The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-09-05

tAs
Chance consisted of a wide hallway
and two large rooms, n Of which was
used as a parlor in which Briggs girl
received her visitors. 1t was into this
room the Pilgrim turned. As he en-.
tered a young girl rose from her seat
at the window and walked toward the
door to greet him. She was a distinct
ly pretty girl, and the grace OF her out
door life had given her a certain indie
pendence of movement which made
visitors from the east who stopped at
the Last Chance wonder HOY she
came there and why she remained. at
was good of you to cross the prairie to-
day." she said; II hardly hoped to see
you
Il came because I had something
very important to tell YOU" the young
man said quickly-'because l wanted
your help-I am going away"
Going away she repeated; then
you have struck gold?" she asked. ten
tatively, ''and are going to sell?"
He smiled slightly. Eyes, l have
struck gold" he said, Il have come
into some money in the east, and l
think there are better places to spend
it in than in Last Chance"
"ies, you're right" she said; Its
not much of a life and it will be still
worse, now that you are gong away"
Then why dor't you leave it." he
said. That is what / have come to
say-as o % as heard had come in
to this money ] put over here to tell
You. ! want you to go to the states
with me. Let us go back and spend
our lives together in a civilized land
among Gods WI people. Heaven
knows we've seen enough of the other
kind"
The girl drew back and stood silent
and dazed. Her eyes wandered from
his to the window, and then back
again, the color came and went quick
ly from her face, the folds in her ILL
fitting dress seemed to fill out, and
for the time she looked like a tall.
full-grown woman. You want me to
marry you and leave Drummond and
dad" she said.
Yes. why shouldn't you?" he ran on,
speaking earnestly and quickly. "You
are lost here; think of the difference
of your position here and there. Why.
these people don't even appreciate
you. You haven't a friend or compan-
ion in the place; think of all you would
find in the east, friends who would I'M
derstand you. and where you would be
mistress of your own home, while here
they treat you little better than a serv-
ant"
Not ALL" she interrupted him. dad
don't. Dad treats me pretty white"
well, even if he does. He's old now,
and when he's gone you will be left
completely alone"
but if he is getting DID, said the
girl, Il think perhaps I ought all the
more to stay by him. Think of what
he has done for me. For ten years he's
been just like n father to me; he's kept
me and clothed me: and even when
liquor gets the best of him he doesn't
treat me as bad as he might. It's no
USE" she added, desperately, ''he
would never think of it / know he
wouldn't"
''Of course he wouldn't" he said.
You must run away. It's easy enough
with the train passing the very door"
You must give me time" she said
you must give me time; l must have
time to think"
''Of course" he said. Il shall not
start until midnight, and when l doyou
zoo ,-AL 49, H. ,@,l 100000
her, and, putting his arm about her, he
drew the girl toward him. Ever since
he had first spoken to her of marriage
she had seemed almost dazed, but the
actual touch of the man she loved
brought her back to herself, and for
the first time she recognized hat she
was a woman hearing the first offer of
her life, and so she gave herself up to
her woman's inclination. and instead
of pouring out her doubts and troubles,
chose the easiest way to forget them
and sobbed over them on his shoulder.
In an hour she was standing on the
balcony of the Last Chance" waving
her handkerchief to the horseman
slowly over the first hill that
was soon to hide him from sight. He
turned as he reached n summit
waved DIS n was lost De-
hlnd the Drown grass waving on It's
crest
Inc next hour was h longest She
had ever known. She knew that she
mould spend 1t IN weighing fairly the
reasons for and against her leaving
Drummond, and, above all. the old
man, who In his rough. ncouth way
had tried to be a good father to her.
During the first hour she changed her
many times and then she gave it
up, for she knew that it would be in
The last few minutes that h would
1naily decide. She hardly dared con-
'ess 1t to herself, but when he returned
lie knew IL would De SO much easier
OF her 10 determine 10 a her dis
equitable friends and nome for one
nat was oetter ana purer. Inc tram
or the east passed Drummond at mid
iisnt' ana ne had arranged with her
ne shouid come 10 tne mouse iate
u 'he evening anu WINE she got MIN
lis supper IN n oining-room' they
'ere 10 MAKE 'heir maj plans
"hen night came she went down
nto the Kitchen to help the servants,
'stensloiy on account OF n large
a. 49, lDn- ~ -a- -