Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-06
BOTHLEFT.
BIZ E. S. ARMSTRONG.

Arthur Claude Castleton Qate of the Cold.
| streams}, both protested that wealth was
the very least of her charms, and not
| worthy to be named with her dark ewes
and bewitching smile. Girls of eighteen
| are not, most probably, all wise, and per
haps Miss Winifred believed this; at least
| she looked as If she did, and both Maverick
| and the captain had many hours in which
they certainly really believed it. When
wandering in the moon light 'sneath the
| fragrant bowers" or gliding through the
waltz at some glittering festivity, they
were both quite certain that nothing but
| Miss MOrgan's personal lovliness entered
| into their dreams of her.
Hitherto, though both aspiring to Wini-
/ fred's favor, they had maintained the sem
| blance of friendship. The captain rather
wished to do so it gave him an honorable
opportunity of watching his rivals chances /:
| and the captain was a man who liked a
little opposition. He intended at some IA
vorable opportunity to make a coup d'etat
and at once and forever put poor Maverick
out of the painful uncertainties of love
For, somehow, he looked on his own sue
| cess as certain, and if the confident heart
wins the fair lady. and the faint one loses
her, he had some reason for his blissful
security.
One lovely evening in the charming May
for May is charming in Central Texas
that was one billowy sea of grass and flow
ers. The captain was by her side, spouting
Tennyson (''She is coming, my own, nv
sweet" etc, etc in very touching way
Winifred had casually noticed that two
horsemen had come out from a piece of
woods, and were slowly following them;
and she had also noticed that they were
passing, rather closer quarters than she
liked, herd of cattle feeding Whether
the magnificent animal leading them was
irritated by the sight of the captains glar-
ing red windsor fiuttering in the breeze, or
by the poetry, or by some other cause
equally reprehensible, is uncertain, but his
rage was positive enough. Believing and
tearing up the ground, he came furiously
after them. Poetry and sentiment col
lapsedS land the first law of nature promptly
asserted itself.
Both put their horses to their
utmost speed. but the pros
the question was this: Would the bull or
the horses have the best of it IN race
over the prairie2
'He's gaining on US, Captain, and I'm
turning faint. Oh, what shall 1 do?"
LET US separate. He can't follow US
both, and perhaps he may select me.''
Suddenly loud shout attracted their at
tention. Winifred glanced fearfully be-
hind her. The two riders she had noticed
were coming on dI u tremendous pace, ana
suddenly she saw one of them rise in mis-
stirrups. and whirI d lariat over the head
of the furious animal. She now saw her
father was one of the horseman; the other
who had thrown the lariat vas q stranger,
The ex-governor quickly gave the bull his
quietus with ball behind the shoulder,
and then, as the herd were evidently grow
ing restless, the whole party rode rapidly
homeward. Thanks and introductions were
practically delayed, although the stranger
already thought that no thanks and no intro
duction would be more satisfactory to him
than the glance aud smile he had received
from the ex-sovernor's daughter.
The captain felt ''glum." He wondered
if he had behaved in a cowardly manner.
The entire affair had been so sudden and
rapid he could neither analyze his feelings
nor his actions.
Winifred had merely said that she "quite
excused him." Had there been anything
TO excuse
And then this strangerl He was quite as
inexplicable. The ex-governor had simply |
introduced him as "Mr. Herbert Lowry"
He was a smallish man with plain, posi- |
tive face. His skin was tanned, his hair |
light and his eyes Of that steely blue which |
always annoys weak and incapable people. |
Mr.. Lowry made very light of the ad- |
venture and gave all the credit of the rescue |
to the ex-governor, except, perhaps, for one |
in which Winifred and he once |
more exchanged glances. The news soon |
spread through the town, and Jack MAYER
lex was very indignant at fate. If only he |
had been with Miss Winifred. Managing |
wild cattle was only fun for him. He had
half dozen plans ready for such emer-
gencies etc. The captain felt Mavericks
bravado personal affront, but he did not
wish to make Winifred the subject of
quarrel and after a rather unsatisfactory
evening the two men started homeward to-
rether.
In this way matters went on for some
weeks. But smoldering fire can not al
ways be controlled, and one night when
Winifred had been very naughty and sar-
castle to both Maverick and the captain
they unfortunately met on the piazza OF the
hotel. The captain was Respondent and
Maverick angry and scornful. and
the captains air unconsciously irritated
him.
''How beastly ill-tempered Miss Wini-
fred was to-nightl'' said the captain fret
fully, flinging his half-smoked cigar into
he street.
''Aliss Winifred's never in-tempered,"
'epied Maverick warmly. II won't allow
you to say such thing, SIR"
lyon won't allow mel Understand 1
shall say what l choose about that young
ady. I do not recognize your right to de-
end her, Mr.. Maverick -
-NOE yours " u1duIo ueT, Odpt. SdSt4S- |
on"
perhaps have more right to do so than
'ou know of.
THAT'S lie, and you know iti'
'sDo you dare to say it is lie2'
Eyes, sir; l say it is a ID lie!'
you know the consequences of that
1eech, presumed"
FL just do that very thing; am not
fraid of you"
Maverick Maverick! rIl''-
'Oh, dry up, Castletonl If you feel like
aking little exercise in the morning, I'll
e right with you"
Very well. sir. Understand this goes to
he bitter end. will receive no apology
ot the most abject one.''
Apology be d-dr'
Then Maverick flung his hat on his head,
ntied his horse and galloped up the street.
lie went, in fact, to ask Mr.. Herbert Lowry
D make the proper arrangements for
Meeting between the captain and himself
he next morning. After little persuasion
.owry consented; but before Jack left, the |
aptain entered and made the same re-
uest.
Gentlemen, said Lowry with a cour-
sous bow, ''you are both equally my
riends, and I am honestly disposed to do
quail justice TO each of you. Fix on some
lace and will bring my friend, Dr. Ram
ey, with me in the morning and see every
hing as pleasantly and honorably settled
S possible
So both Maverick and the captain ap-
cared as usual next morning and their
roposed horseback ride was so common