San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-30


Two names We're used for the only girl
at Overlook. In addressing her the men
of the place always said "Miss War
riner." In mentioning her they often
said MARY Mite" The reason for this
distinctive difference was revealed by the
sight of Miss Mary Warmer herself as
she sat on high stool behind a rude
desk, under a roughly boarded shelter,
and with rapid fingers clicked the key Of
a Geographic instrument. There was a
perfect poise of quiet self possession
which would have been very impressive
dignity in an older and bigger person,
and which, although here limited by
eighteen years and one hundred pounds,
still made demand for respectful treat
ment Therefore the men when in her
presence never felt like calling her any
thing else than Miss Warmer" If she
had been less like stately damsel in
miniature, and more like such child as
she was in size only; if her employment
had been something not so near to
science as that of telegraphy and not so
far off from juvenile simplicity; if her
brown hair had been loosely curled in
stead of closely coiled, and if her skirts
had stopped at her ankles instead of
teaching to her feet, then she might
have been nicknamed Mary Mite" with
in her own hearing, as she was beyond
it by those who described her smallness
in a sobriquet. There may have been a
variance of opinion among those dwell
ers at Overlook who had made any esti-
mate of her composure, but if there was
one who believed that she merely as
sumed a reserve of manner because she
was among two hundred men he had
not yet tried his chances of exceptional
acquaintance.
Overlook was crude and temporary.
The inhabitants were making a roadbed
for a new railway at spot where the
job was extraordinary, requiring an I'M
commonly large proportion Of brain to
Drawn in the work. Those who were
mental laborers in the remarkable teat
of engineering, or were at least bosses
of the physical toll, were the ones who
had errands at the telegraphic shed, and
for whom Mary sent and received mes
sages over the wires. The isolated col
ony of workers was a hundred miles
deep, in a wilderness of mountain and
forest, but not as many seconds distant,
measured by the time necessary for cleo
trical communication from the construc-
ton company's headquarters in a great
city.
Must you wait for an answer" Mary
said, as she clicked the last word of a
message. Its an hour since your first
telegram went, and they seem in no
hurry to reply"
Polite Indifference, and nothing else,
was in her clear, gentle voice. There
was neither boldness nor shyness in the
eyes that opened wide and blue as she
lifted them from the paper to the man
whom she questioned. There was no
more of smile than of pout on the
mouth that worded that inquiry. She
did not indicate the faintest interest as
to whether he went or staid, although
she did suggest that he might as well go.
I'D rather lounge here, if you don't
mind" was Gerald Heath's answer.
Here the alertness of the placid girl
was family shown by a quick glance, but
it was so furtive that the subject of her
wariness did not know his face was being
scrutinized, and she was quickly con-
WINGED that she was not the cause of his
remaining, for he said, I'll tell you why
I'm anxious about the telegram and in
hurry to get it."
Gerald Heath had been lazily leaning
against the makeshift desk of the teleS-
rapher as he waited, and for paStime
had whitfield the smooth birch sapllng
that formed its outer edge. He had
cbipped and shaved after the manner of
those to whom sharp pocket knife and
q piece of wood provide a solace. There
had been no conversation except a few |
words concerning the message. But I
now he heightened himself to six feet by !
standing erect, and took on the outlines
of magnificent physique. His proper
ticns had not been realized before by the
girl at the other side of the counter. She
co1nprehendad, too, that Il his somewhat
unkempt condition were changed to one
which included a face cleaned of stub
born beard, suit of modish clothes to
replace the half worn corduroys, and
the shine of a silk hat and polished boots :
at his. now dusty extremities. he would :
Continues on Third Page.