The morning call., 1890-09-25
BOUND TOGETHER
BY FATE.

vigorous, impetuous West.
Some years ago Sheriff Black of Cheyenne
was much annoyed by the persistence and
determination of sundry suitors for the
hand of his fair daughter, Miss Helen.
AS is always the case i'll mining districts,
the male population far outnumbered the
gentler sex, and Miss Helen, who was
handsome brunette, would have been belle
among far seyerer critics than the youths of
Cheyenne.
She hak graduated at ST. Louis, and besides
being a gifted musician. was devout wor-
shiper of nature and fond of outdoor exer
else.
Almost any fine evening in summer pas
serby might hear her rich mezzo voice ac-
companying her guitar to some ringing bal
lad of the plains.
Unconscious was she Of the fact that the
melody floated out from the shadows of the
cottonwood trees and mingled with the
broad, effulgent moonlight, and that many
a luckless youth dated hopeless love from
the first evening when he had dropped In TO
help the Sheriff and the old servant IN max
in an audience.
Miss Helen cared little for the admiration
Of men, but accepted il as matter of course,
having been brought up among them. She
enjoyed herself in fashion OF her own, with
her books, guitar, sketch-book and her spir-
tied horse, Wildfire.
gain more favor than the rest. In fact, pop
uar opinion was puzzled as to which would
win.
One of them was a tall. athletic young
WeSterner, who was as bright and fnYigorat-
ing of presence as the air he breaihed, and
IN whose clear. blue eyes not shadow of
deceit was visible. Handsome. for true, but
so sturdy and independent that he impressed
one as young giant
He was an ardent geologist, could analyze
find as we'll as an eXrert loved his
mountains and worsh iped-MisS Helen.
But with all his devotion Joe was a dis
Greet young man, and held his curly head up
in defiance of mankind in general and his
rival in particular, and ne never let the fair
Helen feel too sure of her conquest.
The aforesaid rival was wealthy young
mine-owner from Chicago. all that is con-
veyed in the term "a polished gentleman"
He had laughed heartily when, on departing
for his new home, his Chicago friends had
iokingly said that he would lose his heart to
some Western beauty. But here he was,
eager 10 Law his fate and fortune at the feet
of the Sheriffs queanly daughter.
One bright, breezy day in September Helen
cantered off soon after dinner with her
sketchlng material, oStensibiy TO make some
sketches of the autumn scenery, but really
to commune with nature, the only mother
she had ever known, and to decide what
answer she should give on the morrow to her
wealthy lover, who that day had asked her
to be his wife. She told him that she must
read her own heart before she could answer.
and he hoped for favorable reply.
Joe had been offended by one of her hasty
speeches week before. They were talking
about Russell, and she had asserted some
what warmly that she knew of no one whose
society she preferred. As soon as the i'm
pulsive words were spoken she repented, but
Joe rode away with look in his blue eyes
that had haunted her every since
Somehow Joe's naughty head, flung back
like stag at bay. kept looming up before
her mental vision, when duty demanded that
she be thinking of Russell and his Hatterins
offer.
The hours wore on, and so preoccupied
was she that she did not observe the heavy
clouds that were rolling back and massive
down the mountain sides.
Suddenly large drop splaShod in her face
and she looked about her in alarm. a heavy
equnoctial storm seemed almost upon her.
Wildfire sprang forward at the touch Of
the whip and literally flew in the direction
of the house.
The great clouds came rolling over the hills
like giant ogres clad IN mist Thunder and
sharp, vivid lightning followed, and then the
deluge.
Wildfre dashed on until they came to the
creek. and then the girl drew back in dis
may.
The creek was foaming torrent Snd she
could not see the bridge.
Suddenly she heard mans voice shout
| ing to her, and in a few minutes Joe, on his
| tough little mustang, was beside her. lie
wore buffalo OyercOat and threw large
cloak of her own about her shoulders. She
did not wait TO ask how he happened to
come for her. She forgot that he was angry
and hurt. She reached out her firm, white
hand and caught Joe's extended fingers, and
side by side the two horses were urged
across the bridge
They galloped home in silence, and when
they reached there ana Helen stepped into
the friendly shelter of the broad veranda,
she noted the fact that Joe led both horses
to the stable aud put them up.
Half an hour later Joe, arrayed in Judge
Blacks dressing gown and slippers articles
| brought by Miss Helen from the East, was
| explaining TO the rosy, demure young mis-
tress of the house that her father had been
| suddenly called to the next town, and might
not return before early morning. " He
asked me TO keep sort of lookout over the
| place, and when l rode over to ask you to
invite me to tea and found you gone, l
| hastened after you"
This speech over, an embarrassed silence
| followed. 1t was broken by Joe, who looked
| straight at his hostess and said:
"If | am intruding. Miss Nellie, why, just
| give The word and III CO."
Helen assured him in a constrained sort
| of way that she was glad of company and
| went out to prepare the little supper herself,
for in those days, as now, servants were
rare and inefficient in the West.
After supper, in an awkward pause of the
| conversation, Joe took up 4 little case from
| the table and began examining the contents
| "a bright new pair OF handouts.
| They were new kind iust from the East,
| and Helen began explaining the spring lock,
| which opened with a skeleton key.
| Somehow enc oil The bands was on joe s
| wrist, as she Slipped tile other bright circlet
over her firm white hand, wi hen To- the lock
snapped and they were locked together.
Helen blushed crimson and commenced
| searching for the key in nervous haste.
| But no key was to be found. Suddenly
| the truth dawned upon her. The keyEwas in
| her fathers pocket and he was on the other
| side of Crow Creek, which was now a foam
| ing torrent, and dangerous to cross in the
| storm and darkness.
She tried to smile and treat the matter
| lightly, but 1t was Just the gtost OF a smile.
| md it was very doleful voice that said "
am afraid, Mr.. Gordon. that we must break
the lock. Father has the key"
| Joe felt tempted to indulge in hearty
| laugh over their queer situation,but glance
| at the distressed face across the table So
bered his mirth A great throb of sorrow
came over him. If she loved him she would
| not care SO much.
He gazed at the shining fetter on her wrist
| 80 luIiS anu 81 tdIutolly lLdt Helen ilIt6u
her eyes wonderingly, but dropped them
| again.
What woman ever failed to read the story
| that she saw in the honest blue depth of her
humble young giants eyes?
| Her confusion encouraged Joe, but there
| was almost tremor in his voice as he laid
| his great brown hand over her fettered one
| and said softly: Nell, if you only loved
me / would believe 1t was fate that bound
US together. | would take it as an omen
that fate would grant me my dearest wish.
| But Nellie, l dare not hope"
The girl looked up slowly into her lovers
eyes; looked steadily, though she still saw
| tina. look in them. "Joe," she said, ait is
fate"
The cool and cultured Mr.. Russell would
| have marVeled had he seen that queenly
| girl" sobbiDg for very JOY on ice Gordon 6
Shoulder, and perhaps he would marvel still
| more had he known that at that moment the
thought of him and his millions did not once
| enter her mind.
| When the Judge returned. in the gray OF
the morning. he found an interesting pic.
| ture.
The lamp still burned in the corner and
| fba Gra ri In ba al