San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-02-17


"The Lancashire people in the train all
: took an interest in the Clitheroes. They
knew from Sizzum what happened when
he followed you and your purpose to give
chase. knew John Brent well enough
to believe that he would achieve the res
cue. Happy fellow! forgive you, John;
hard it is, but forgive you for stepping
in before me. l was waiting there in
Utah to do what could for my old love
and my old friend. should like to have
had bullet in my arm in the cause; but
the result is good, whether gain or lose"
81 never thought of you, Biron. In
fact, from the moment saw her, i
thought of no one else"
"Yes that is her power. We were old
neighbors in Lancashire. My father
bought the old hall after Mr.. Clitheroes
disasters. The disappearance and the
mysterious temperance of the old gen.
tleman and his beautiful daughter were
the romance of the region. No one knew
where they had been. My father was
dead. My mother tried to befriend them.
But the old gentleman was soured and
disappointed. He could not forgive us
for inhabiting the old mansion of his hap
pier days. God knows how gladly
would have reinstated him there. But
she could not love me, so came away,
and we looked up Luggernel springs and
the alley together, John, to give you a
chance to snatch my destiny away from
me-"
Brent, in his weakness, had no answer
to make, except to give his hand to this
gentle rival.
"How did you learn of their Mormon
error" asked.
"My mother wrote me. She loves Miss
Clitheroe like daughter. She pities the
father. His wife was her friend. A
genial, lovable man he was, she says.
until, after his losses, people whom he
had aided turned and accused him of
recklessness and dishonesty-a charge
as false and cruel as could be made My
mother wrote, told me of Sizzum's sue
cess in Clitheroe and of our friends de-
parture. She ordered me, on my obedi-
ence, never to come back to England
until conld tell her that Ellen was safe
out of Sizzums power. She had gone to
hear him preach and abhorred him.
received her letter after we had parted,
John and camped with Jake Shamber-
lain, waiting for the train. What could
have done l do not know, but my life
was Miss Clitheroes."
How easy his chivalry seemed to this
noble fellow "Noblesse oblige;' but
the obligation was no burden.
"You are stanch friend, Biron," said
Brent. "She may need you yet"
yes" said he; christian England is
a savage, cruel as any of these brutes she
has encountered here, to beautiful girl
with helpless, crazy father. When can
you travel, John?"
"Nearly a month have been here
fighting death and grasping at life. Give
me two days more to find horse an,
ride about little, and we are off"
"Armstrong-fne old fellow, left the
sorrel for yC.," l said. "He is in racing
trim now"
"Capitalv' said Brent. "One Arm
strong is brave weight on the true side
of the balance against an army of pioneers
who have gone barbarous."
81 have something to show you, john"
said Biddulph. ''See here l bought
this of Mormon. He had very likely
stolen it from Mr. Clitheroe's wagon. 1t
I vas the only relic could get of them"
| The very drawing of Clitheroe Hall its
| iormer owner had wished to show me at
Fort Bridger. An able sketch of thor
9ughly English house. If England were
| sunk in the sea, and its whole history
| persisted, English life, society and man.
| ners could be reconstructed from the in
spection of such drawing, as a geolo-
| gist recalls an con from a.trilobite. i
| lid not wonder that it had been heart
breaking TOT quit the shelter of that grand
| Did roof. fixed the picture in my mind.
| The time came when that remembrance
was precious.
"Now, Biddulph!" called Ruby, "sup-
per waits. Potatoes! Flapjacks and
| molasses"
"They shall be a part of me instantly"
They iefs III the lover and the ex-
lover-and followed on over seas.
l am not to maunder about myself. So
omit the story how | saw a vista in
new life, hewed in and took up a
"claim," which / have held good and am
still improving.
Meantime nothing from Brent-noth-
ing from Miss Clitheroe.
l wrote Brent and rewrote him, but
no answer.
That winter my old friend Short per-
fected his famous Cutoff. Everybody
now knows Shorts Cutoff. 1t saves
thirty per cent of steam and fifty per
cent. of trouble and wear and tear to
engineer and engine.
Short burst into nv Office one morn