The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-08-07

caught JOeS extended bngerS, and side
by side the two horseawere urged across
the bridge.
They galloped home in silence, and
when they reached there and Helen
stepped into the friendly shelter of the
broad veranda she noted the fact that
Joe led both horses to the stable and put
them up.
Half an hour later Joe, arrayed in
Sheriff Blacks dressing gown and slip
pers (articles brought by Miss Helen
from the east), was explaining to the
rosy, demure young mistress 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 rode over to ask you
to invite me to tea and found you gone !
FASTENED after you"
This speech over an embarrassed 81
lence followed. 1t was broken by Joe,
who looked straight at his hostess and
said:
eff am intruding. Miss Nellie, why,
just give the word and I'll CO."
Helen assured him in constrained
sort of way that she was glad of COM
pany, 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 a little
case from the table and began examin-
ing its contents-a bright new pair of
hand cuffs.
They were a new kind just from the
east, and Helen began explaining the
spring lock which opened with a skele-
ton key.
Somehow one of the bands was on
Joe's wrist as she slipped the other bright
10! the lock snapped and they were lock-
ed 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 key
was in her fathers pocket and he was
on the other side of Crow creek, which
was now foaming torrent and danger
Gus to cross in the storm and darkness.
She tried to smile and treat the matter
lightly, but 1t was just the ghost of a
smile, and it was a very doleful voice
that said: II 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 a
glance at the distressed face across the
table sobered 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 fettor on her
wrist so long and SO earnestly that
Helen lifted 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 eyes2
Her confusion encouraged Joe, but
there was almost q tremor in his voice
as he laid his great brown hand over her
fettered one and said softly: "Nell, if
you only loved me l would believe that
it was fate that bound us together. l
would take it as an omen that fate would
grant me my dearest wish. But, Nellie,
dare not hope"
The girl looked up slowly into her low
er's eyes, looked steadily, though she
still saw that look in them: Joe" she
said, lit is fate"
The cool and cultured Mr.. Russell
would have marveled had he seen "that
queenly girl" sobbing for very joy on
Joe Gordons shoulder, and, perhaps, he
would have marveled still more had he
known that at that moment the thought
of him and his millions did not once enter
her mind.
When the sheriff returned in the gray
of the morning he found all interesting
picture.
The lamp still burned in the corner
and the fire was smoldering away. On
the broad lounge by the fireplace sat
Helen and her lover. She had fallen
asleep from sheer WEAKNESS and Joe sat
like statue lest he might disturb the
| fair sleeper whose cheek was so near his
own.
The old gentleman's face was study.
When the truth dawned upon him he
| flung himself into the nearest chair and
| laughed until he walked the echoes-hi.e.
wise Miss Helen.
She was at first bewildered by her novel
position, but soon remembered the true
situation and relapsed into silence, leav.
| inp Toe to tell the story
"And now, sheriff, concluded he, "you
may loose these letters with the under
standing that they will soon be replaced
by more enduring ones. l must not lei
my prisoner escape"
! Helens father had always liked young
Gordon, and his blessing was forthcom
ing.
The announcement of the approaching
nuptials gave Mr. Russell q conclusive
answer, and he settled up his affairs l,
short order and returned east.
The old sheriff used to tell with grea
gusto how Gordon won his perverst
daughter and how gracefully she wor'
her letters after she was won.-Atlant!
Constitution.
The largest corpse ever conveyed to ;