The Globe-republican., 1892-08-12

fee, half sitting room, furnished with q
dark and chilly iron safe, q sofa and
chairs covered with black and coldly
shining horsehair. Here Hays not only
removed his upper coat but his under
one also, and drawing a chair before the
fire, sat down in his shirt sleeves. 1t
was his usual rustic pioneer habit, and
might have been some lingering remin-
| iscence of certain not remote ancestors
to whom clothes were an impediment.
He was warming his hands and placidly
| ignoring his gaunt arms in their thinly
clad hickory" sleeves, when a young
girl of eighteen sauntered, half perfume
torily. half inquisitively, into the room.
It was his only remaining daughter. AL
ready elected by circumstances to dry
household virginity, her somewhat large
features, sallOw complexion, and taste
less, unattractive dress did not Obvi-
ously suggest a sacrifice. Since her
sisters departure she had taken sole
charge of her fathers domestic affairs
and the few rude servants he employed,
with certain inherited following of his
own moods and methods. To the neigh
bors she was known as Miss Hays a
dubious respect that in a community of
familiar "Sallies, NAMES, PUSHES,
was grimly prophetic. Yet she rejoiced
in the Oriental appellation of "Zuleika.
To this it is needless to add that it was
ed more decidedly Western.
Eye can put some things in my carpet
bag agin the time the sled comes round, ="
said her father, meditatively, without
looking up.
Then you're not coming back to-
night?" asked the girl curiously. Whats
going on at the Summit, father?"
Il am" he said grimly. You don't
reckon I kalkilate to stop thar! I'm
going on as far as Horseley's to close
up that contract afore the weather
changes"
Il kinder allowed it was funny you'd
go to the hotel tonight. There's a
dance there; those two Wetherbee girls
and Mamie Harris passed up the road
an hour ago on a wood sled, nigh blown
to pieces, and sittin' up in the snow like
skeert white rabbits.
Hays brow darkened heavily.
Let 'em CO." he said, in q harsh voice
that the fire had not yet softened. Let
'em go for all the good their fool parents
will ever get outer 'em, or the herd of
wayside cattle they've let them loose
among"
Il reckon they haven't much to do at
home, or are hard put for company, to
travel six miles in the snow to show off
their prinkin' to lot of idle louis shiny
with bears grease and scented up with
doctors stuff" added the girl, Struggling
her shoulders with touch of her
fathers mood and manner.
Perhaps it struck Hays at that mo-
ment that her attitude was somewhat
monstrous and unnatural for one still
young and presumably like other girls,
for, after glancing at her under his
heavy brows, he said, in a gentler tone:
Never you mind, Zuly. When your
brother Jack comes home, he'll know
what's what, and have all the proper
New York ways and style. It's nigh
on three years now that he's had the
best training Doctor Dawson's Academy
could give. sayin' nothing of the pow'ful
Christian example of one of the best
preachers in the States. They mayn't
have worldly, ungodly fandangoes
where he is, and riotous Twin, and scar
let denominations, but I've been told that
they've tea circles, and assemblies
and harmony concerts of young folks
and dancin'-yes, fine square dancin'
under control. No, amt stinted him
in anythin'. You can remember that,
Zuleika, when you hear any more gos-
sip and backbitin' about your fathers
meanness. I amt spared no money for
him."
Il reckon not" said the girl. little
sharply. why, there is that draft for
two hundred and fifty dollars that KEN
only last week from the Doctors for
extras"
YES" replied Hays, with a slight
knitting of the brows, the Doctor mOut
hev writ more particulars, but parsons
amt allus business men. l reckon
these here extrieS were to push Jack
along in the term, as the Doctor knew I
wanted him back here in the spring,
now that his brother has got to be too
stiff-necked and self-opinionated to do
his fathers work" 1t seemed from
this that there had been a quarrel be-
tween Hays and his eldest son, who
conducted his branch Of business at
Sacramento, and who had in a passion
threatened to set up rival establish
ment to his fathers. And it was also
evident from the manner of the girl
that she was by no means strong par
tisan of her father in the quarrel
You'd better find out first how all
the schoolin' and trainin' of Jacks is
goin' to jibe with the ranch, and if he
amt been dedicated out of all knowledge
of station business or keer for it. New
York amt Hays Ranch, and these yer
Assemblies and Harmony doin's and
their airs and graces may put him out
of conceit with our plain ways. reckon
We didn't take that to mind when you've
been bustlin' round payin' two hundred
and fifty dollar drafts for Jack and
and quo'llin' with Bijah! l amt sayin'
nothin', father, only mebbe if Bijah had
had drafts and extrys flourished around
him little more, mebbe he'd have
been more polite and not so tough
spoken. Mebbe," she continued with a
little laugh. even I'd be q little more
in style to suit Master Jack when he
comes ef I had three hundred dollars
worth Of convent schoo!in' like Mamie
Harris"
Yes. And you'd have only made
yourself fair game for ev'ry schemin',
law snort or cOuntpr.inmner alono tho