The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-03-13

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Just long enough to make Il necessary
for him TO go direct to the SpragueS
without leaving his helmet and sabeF at
home They were waiting dinner for
him as Il was, but Mrs. Belknap took no
note Of that circumstance; what she saw
was that he had avoided even passing
within hail Of her piazza both before and
after parade
Now, though conscious Of no intention
Of avoidance, Perry rode forth to the
meeting Of this day with some little mis-.
giving. In the first place, he knew that
he must strive to make his peace with
this slighted lady; and yet, In view Of
all he had seen and heard In the past
forty-eight hours, how utterly dwarfed
had that affair-his laughing filtration
with Mrs. Belknap-becomeI Had any
one told him his attentions to her and
her marked preference for his society
were matters that people were beginning
10 talk of-some with sly enjoyment,
others with genuine regret-he would
have been grateful for the information.
instead Of resentful, as. with most men,
would be the case ninety-nine times out
Of hundred. But he knew nothing Of
this, and had too little experience to sus.
pect the comments in circulation. She
was most interesting-up 10 the day b.
fore yesterday he loved to rideor dance
with her; he enjoyed q chat with her
more than he could tell. A most sym.
pathetic and attentive listener was Mrs.
Belknap, and her voice was low and
sweet and full Of subtly caressing tones.
She had made him talk to her by the
hour Of his home, his hopes and ambi.
tons, his profession and his prospects,
and had held him In q silken bondage
that he had no desire to escape.
And yet, as he rode out on the breezy
plain this brilliant day, he found all
thought Of her distasteful, and his eyes,
far from searching for the Autter Of her
trim habit In the distant riding party,
would 60 arroaming over the Intervening
shades and shadows down In the Monee
valley and seek the bare, brown walls Of
Dunraven far across the stream. It was
odd indeed that he should have sought
this, the longest way round, on his ride
in quest Of his companions from the
fort
Once again he looked at the isolated
clump Of buildings from his post Of OBJ
servation on the bluff; once again he
saw across the stream and through the
trees the barbed barrier that had caused
both him and his men such laceration Of
flesh and temper; once again he saw the
shallow valley winding away to the
southeast, decked with its scrubby
fringe work Of cottonwood and willow;
but this time, three miles away, its &C.
customed solitude was broken by groups
Of riders and darting black specks Of
dogs, all moving northward once more
and already breasting the slopes. He
should have turned away eastward and
ridden across country to join them, but
down here In the valley, only short
distance away, absorbed in watching
the hunting party, sat Mr.. Even on a
paving and excited bay. Whatever
GOODNESS his rider might feel at this dis.
covery, It was not shared by Nolan; he
pricked up his ears and hailed his fel.
low quadruped with cordial and unaf-
fected pleasure, a neigh that the English
bred horse was 90 utterly uninsular as to
whirl about and answer with CORE
spending warmth. Even caught at his
heavy Derby and jerked It of his bullet
head with an air Of mingled embarrass-
ment and civility. replacing Il with
similarly spasmodic haste. Perry coolly,
but with certain easy grace, raised his
forage cap In response to the salutation,
and then, seeing the manager still look.
Ing at him as though he wanted to say
something and did not know how to be-
gin, gave Nolan his head and rode down
to short hailing distance.
ave meet on neutral ground out here,
Mr.. Even. suppose your exclusive
employer over yonder can hardly pro-
hibit your answering civil inquiries after
his health" And, though no meant to
be distant, Perry found himself smiling
at the oddity Of the situation.
"Do you know, I was Just thinking
about YOU" answered Even, "and won
dering whether you were with that party
down yonder1 The old gentleman e
better, thanks. he had two pretty bad
nights, but Is coming around slowly"
"And Miss Maitland-how Is she2'
Rather seedy. She has had q good
deal Of care and vexAtion Of late, fancy,
and this 10 no place for . young girl,
anyhow"
"Well, you have some appreciation Of
the true character Of Dunraven as a resi-
dence, after alll' answerry Perry. SHOW,
II you can give me any good reason why
she should live In this utterly out-of.the-
way place, you will lift q weight from
my mind"
"oh, they don't live here, you know"
spoke EVEN, hurriedly. "She comes
here only when her father does. Il IL
her own doing. She goes with him
everywhere, and will not leave him.
She's oil he has. don't you knowS"
II don't know anything about IL
You Dunraven people seem averse to
any expression Of interest or courtesy
from your fellowmen. but I'm free to
say I should like 70. know what on earth
there Il In American cavalrymen to
make them such objects Of aversion TO
your master; and l would be glad to
know how it 10 such o girl As that l.
dragged into such . hole As yonder."
EVEN sat In silence q moment. study.
Ing the young fellows face.
"You deserve better welcome there"
hO presently answered, ''and don't
know that can do better than to tell
you the truth-what know Of t. And
let me tell you that u the old man knew
Of my speaking Of Il 10 any one, I'd lose
the most lucrative but least attractive
place ever had. Do you seer