The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1890-10-03
THE OLD MANS ROMANCE.

fresh stick to the already glowing FIRE.
YES; leave for Texas on the e1,ly
train tomorrow, Cousin Tom," the
young man answered firmly, almost
solemnly.
"Do you iind-have you heard that
there is a good opening for n physician
out there whore you are goingp" said
the old man as he lighted his pipe and
reseated himself In his comfortabl
leathern chair.
n don't care continental whether
there Is an opening for u physician or
not; nm going west to go to work, :"
said Bob. quickly. u may end BY be-
ing q cowboy or something worse, per-
hnps," he added with laugh thut 1t
was not pleasant to hear.
"And how does the little Alice like
the idea OF your goingP" asked Cousin
Tom carelessly, 1t seemed. but his
half-closed eyes under his shaggy
brows were fixed very intently upon
tho young fellow us he spoke.
Bob WINGED. II have not consider
ed 1t necessary TO notify Miss Ames
OF my intention" he said stifiiy.
Perhaps may Us well tell you, !"
he continued after moment. that 1t
will be through no voluntary act Of
mine that she ever hears OF me again;
so. II you please, we will leave her out
OF the conversation. But como, Cousin
Tom. you have been out west yourself.
Tell me something about tho country"
The old man pulled away slowly at
his pipe. Tho young fellows indiffer-
ence did not deceive him. There were
a good many thoughts in his mind.
He had been sitting long while alone
with only the dim freight and his
memories for company. The coming
OF his young cousin had hardly dis
PEELED the visions he had been recall
ing. and he waited long time before
replying.
Yes" he said, at length, between
the puffs. II have seen good deal OF
the west, and u very different country
IL is from this, can assure you.
There is hardly a square mile ofground
In the whole State OF Texas that
have not boon over; and Mexico md
the territories, aud California, too.
/ know pretty we'll. l was consider
ably younger man than an now
when i went to the frontier. l little
thought then OF becoming the decrepit
old bOokworm that / am now, with
hardly strength enough TO light my
pipe. 1t has been u good long time
since the Mexican war, though. hasn't
ii? l was hardly us old as you when
! enlisted.
did l ever tell you. Bob" said the
old man suddenly, show came to
60 TO the WARP"
NO" said Bob. "and / have often
been curious TO know why you threw
up everything and spent so many years
OF your life iu wandering about
WELL" said the old man. leaning
forward to empty his pipe upon the
hearth. Il may make a pretty long
story Of it. and II you get tired you
must let me know. After left school
l-settled down in the village to prac.
tice law. ] was never very wild fell
low, only quick and hot-tempercd-
quick and hot-tempered. Aye. there's
where the touble came" said tho old
man musingly. The freight fickcred
upon his bald head and sunkcn cheeks,
and his eyes were very sad.
Hero. boy" he said. as he fumbled
10 his pocket and produced little.
worn velvet case. that has been with
me everywhere through all that
Western wild. Look ut 1t as talk to
you"
why. this is Alice. SIR" said Bob
eagerly us he opened the case.
AYE. Alice" said the old man, "bu,
not your Alice. My Alice used to
call her Ia the old days. She was
Alice Ames' aunt can see her now,
boy. Us ] saw her the day she sat list
ening to mo rs told my love to her.
She kept her eyes bent down upon the
grass ut her feet all the tine l was
talking TO her. We hnd walked down
the hill TO the rustic seat under the old
beech tree. but that too is gone now.
forgot. Her hat had slipped OF.
remember. and her rough rings OF hair
seemed to have caught the rays OF the
sun himself aud shone and glinted
round her head. She lifted her swee,
eyes TO mine when | had done. and put.
ting her hand in mine said:
why. Tom. don't you know have
loved you nlways?"
And. boy but why am telling you
NIL thisP You wanted TO know why
went West. Well, as told you. was
a hot-hcaded. quicl.tempcrcd fool.
and. though It seemed to mo now that
Alice cid everything that sensible
man would have been satisfied with. |
used then TO be very cxactlng. and MAS
often vexcd with her She was brig h,
md cheerful and happy, and used to
trent my high and mighty humors with
the llghtncss they deserved. Finally.
ono day. shall never forgot It'll had
boon 10 SEQ Alice In tho morning. and.
with my usual foolhardlncss. had been
consuming her for dancing so much tho
night before with Henry Wentworth.
your banker In town. you know. !,