Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-08
was no gladness about Delancev's announce

was no gladness about Delancey's announce
ment, and knights congratulatory reply
had counterfeit ring about it.
Next Monday said Jack after pause,
4 shall start for home to make the folks over
there visit before settling down for lie.
You will stay and take care OF things Tor me
while 1 am gone, won't you. Spence? L
shall not be away more than couple of
months. and during that time should like
to have the carpenters over from Cheyenne
and run up a comfortable cottage over yon-
der by the poplars. Consult Meta as much
as possible
Delaney spoke so mechanically that
knight knew, beyond the shadow of a
doubt, that something was wrong. But he
made no inquiries.
All right, Delaney; and when you re-
turn shall ask for leave of absence for a
similar purpose. Like yourself, 1 am an
EEglishman. There was little unpleasant
ness in our family which induced me to To-
cate in the West some II years ago. The
other day saw an old friend of mine. who
was passing through Cheyenne. We talked
matters over, and think past differences
can now be adjusted. However, will not
poster you with my affairs tonight
Somehow or other, Jack Delaney was
absent from his ranch eight months instead
of two; so that the following summer had
commenced by the time he returned to his
Western quarters.
we will leave business until tomorrow,
Spence said Jack, as he and his First
Lieutenant sauntered toward the creek.
Let US talk of other matters tonight
As matter of fact, they said nothing at
all for almost half an hour. Then Delaney
spoke: How is Meta? L have heard moth
ing from her for two months. told her
not to write, as 1 was SO uncertain about
starting. How is she?'
Meta is well, very WELL
Silence again, broken this time by
Knight: 'Delancey?' Both men paused
in their walk, and Jack puffed violently at
his pipe. You picked me up a stranger,
you are. You had faith in my manhood,
and you have trusted me implicitly. Have
justified your confdence?'
You have, Spence-a thousand times
over, boy. Here is nv hand on it,
Thanks, Delaney. Now trust me little
more, and believe that l would not pry into
your private affairs for the mere sake of be-
ing meddlesome, or to wound you. May
go ahead?'
Surely. Let us sit on this boulder
Delaney, you just asked about Meta.
You do not love that girl. 1 knew it the
night that we were last on this spot, when
you told me of your engagement to her.
You will never be really happy with Meta
for your wife
STOP said Jack, with faint smile.
This question is unbeatable. have asked
Meta to marry me, and it is utterly impos-
sibe to discuss the matter.
But, persisted Knight. you love with all
your heart and soul another woman. You
cannot deny that-you do not desire to deny
it. You love, as you can never hope to love
Meta, my sister Florence
Nonsense, Spence! Lady Florence
Knighton your sister"
The very same. You see, my dear fell
low, too am an honorable. 1t was a
rather shabby trick on your part, Delaney,
to go over there and lose your heart to my
sister, while you kept me all these months
waiting to become reconciled to my father
But, to return to our subject. You not
only fell desperately in love with Flo, but
you have stolen the poor girls heart away
from her.
Indeed, Spence, have been strictly hon.
orable in this matter. While at home
made no secret of my engagement, and
avoided anything like a hirta-
ton with Lady Florence. We were thrown
much together, and / confess Well,
that makes no difference; am here to keep
my word with Meta
I admit, Delancey,' said Knighton, rather
that in the presence of my sister
YOU tried your best to behave like sphyn1;
butt have it on the authority of nv mar
ried sister-your attempt was signal tall
ure; while, as for Florence, she has made a
clean confession to her sister. Now, are
you going to make Flo miserable as well as
yourself"
4 am grieved to learn muttered Jack,
that have unintentionally caused your Sis
ter temporary distress. But as for myself
[ think fellow need not feel particularly
miserable in living up to his word. No; I
shall marry Meta Larned.'
Wait while, continued Knighton, lay
ing his hand upon his friends shoulder.
Meta Larned does not love you! What do |
you say to that?'
Possibly so. But how do you know that |
to be the case
'Because-why-er (you haven't pistol |
about you, Delancey?)- Well, the fact |
is that Met loves me, and 1 love her; and if
you do not seriously object, we should both |
Of US like to release you from your engage |
mentl Yes,' he went on, Il suppose you |
ought to demand an explanation and satislac- |
Iion from me Tor robbing you of your afi- |
anced bride. But 1 did not begin the rob- |
berry until I was tolerably sure that 1 |
shouldn't be striking you very hard. AS L |
said, surmised a good deal when you went |
away, and learned much more before YOU |
started for home. A month ago Cal Larned |
1ied-gored by young bull-and be-
fore his death, be confessed to |
me that he had terrorized Met and |
played a "bluff game" with you. You are
not very angry, are you, Delancey?'
Jack certainly did not look very angry,
and he grasped his friends hand and shook |
It with remarkable vigor.
The Hon. Spencer Knighton is still known |
is Spence knight on the Delaney ranch, |
Of which he is sole proprietor; but Jack De- |
ancey, of Wyoming, is no more, his friends |
having rechristened that gentleman with his |
Did name when he settled down to the pleas |
ant life of an English country Squire.