Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1890-01-04

at the absurdity of the question.
Archie resented his tone.
"You couldn't love better girl if you
tried" he said; land think your manner
extremely offensive"
He threw his cigar on the grass and
arose togo inside.
"Why, Archie, old friend" said Rush,
taking his hand, There is no woman in
the world for whom have more pro
found regard than have for Miss
Archer; but thought you, who used to
twit me with it, knew of my love for an
other woman, and it seemed to me SO
absurd to think that could love any one
else, that could not help laughing as !
answered your question"
I'll forgive you, old boy" said Archie.
reseating himself and lighting fresh
cigar; 'and since you are SO confiding
I'll confide in you in turn. | love my
cousin Bessie. She really isn't my cousin,
you know; no more relation to me than
you are; and as she gives me no encour-
agement | supposed it was because there
was another nlan in the field. You and she
seemed to be SO intimate that have looked
upon you as a successful rival for some
time past. and have only been waiting
to call you out; but now | gladly ac-
knowledge my error. Ii you are not my
rival know have none, and I'll go in
to win now, or know the reason why.
did once think of challenging that black
guard O'Hara. or whatever his name
was, but the law took him in hand and
saved me the job. Imprisonment for
life he got, wasn't ii? l thought so-the
rascal! Hanging would have been too
good for him. But tell ME, old man, ara
you still really and seriously irllovs with
The Knowlton"
"Really and seriously, Archie. But
wish you would not call her the Knowl-
TOM that sounds as though she was
nothing but a public character. when
really that is the least part of her. 1t is
as woman that admire her, though
consider her the greatest singer of our
time
Rush's experience of prime donne was
limited, but he had heard this statement
advanced by excellent authority and felt
safe in echoingit. MY confession you
tonight" he continued, lis in the most
sacred confidence. No one suspects what
have told you, Miss Knowlton least of
any one; but am going to win her or
die in the attempt"
81 admire your pluck, old man, for it
it is plucky of you. deuced plucky, when
you have to fight against SO many suit
ors. give you my blessing; go in and
win You possibly think, with becoming
modesty. that if you win Helen Knowl-
ton you are the one upon whom con-
gratulations are to be heaped: certainly
you deserve some: but Miss Knowlton is
the one whom shall congratulate. And
now to bed, and to dream of our sweet
hearts-(iod bless them! You have made
me happy man, Rush, or perhaps !
should say comparatively happy man."
And the friends pressed each others
hands and said good night
The next and last week of Rush's va
cation was spent with the dear ones at
Farmsted It the middle of August,
and all the village was in fiutter of ex-
citement over the arrival of SO distin-
guished a townsman. Old Bennie Miles,
the scotsman, said that he ''knowed Rush
Hurlstone was going to make place for
himself in York There was the right
kind O seed in him. Just give it
chance, and see how it ed grow" And
old Aunty Stout, the village charwoman,
said she "could hev told any one that
that there young feller was born for
marbill palish; and if what she hearn
tell was true, his office in New York was
nothin less than marbill from its front
stoop to its lean-to."
The approaching wedding Of John
Hurlstone to Amy Bayliss was no less
an occasion of local excitement. John
hadn't been in Farmsted since he went
away ito take keer O that gold mine,"
as the villagers expressed it, but Amy
had heard from him regularly, and he
had at last fixed the wedding day. 1t
was to be September the Sd, and great
were the preparations then going on.
Amy's brother Tom was to be the best
man. Johns two sisters the bridesmaids,
and both Dr. Bayliss and the bishop of
the diocese were to perform the wedding
ceremony. Farmsted was in flutter of
excitement over the event, and the church
was receiving some needed painting and
upholstering in anticipation. John wrote
that he would not be on until the very
morning of the wedding, because he was
busy getting his affairs in order, SO that
ha might take wedding trip to some
new and far off place. Rush had seen
little or nothing of John in New York
during the summer, and he was delighted
to kLow that he had settled down and
was determined to marry the devoted
girl to whom he was engaged.
In the meantime. the affairs of the
Mutual Dividend Mining company were
becoming more and more involved, and
the nature of the work that John was
called upon to perform by Col. Mortimer
would not bear the light Of day. John
was getting more and more reckless.
L = l. sorba nd