eyes twinkling
with fun: "If I will tell you how and
where got that tassel, will you tell me
what you have heard about Dunraven
Ranch:"
II cannot, unless Capt. Lawrence
withdraws his prohibition. Perhaps he
will, though, for think it was only be-