Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-10-20

halls Of our beautiful museum with a
carriage you would have called immod-
est in peacock. Unless I greatly err,
the poor king was the only one of us
whom he did not presume to patronize.
How to get rid of Mr.. birmingham was
for some time battling problem. I
could not discharge him, as no actual
offense could be laid at his door. But
finally hit upon a way. Of necessity
he would be absent for days at time,
and cleared my throat augustly one
afternoon and informed him that in
these absences a cosuperintendent must
be appointed to take his place. He
bristled at this, just as I had expected,
and asked me why a superintendent
should be created and not an officer of
lower status than his own. endeav-
ored to explain precisely why, and in so
doing am afraid that with intention I
reused his lordly wrath, for Disguised
resignation followed, and it came just
in the nick of time. During that same
week your letter reached me, telling of
that fateful suicide. The position was
ready for you, and waits now your gra-
cious occupancy. Meanwhile Jerning-
ham, still resident of Saltravia, poi
sons the air with malign tales about
my jealousy of his success at winning
royal countenance. A withered sister,
who adores him, helps to spread these
silly reports. They don't injure me. I
am not, after all, half so unpopular in
Saltravia as Mr.. and Miss birmingham
would try to make out. But / feel it
my duty, dear Alonzo, to warn you that
you will find in these people two ready
made foes. And yet their ennity is
harmless as sleeps bleat, and, regret
to add, hardly more amusing or dra-
matte
On reaching Saltravia, after brief
stay in Paris, A1onzo alighted from the
train just at sunfan. His journey had
been long and firing, but toward the
latter part of it soft hills, green as en-
erald, had gradually greatened, affect
ing him from the window at which he
sat like giant spirits of woodlawn hos
pitalty, that linked their godlike hands
in continual increase of greeting. But
tbs light-built station, shaped with
ARREST delicacy, brought him greeting
dearer still. Eric Thaxter grasped his
hand before he had taken ten steps.
''Dear old Eric!'' he said; ''you look
just the same. Big and handsome and
yellow-bearded as ever
Eric smiled, and pressed his friends
hand with a vigor that brought back
the atelier days in Paris, not to mention
hours of merry abandonment in the
boulevard Saint Michel.
''Don't think Of your luggage said
Eric. Cali will be attended to-" He
caught from his friends hand the
tinued, after feeting converse with two
he had thrown an arm about Alonzo's
neck, while they walked onward to-
together.
ut seems so natural to meet you here
in Saltravia,' he said. cit is like hav-
ing the moon rise, or the breeze blow.
For am sure you will like it here, un-
less the weather becomes rebellious."
some would say" murmured Alonzo,
looking about him, ssthat the skies were
always kind to so enchanting a spot as
this"
$50 you like it?" flashed Eric Thax-
ter. 81 was sure you would
''Like it? Are we near a railway sta
tion?"
Eyes, my friend; but did you observe
the tunnel as you approached? It is
three miles long,
''You call it tunnel?"
"Well, causeway, if you prefer. In
any case, our trains plunge through the
valley with a kind of sleepy fierceness.
It is the kings doing. And if you will
cast your eye backward along the
route of the railway by which you have
just come, you will see nothing but a
series of undulant green entertainments,
ablaze with spots of the choicest flow
ers."
''Exquisitel' said Alonzo. ''But one
has lovelier things to look at here he
added, throwing his gaze to the right
and left, and then letting it dwell in
quiet ecstasy on the prospect that
| fronted him.
''Shan we drive to your lodgings, or
shall we walk?" sounded Eric's voice
''Drive? walk?'' fell from his hearer,
in dazed monotone.
After all it's but STEP" pursued the
guide 'tAnd you really like Saltravia,
| then? was sure you would
Like It'll" faltered Alonzo.
He had not yet made up his mind
whether he was in town or country
No one ever did who first came to this
magic little region. True there were
| no sidewalks, no pavements. But roads
and paths that looked like huge and
CuOicSS WOlC0 T1DDOnS were DOrQGrod EV
villas of fairy-like fragility and vet
often OF spacious exterior Like an i'm
| mense curved sword flung down upon
the velvet sweeps Of turf, a river blazed
below the dying splendors of sunset
And such a sunseti It was seen below
two towering mountains whose peaks
melted in purple and golden cloud,
which chung to either of their westward
| slopes and wrought nebulous effect of
| two celestial stairways. The valley,
thus dreamily and magnifcently bas-
| toned, lay bathed in glory, quiet yet
| intense. You seemed to look within
| the gates of paradise, and past them
also where heavenly meadowlands
| drowsed and brooded.
Alonzo, almost drunken with the
beauty of hts environments, had scarce
| " noted that figures on the hard clear
cut walk which he and Eric trayersed
were passing in groups or pairs
TO BE Continued
Georges Wife.
Mr.. Jinks-What a trusting little
woman Georges wife is.
| Mrs Jinks-Yes. She has never been
/! married before.-N. z. Weekly.