The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1890-01-04

RANCH.
A Story of American Frontier
By Capt CHARLES KING, u.sA,
Author of"The Coloners Daughter" /" From
the Ranks, I" "1he Dese,ter," Etc.
Copyrighted 1883 by j. B. Lippincott Company
Philadelphia, and published by special arrange.
ment through the American Press Association
The sight that well nigh took his
breath away was something far more
than the interior of luxurious and
beautifully appointed room. Nothing
that had been said or limited prepared
him in the faintest degree for the appa-
rition facing him. seated at the piano, of
a performer utterly unlike the "cow
puncller" whom he had met in the morn
ing The fellow" now bending over the
key board was young, exquisitely fair
and graceful woman. Even as he stood
there in the full glare of the parlor
lights, she lifted up pair of soft.
shaded, lustrous eyes and saw him.
The music stopped with sudden shock
Tannhauser was undone. Tho firm,
white, shapely hands fell nerveless in
her lap; pallor as of faintness shot
over tho wild eyed face, only to be in
stantly succeeded by flush that surged
up to her very brows. Startled she
might have been for an instant; scared
mot bit of it! One instant only of
hesitation. then she rose and swept gal
lantly forward to meet him.
Instinctively Pcrry's hand went up to
the visor of his forage cap and barred the
bright, curling crop of hair SPECIFICS
with amaze, lie could only bow before
her and wait her question:; but it was
moment before she could speak. Bravo
as she was, the sudden apparition of a
stranger staring in upon her solitude
from an open easement was a shock that
served to paralyze the vocal cords. He
could see that she was making gallant
effort to control the tremor that had
seized upon her and to inquire the pur-
pose of his coming. He could see, too,
that the sight of the uniform had reas-
sured her. and that there was neither in
disnation nor displeasure in her beauti-
full eyes. Reserve, of course, he expected.
"Did you wish to see any one?" was
finally the form her question took; and
Perry had time to comment to himself,
English. by Joye!" before he answered.
u did; but let me first ask your par
don for this intrusion. l had no idea
there was woman at Dunraven. My
knocking at the front brought no answer,
and hearing the piano, followed the
veranda. Believe me, am as surprised
as you could possibly have BEEN"
Perry's voice was something greatly In
his favor, It was modulated and gentle
when in conversation. and with even q
caressing tone about it when he spoke to
women. Evidently the sound was not
unwelcome to this one She stood erect.
her fingers interlacing as she clasped her
hands in front Of her and looked him
well over with her brave eyes, The color
ebbed and flowed through the creamy
whiteness of her face, but the roses were
winning every monlent-the red roses of
the house of Lancaster
"And-you wished to see-whom2"
she presently asked, with courtesy in
every word
"Why, ! hardly know" answered
Perry, with smile that showed his
white teeth cleaning through the curl
ing blonde mustaclle IA sergeant of
my troop has been missing since morn
ing His horse came back to the fort
just as we were on parade at sunset,
bleeding and without his rider. We
have searching parties out all over the
prairie, and | was ordered to come here
to the ranch to make inquiries.
She hesitated n moment-thinking
"My father is at home, but fear he is
not we'll enough to see you. Mr. Even
is with him, and he might know. Will
you-would you step in one moment, and
will go and ask?"
"Thank you very much. wish you
would not trouble yourself. presume
can go over to those stable building, or
wherever it is the men sleep; they would
be most apt to know if our sergeant has
been seen."
"Oh, no! it is no trouble; besides, they
are all asleep over there by this time, l
fancy They have to be out SO very early,
don't you know"
But Perry had stepped inside even as
he offered to go elsewhere-a fact that
the girl had not been slow to notice, for
a quizzical little shadow of smile how
cred for an instant at the corners of her
pretty mouth. "Pray sit down" she said,
as she vanished into an adjoining room,
leaving Ned Perry standing gazing after
her, spell bound.
He listened to the swish of her trailing
skirts through the dimly lighted room
beyond, through an invisible hallway,
and then to the quick pit-a-pat of he1
feet up some uncarpeted stairway. He
heard her moving quickly, lightly, along
the corridor of the upper story until the
footballs were lost at the rear of the
house, then distant tap upon a door.
way, and a soft voice, barely audible,
calling, Papa" He heard her speak
again, as though in response to inquiry
from within; he heard her raise he1
voice, as though to repeat an answer to
previous question, and this time her
words were distinct. IAN officer from
the fort, )" she announced; and then fol.
lowed sensation.
He heard a door quickly opened; he
heard mems voices in low, eager, excited
talk; he heard her sweet tones once
more, as though in expostulation, saying
something about the sergeant, lost OF
wounded, and they were merely inquir.
ing for him; he heard stern, harsh in.
junction of "Silencel that will dor some
quick, hurrying footsteps, mans spur.
red boots descending some staircase al
the back of the house, a colloquy aloft
in fainter tones, and then-closing doors
and silence.
He waited fve-ten minutes, and still