The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1890-11-01

as other boys had been. she learned; he
had tried the cattle business in the west,
she was told; but there had been q quar-
rel with his father, a reconciliation, q
devoted mother, a long sojourn abroad
Heidelberg-a sudden summons to re-
turn. the death of the father, and then
the management of a valuable estate fell
| to the son.
There were other children, brother
and sisters, three in all, but Steven was
the first born and the mothers glory.
! She was with him at the seaside, and the
first thing that moved Nellie Travers to
like him was his devotion to that white
haired woman who seemed SO happy in
his care. Between that mother and Mrs.
Rayner there had speedily sprung up an
acquaintance. She had vastly admired
Nellie, and during the first fortnight of
their visit to the Surf house had shows
her many attentions. The illness of a
daughter called her away, and Mrs. Ray
ner announced that she, too, was going
elsewhere, when Mr. Van Antwerp
himself returned, and Mrs. Rayner
decided it was SO late in the season
that they had better remain until it was
| time to 60 to town. In October they
spent fortnight in the city, staying at
the Westminster, and he was assiduous
in his attentions, taking them every
where and lavishing flowers and bon
bonB upon Nell. Then Mrs. Van Ant
werp invited them to visit her at her own
comfortable, old fashioned house down
town, and Mrs. Rayner was eager to ac-
cept, but Nellie said no, she would not
do it; she could not accept Mr.. Van Ant
werp; she liked, admired and was at
tracted by him, but she felt that love him
she did not. He was devoted, but had
tact and patience, and Mrs. Rayner at
last yielded to her demand and took her
off in October to spend some time in the
interior of the state with relations of
their mother. and there frequently came
Mr.. Van Antwerp to see her and to urge
his suit.
They were to have gone to Warrener
Immediately after the holidays, but Jan.
uary came and Nellie had not surren-
dered. Another week in the city, a long
talk with the devoted old mother whose
heart was 80 wrapped up in her sons
happiness, and whose arms seemed yearn-
ing to enfold the lovely girl, and Nellie
was conquered. If not fully convinced
of her love for Mr.. Van Antwerp, she
was more than half in love with his
mother. Her promise was given, and
then she seemed eager to get back to the
frontier which she had known and loved
as a child. 81 want to see the noun
tains, the snow peaks, the great rolling
prairies, once MORE" she said, and he
had to consent Man never urged more
UNFORTUNATELY than he that the wedding
should come off that very winter; but
Nellie once more said no. She could not
and would not listen to an earlier date
than the summer to come.
No one on earth knew with what sore
foreboding and misery he let her go. 1t
was something that Mrs. Rayner could
not help remarking-his uncomfortable
aversion to every mention of the army
and OF his own slight experience on the
frontier He would not talk of it even
with Nellie, who was an enthusiast and
had spent two years of her girlhood al.
most under the shadow of Laramie Peak
and loved the mere mention of the Wyo-
ming streams and valleys. In her bus
bands name Mrs. Rayner had urged him
to drop his business early in the spring
and come to them for visit. He declared
1t was utterly impossible. Every moment
OF his time must be given to the settling
of estate affairs, so that he could be free
man in the summer. He meant to take
ms bride abroad Immediately and spend
year or more in Europe. These were
details which were industriouslv circu-
lated by Mrs. Rayner and speedily be-
came garrison property. 1t seemed to
the men that in bringing her sister there
engaged she had violated all precedent to
begin with, and in this instance, at least,
there was general complaint.
Mr.. Blake said it reminded him of his
early boyhood, when they used to take
Kim 10 the great toy stores at Christmas:
Look all YOU like, long for it as much
as you please, but don't touch" Merton
and Royce, of the cavalry, said it was
simply challenge to any better fellow
to cut i'll and cut ont the Knickerbocker:
and, to do them justice, they did their
best to carry out their. theory. Both
they and their comrades of the Rifiers
We're assiduous in their attentions to Miss
Travers, and other ladies, less favored,
made acrimonious comment in conse-
quence. A maiden sister of one of the
veteran captains in the til, damsel
whose stern asceticism of character was
reflected in her features and grimly illus
trated in her dress, was moved to CEN
sure of her more attractive neighbor.
III had given my heart to a gentle
man. said she, and her manner was in.
dicatiNa of the lnnor ctr,,nuolO Ill -,