Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-28
4 KNIGHT ERRANT OF
THE FOOTHILLS.
BY ssrr HARrR,
Author Of "ralss 9th. Argsnaats," Gree
sy." Etc
Ffor the pispssch--copyright issal
TooSmuDED.l

neuAl serious Sal1tatlOns huu nthuc Wh'
FOR him with certain respect Avoid
ing the few narrow streets OF the little
Town, he pursued his way meditatiyely
along the high road, returning 10 the
hotel after an hom's ramble a. the eve
ming stage.coaeh had deposited its pas
sengers and departed.
"Ihere's lady waiting to see you up
stairs" said the landlord with peculiar
emilio. "She rather allowed IT wasn't
Che proper thing to see you alone, or she
wasn't quite ekal 10 il, | reckon, for she
got nv Polly 10 stand by her.
"Your Polly, good Jenkinson ;" said
Don Jose interrogatiyely.
"My. darter, Don Jose."
"Ah. truly ! am twice blessed, said
Don Jose, gravely ascending the stair
case.
On entering the room he perceived a
tall. larce-featured woman. with sn ex-
fraordinary quantity OF blonde hair
parted on one side OF her broad fore
head. sitting upon the sofa. Beside her
sat Polly Jenkinson-her fresh, honest,
and rather pretty face beaming with de-
lighted expectation and mischief. Don
Jose saluted them with formal
courtesy, which. however, had no trace
Of the fact that be really did not re-
member anything of them.
"R called" said the lsrge-featured
woman with voice equally pronounced,
"in reference TO request from you,
which, though perhaps unconventional
IN the extreme, have been able to meet
by the Intervention Of this young lady's
company. NY name on this card may
not he familiar 10 you, but am 'Doro-
thy Dcwdrop."
A slight movement of abstraction and
surprise passed over Don Jose's face, but
ms quickly vanished as he advanced to-
wards her and gracefully raised the tips
of her fingers to his lips. " Have l then,
al last. the privilege OF beholding that
most distressed and deeply injured OF
women Or is it but dream
II certainly was not as far as concerned
the substantial person Of the woman be-
fore him, who. however, seemed some
what uneasy under his words as well as
the demure scrutiny of Miss Jenkinson.
"I thought you night have forgotten, -
she said with slight acerbity, "that you
desired an interview with the authoress
Of"
L pardon" interrupted Don Jose,
? standing before her in an attitude OF the
deepest sympathizing detection, g had
not forgotten. 1t is now three weeks
since have read in the Journal Gotaen
sue the eloquent and touching poem
of your sufierings, and your aspirations,
and your miscomprehenslons OF those
Won love. ] remember rs yesterday that
YOU have said that cruel fate have link
ed YOU to a soulless state '-that-but L
speak not well your own beautiful Ian
euage-you are in tears at evenfall
because that you are not understood OF
Others, and that your soul recoiled from
'iron bonds until as in dream you
sought succor and release III some true
Knight of equal plight. ,"
81 am told" said the large featured
woman with some satisfaction. THAT the
poem to which youallude has been gene
rally admired.
"Admired Sonora" said Don Jose,
with still darker sympathy I" it is not
the word it is .jeh. | have felt 1t.
When l. read these words of distress |
on touched of compassion J | have said,
!, this woman so oisconsolate, so OPP
4 pressed, must be relieved. protected L
have wrote to you at the Golden cute to
see me here.
"And i have come, as you perceive,
said the poetess rising with slight smile
of constraint, land emboldened by your
appreciation have brought few trlties
thrown off -"
Pardon. unhappy SenOnta," said
Don Jose lifting his hand deprecatingly
without relaxing his melancholy pre-
cision, "but to cavalier further evil
dence is not required-and have not yet
made finish. 1 have not content myself
TO write to you. / have sent my trusty
friend Roberto TO inquire at the Golden
gate of your condition. | have found
there, most unhappy and prosecuted
friend, that with truly angelic forbear-
ance You have not told dU-that you
are married, and that of necessity 1t
is your husband that is cold and soul
less and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS all that
you describe.
"Sir !" said the poetess rising in
angry CONSERVATION.
ii have written to him, continued
Don Jose, with unheediug gravity 81
have appealed TO him as a friend, have
conjured him as a cG6GticrO, l have
threatened him even as a champion OF
the right. / have said to him IN effect
that il must not be as il is / have in
formed him that L have made an APP
pointment with YOU even at this house,
and challenged him to meet you here
in this room-even at this instant, anu
with Gods help we should make good our
charges against him. Ii is yet early
have allowed time for the lateness OF the
STAGE and the fact that he will como by
nxother conveyance. Therefore, oh
Dona Dewdrop, tremble not like thy
namesake as it were on the leaf OF appre-
hension and expectancy. /, Don Jose,
am here to protect thee. l will take
these charges gently Withdrawing the
manuscripts from her astonished grasp
s.though even as related to thee before,
Iwant them not, vet we will confront
him with them and make them good
against him.
I" Are YOU mad ?" demanded the lady.
In almost stentorious accents, "or Is
this an unmanly hoax?" Suddenly she
stopped in undeniable CONSERVATION:
"Good Heavens" she muttered, II
Abner should. believe this be Is such
a fooll he has lately been queer and
/. ;ealous. O. dear she said, turning to
POLLY Jenkinson with the first indication
Or feminine weakness, ais he telling
the truth? Is he crazy? What shall L
do?"
Polly Jenkinson, who had witnessed
the interview with the intensest enjoy
laen., now rose equal to the occasion.
s<''You have made mistake. she said,
&phfting her demure blue eyes to Don
bses dark aud melancholy gaze. This
nv is a poetess The suffering she de-
beta. the SORROWS she feels, are IN the
Esagsaation--in her fancy only
"Ah |" said Don Jose gloomily, "then
u is all false.
mo" said Polly quickly. "only they
4 srs moi her own, you know. They are
- nlo.f. ALA Anlxy ~