Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-19

on his mart. or what would be better, the
Coionei's return. And the Colonel must
come back soon, for nothing goes well in q
| lonc absence, and his house is almost at a
Colonel Schuyler has come and, I hear, is
storminp anyrily over the mishaps that have
dslayed the progress of his new dwelling.
He saws he will not go away again till it Is
| comnleted. and has been riding all the
morning in every direction engaging new
men to aid the dilatory. workmen already
employed. Does Orrin know this? will
90 down to his house and see.
And now I know Orrin's secret. He was
not at home, of course, and being deter
mined to get at the truth of his mysterious
| absences, mounted q morse OF my own and
rode off to find him.
WHY 1 took this upon myself, or whether
| I had the right to do it, have not stopped
to ask. went in the direction he had last
| gone. and after had ridden through two
villages 1 heard of him as having passed
| still farther east some two hours before.
Not in the least deferred, hurried on,
and having threaded thicket and forded a
stream, came upon a beautiful open coun-
try wholly new to me, where, on the verge
of pleasant glade and in full view of a
most picturesque line of hills, saw shining
the fresh boards of a new cottage. Instantly
the thought struck me, cit is Orrln's, and
he is building it for Juliet and filled with
a confusion Of emotions, 1 spurred on my
horse, and soon drew up before it.
Orrin was standing, pale and defiant, in
the doorway, and as I met his eye, 1 noticed,
with sick feeling of contempt, that he
swung the whip he was holding smartly
against his leg in what looked like a very
| threatening manner.
''Good evening, Orrin," cried. "You
have very pleasant site here-preferable
| to the Colonel's, I should say"
'What has the Colonel to do with me?"
was his fierce reply, and he turned as if
about to go into the house.
'Only this" calmly answered; II think
he will get his house done first.
He wheeled and faced me- and his eye
which had looked simply sullen shot fierce
and dangerous CLEAN.
"What makes you think that?" he cried.
"He has come back, and to-day engaged
| 20 extra men to push on the work."
tone "Well, I wish him joy and sound
roof!''
And this time he did go into the house.
As he had not asked me to follow, I of
course had no alternative but to ride on. As
1 did so, took another look at the house
and saw with strange pang at the heart
that the plastering was on the walls and the
windows ready for glazing. 81 was wrong, :"
said to myself; sit is Orrin's house which
will be finished first"
And what if it is? Will she turn her
back upon the Colonel's lofty structure and
take refuge in this cottage remote from the
world? 1 could not believe it, knowing
how she loved show and the smiles and GAL
l. - E.. 1lN %
so capricious and Orrin SO determined that
1 do not know what to think or what to
fear, and 1 ride back with heavy heart,
wishing she had never come up from the
farm to worry and inhame the souls of
honest men.
And now the Colonel's work goes on
apace, and the whole town is filled with the
noise and hustle of numbering carts and
eager workmen. The roof which Orrin so
bitterly wished might be sound one has
been shingled; and under the Colonels eye
and the Colonels constant encouragement,
part after part of the new building is being
fitted to its place with precision and
dispatch that to many minds promise the
near dawning of Juliet's wedding day. But
1 know that afar in the East another home
is nearer completion than this, and whether
she knows it too or does not know it (Which
is just as probable), her wilful, sportive
and butterfly nature seems to be preparing
itself for q struggle which may rend if not
destroy its airy and delicate Wings
have prepared myself too, and being
still and always her friend, stand ready to
mediate or assist, as opportunity offers or
circumstances demand. She realizes this,
and leans on me in her secret hours of fear,
or why does her face brighten when she sees
me, and her little hand thrust itself con-
q H.. IL.
mantle and grasp mine with such lingering
and entreating pressure? And the Colonel?
Does he realize, too, than 1 am any more to
her than her other cast-offlovers and would
be friends? Sometimes 1 think he does,
and eyes me with suspicion, Buthe is ever
so courteous that 1 cannot be sure, and SO
do not trouble myself in regard to jeal-
ousy so lily founded and SO easily dispelled.
He is always at Juliet's side and seems to
surround her with devotion which will
make it very difficult for any other man,
even Orrin, to get her ear.
The crisis is approaching. Orrin is again
in town, and may be seen riding up and
down the streets in his holiday clothes.
Have some whispers of his secret love and
evident intentions reached the ear of the
Colonel? Or is Juliet's father alone con-
cerned? For see that the blinds of her
lattice are tightly shut, and watch as 1 may,
cannot catch glimpse of her eager head
peering between them at the Haunting
horseman as he goes careering by.
The hour has come, and how different is
the outcome from any had imagined. I
was sitting last night in my lonely little
room, which opens directly on the street,
struggling as best might against the dis
traction Of my thoughts which would lead
me from the book was studying, when a
~ 81 IS, d.
and almost before could look up, that same
door swung open and dark form entered
and stood before me.
For a moment 1 was too dazed to see who
it was, and rising tremendously, I made
my bow of welcome, starting little as I
met the Colonel's dark eyes looking at me
from the folds of the huge mantle in which
he had wrapped himself; 'sYour Worship"
I began, and stumbling awkwardly, offered
him a chair, which he refused with gesture
of his smooth white hand.
'Thank you, no" said he, IT dc not sit
down in your house till know if it is you
who have stolen the heart of my bride away
from me, and if it is you with whom she is
prepared to hee."
"Ah," was my involuntary exclamation,
'then it has come. You know her folly,
and will forgive it because she is such
child
"Her folly? Are you not then the man?"
he cried, but in a subdued tone which
showed what restraint he was putting upon
himself even in the moment of such accumu-
lated emotions.
No." said 1; eff your bride meditates
fight, it is not with me she means to go. 1
am her friend, and the man who would take
her from you is not. 1 can say no more,
Colonel Schuyler"
He eyed me for a moment with deep
and burning gaze. which showed me that