The Red Cloud chief., 1892-12-30


excitement, ''ain't hat young Tom
Hartley out there with Bess?'
Kind-faced Mrs. Fowler looked ovcr
her husbands shoulder from the win
dow and surveyed the handsome young
fellow who was in the act of assisting
Bessie to dismount.
Nv ny, / do believe IL is Tom" she re-
turned. Glow handsome he's grown
to be-"
Handsome, the dickens!" and he
strobe toward the door angrily. "Ill
q him for his impudence in ridin'
with our Bess."
Flinging the door open he faced Bes-
sizes escort with an angry flash in his
eyes.
III don't ask any odds Of any Hart
ley" he said, grufiy, brushing Tom
aside. ~ can help my own gal OFF her
pony"
"Father!" mildly demonstrated Mrs.
Fowler from the DOORWAY.
~ mean it, he went on, rudely drag
ging Bcss from her saddle. Nov you
go in the cabin and stay there. Bess,
and you," to Tom, get on your beast
and ride back TO your dads ranch. l
amt goin' to have you hangin' round
here, film my gals head full o. non
sense"
Bess staggered into her mothers
arms. and hid her burning face on that
sympathetic breast. Tom %Ilartley's in
dignation was aroused against the old
man, but by II great effort he con-
trolled himself to speak calmly:
''See here, Mr.. Fowler, what's the
sense IN letting your old misunder-
standing with father separate Bessie
aud me? I love her truly, and believe
l could make her very happy" Tom
went on, fearlessly. ''lt's New Years
tomorrow, and l think you and father
had better bury hat old fuss and be
friends again. He's willing il you are.
1t would make Mrs. Fowler and
mother happy, ! know. Come, begin
the New Year with all the old dis
putes and dislikes cast away, and let
Bessie and me enjoy an ~unclouded hap
pincss."
New Years be hanged" replied
Fowler. admiring Tom Hartlcy's spirit,
although he was resolved to be unre-
leuting. "You a tell your father l
amt willing to make up II he is. l
amt forgot all he said, and I'd just rs
lief begin my calendar Of the New
Year with that old fuss as with any
thing else. Ride on, and don't come
back to Big Elm any more. You can't
have Bess, and you're not needed here"
and, pushing his wife nd daughter into
the cabin. he shut the door almost in
Toms face.
Singing with indignation, the young
fellow mounted his horse and rode
away. AS he passed the window he
had q brief glimpse Of pretty Bcss cry
ing her dark eyes red On her mothers
shoulder. The sight almost maddened
| him, and he felt disposed TO ride back,
force ar entrance, and carry her away
from that unreasonable ogre" her
father.
But who knowss" he communed
with himself. 1.-THE New Year may
bring about something for Bessie and
me. No need To make the fuss worse.
IL I haven't done SO already. Maybe
the old man will cool off u little. I'll
wait and see," and he rode on.
Then he began calling his father and
the postmaster at Big Elm rather I'M
pleasant names for being so foolish as
TO allow a slight mistake TO cause such
a disruption Of friendship. Why
couldn't folks exercise more sense,
more ~dispassion in the affairs of bust.
ness? 1t would save SO much trouble
il they only would.
The sun had set. Darkness was set
Ting over the prairie, and the stars
were beginning TO appear here and
there in the blue vault above him. But,
unheeding the lateness, Tom Hartley
rode on, he cared 10 where, He was
in no mood to go home, and, a. q kind
Of reaction of the condemnation he had
been showering out, his heart became
heavy, and he began to entertain APP
prehensions of his ever being able to
win Bessie Fowler.
1t wa. growing chilly, so he spurred
his horse into Il reckless gallop. This
rate Of travel suited him better, and he
let the spirited animal 60 a. fast as he
pleased.
They had Just entered some low,
woody bluffs along q stream. when the
horse caught one Of it's f~orefeet in a
deep rut and stumbled, fiinging its rider
violently to the rocky gro%bd
Frightened at its own mishap, the
horse extricated himself and went tear
ing OFF across the prairie, leaving its
master where he had fallen.
Tom Hartley was too stunned "a
move for several minutes. When he
did Mt last attempt to rise he realized
that his right arm was badly sprained.
But congratulatiug himself on hsv.