Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-01-16
MiscellaMeums.
WHY BOB DID NOT 60 WEST.

Going West. are you, Bob ~ asked
the old man quietly, as he added fresh
stick to the already glowing fire.
Eyes; leave for Texas on the early
train tomorrow, Cousin Tom, the young
man answered firmly, and with almost
a profound solemnity
''Do you fiud--havc you heard that
there is good opening for n physician
out there where you arc going y said
the old man, as he lighted his pipe and
reseated himself in his comfortable
leathern chair
II don't care continental whether
there is an opening for physician or
not; mn going West to 60 to work, y
said Bob, quickly II may end by bo-
ing a cowboy or something worse, per-
haps, he added, with laugh that it was
not pleasant to hear.
"And how does the little Alice like
the idea of your going 2" asked Cousin
Tom, carcessly, it seemed, but his half
closed eyes under his shaggy brows were
fixed very intently upon the young fel-
low as he spoke.
Bob WINGED II have not considered
it necessary to notify Miss Ames of my
Intentions" he said stifily.
Perhaps | may as well tell you" he
continued, after a moment, "that it will
be through no voluntary act Of mine
that she ever hears of me again so, il
you please, we will leave her out of tho
conversation. But come, Cousin Tom.
you have been out West yourself Tell
me something about tho country"
The old man puffed away slowly at
his'pipa. The young follows indiffer-
ence did not deceive him. There were
good many thoughts in his mind. lie
had been sitting II long while alone
with only the dim freight and his
memories for company. The coming Of
his young cousin bad hardly dispclled
the visions he had been recalling, and
he waited long time before replying
YES" he said at length, between
the pufs, II have seen good deal of
the West, and very different country
it is from this | can assure you. There
is hardly square mile of ground 10 the
whole State of Texas that | have not
been over, and Mexico and the Terri
tories, and California, too, know pret-
ty well was a considerably younger
man than | am now when went to the
frontier. little thought then of be-
coming the dccrcpit old bookworm that
am now, with hardly strength enough
to light my pipe. 1t has been good
long time since the Mexican war though,
hasn't it | was hardly as old as you
when enlisted"
"Did ever tell you. Bob" said the
old man suddenly, "how | came to 60
to the war ;"
"No," said Bob, 'and | have often
been curious to know why you threw up
everything and spent so many years Of
your life in wandering about"
"Well, said tho old man, leaning for
ward to empty his pipe upon the hearth !,
81 may make pretty long story Of it,
and if you get tired you must lot me
: know. After left school I settled down
in the village to practice law. | was
, never very wild fellow, only quick
and hot-tempercd--quick and hot-tem-
pered. Aye, there's where the trouble
came" said the old man, musingly. -
The freight aickered upon his bald
hoad and sunken cheeks. and his eves
were very sad.
"Here, boy" he said. as he fumbled
in his pocket and produced little, worn
velvet case, "that has been with me
everywhere through all that Western
wild. Look at it as talk to you"
''Wby. this is Alice, sir, said Bob,
eagerly, as hc opened the case.
AYE, Alice, said the old man, "but
} not your Alice. My Alice | used to call
her 10 the old days. She was Alice
Ames' aunt can see her now, boy,
as saw her the day she sat listening to
me as | told my love to her.. She kept
her eye bent down upon the grass at
her feet all the time | was talking to
her We bad walked down the hill to
the rustic seat uDdor the old beech tree,
but that, too, is gone now. | forgot.