Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-08-18

and is driftin' round in Frisco with
some fellow. When HOrsely gets
to hear that, you can't keep him
here; he'll settle up, sell out, and re-
alize on everything he's got to go after
her agin, you bet That's what Briggs
said. Well, that's what sent me up to
Horseley's tonight, TO get there, drop
the news, and then pin him down to the
contract.
at looked like good stroke Of bust
ness and a fair one" said the lady, in
an odd voice. 1t was so odd that Hays
looked up. But she had somewhat
altered her position and was gazing at
the ceiling, and with her hand to her
face seemed to have just recover ed
from a slight yawn, at which he hest
tated with new and timid sense of
politeness.
You're getting tired, ma amp"
ooh, dear, not" she said in the same
voice, but clearing her throat with a
little cough. And why didn't you see
this Mr.. HOrseley after all? Oh, forgot
you said you changed your mind from
something you'd heard.
He had turned his eyes to the fire
again, but without noticing as he did so
that she slowly moved her face, still
half hidden by her hand, toward him
and was watching him intently.
NO" he said slowly, "nOthin' heard,
sOmethin' felt. 1t mout heV ben that
that set me off the track. It KEN to me
all of a sudden that he might be sittin'
thar calm and peaceful as I might be
here, hevin' forgot all about her and his
trouble, and here was me gOin' to drop
down upon him and start it all afresh
agin. It looked little like persecution
yes, like persecution. I got rid of it,
sayin' to myself it wasn't business. But
I'd got off the road meantime, and
had to find it again, and whenever got
back to the track and was pointed for
his house, it all seemed to come back
on me and set me off again. When that
happened three times, I turned round
and started for home"
And do you mean to say" said the
lady, with discordant laugh. that you
believe, because you didn't go there and
break the news, that nobody else will?
That he won't hear of it from the first
man he meets?"
He don't meet any one up where he
| lives, and only Briggs and myself know
it, and I'll see that Briggs don't tell.
| But it was mighty queer, this whole
| thing comm upon me suddenly,
| wasn't it?"
Very queer" replied the lady, -for, I"
/ with the same metallic laugh, you
| don't seem to be given to this kind Of
weakness with your own family"
If there was any doubt as to the sarcas-
! tic suggestion of her voice, there GER
! tainly could be none in the wicked gilt
! ter of her eyes fixed upon his face under
| her shading hand, but haply he seemed
unconscious of both, and even accepted
| her statement without an Interior sig
nificance.
Yes" he said communingIy to the
glaring embers of the hearth, 1T must
have been a special revelation"
| There xuaG 70 apd
| one-sided in his attitude and expression,
so monstrously inconsistent and made
| quate to what was going on around him,
and so hopelessly stupid-if mere sim
| ulatiOn-that the angry suspicion that
he was acting part slowly faded from
her eyes, and hysterical smile began
to twitch her set lips. She still gazed
at him. The wind howIed drearily in
the chimney; all that was economic,
grim and cherries in the room seemed
to gather as fitting shadows around
that central figure. Suddenly she arose
with such quick rustling Of her skirts
that he lifted his eyes with start; for
she was standing Immediately before
him, her hands behind her, her hand
some, audaciOus face bent smilingly for
ward, and her bold, brilliant eyes with
in foot Of his own.
Now, Mr.. Hays, do you want to know
what this warning or special revelation
OF yours really meant2 Well, it had
nothing whatever to do with that man
on the Summit. No. The whole inter
est, gist and meaning Of it was simply
this, that you should turn round and
come straight back here and"-she
drew back and made him an exaggerated
theatrical courtesy--have the supreme
pleasure or making my acquaintance.
That was all And now, as you've had
1t, In five minutes I must be or, You've
offered me already your horse and sleigh
to go TO the Summit. accepts and 90.
Good-byl-
: he knew nothing Of woman's CAPRI
cious humor; he knew still less Of that
mimic stage from which her voice. Res-
ture, and expression was borrowed: he
had no knoWledpe of the burlasoue ar,o-