The Indianapolis journal., 1893-09-10

one very dear. almost a relative had died.
The girl ielt very sorry. and made a nice
little bow of Grape on the side of his felt
sombrero.
Julie was 10 come out to Hiram 20 be
married. She wrote that she preferred
dong this. instead of having him TO 90 10
heI' because IL was SO sad now at West
vile since her Rrandmcfher's death, and
Hiram sent q generous draft to bring her.
lie told her TO buy some good clothes. too;
he wanted her TO keep up her stylish idess
when she was married. lie mentally re-
solved TO do all the hard work of the ranch
himself He thought j ulIe would be likely
10 sit n greatdesl of the time In the bay
window that had been put TO the sitting
room. where he would be able to see her
when be worked near the house. lie often
had visions of that pretty face looking out
ct him.
On the whole. he was glad that she was
coming TO him. for he thought he would
rather spend their first few days together
on the ranch. and he arranged with Billy
10 bring her out TO a place some distance
below the post box. where there would be
no witnesses TO their meeting.
From there he would take her over to
have a look at the ranch. and then they
weuid 90 TO the Crossbar ranch, where q
clergyman was stopping. and be married.
Afterward they would drive back lone in
the moonlight.
Its nothin' more than fair to give her
good square look at me and the place be-
fore marryin' her" thought Hiram. But
there was q mixture of pride now with his
humility. He thought no woman could
reasonably object TO the ranch. enlarged
and furnished. and shining in three coats
of white paint as il was. and be had grown
more cOmplaceDt about his own appear
ance since Julie had admired his tinty pc.
AMI. indeed. bis honest face was positively
handsome with pure happiness $ he drove
OFT iii his white-topped buck board. dressed
IN new euit of brown velvet corduroy,
to fetch his bride.
The stage was early. and Hiram's pulse
beat very fast when he saw 1t approaching
In cloud of dust After a moment he
rubbed his eyes, thinking surely the dust
must be interfering with his vision. for be
could make out only one passenger In the
open stage, q young man, who was Up on
the front seat with Billy. lie appeared TO
be very amusing fellow, from the uproar-
iOns manner In which Billy was laughing.
Hiram could hear him long before the
stage came up.
Whoa" said Billy, and Hiram felt q
dizzy sensation rushing through his head.
1t was not the fault of the dust. There
was only one passenger ana he jumped at
once to the ground. 6inging leather
satchel before him. Hiram tried 10 speak.
but his tongue had grown stif and thick
Hello. Hi" said. Bill merrily.
Hello. Billv' Hiram managed to answer.
Where's your other passenger
'"Only had the one"
81 mean the lady you was 10 stop here
with-Miss Raynor."
Billy let out an amused chuckle. and
looked at the stranger as If he left that for
him TO explain.
The young man held out his hand to
Hiram with broad smile. lis this Mr.:
Sturdyi" be said. How do you doi" I'll
Introduce myself. Pm Miss Raynor.n
What do you mean" asked Hiram.
heavily.
81 mean that Pm the Julie you're expect
ing. But Julian is my real name-Julian
Raynor. Eve come out TO marry you. Ha!
hai haW
1T was hoax all along" cried Billy.
"Ha. hal haw
Hiram put his hand to his head in an un-
certain way. His wits were not very quick.
and it took him several seconds to grasp
the situation. TO get full realization of
the fact that all his dear plans and hopes
had been built upon the flimsy structure of
another mans trick. and that the structure
had suddenly crumb mbfed and left him with
out enythIDg. For one moment of over
whelming disap pOintment he betrayed how
keenly he was hurt by the asben look on
his face. Then be collected himself and
showed that he was game. tie forced mis-
month 10 form n wide. white SMILE and
echoed Billy's words with o mirthless
sound: lit was q hoax all along. Ha.
hai ha"
The young man named Julian laughed.
too. until the water stood in his weak,
and wore a straggly. auburn mustache over
his wide, thin-lipped mouth.
II knew you'd think it an awful good
ioke" he said.
An awful good joke,n said Hiram.
HIS own words failed him. and he found
it n safe refuge from his surging feelings to
repeat those of the other two.
well. so lonR!" said Billy, gathering up
tho reins. He was anxious TO got to the
crowd al the postbox. a mile further on.
You'll be sure TO tell the boys yonder
that my girl has come. won't you. BillyW
said Hiram. And say that send them
| all an invite to call on her"
AS the stage rottIed off ne dropped his
| forced manner and turned on Julian such a
look mastiff might give acur-torrier in
his power when he was deliberating
whether it wonld be worth the effort TO
shake the life out of him.
.Julian's face took on sudden ALARM
| and. the fundamental principle of Hiram's
code of lighting. which was that there
should be equal odds on both sides. made
| him turn with a sniff of contempt from the
| lRht-framed man.
His change of OK preston brought q sharp
| suspicion TO Julian q mind that perhaps he
appeared. and he made an involuntary step
| alter the stage.
"Oh. forgot something" he said hastily.
Hiram caught him firmly by the arm.
Hold on" be said. It'll keep. and Yant {
yon TO stop along with ME for a while till
| we've had little more joking together.
Oh. amt a-goiD' 10 hurt you" he added.
| soOrnfully. Come along.
/
| where his blackboard was waiting. and sat
| down on the edge of the floor.
Julian stood before him. smiling du-
| biously.
| Hiram eyed him sternly for few min
| utes "You say that it was you who writ
| all them letters" no said.
| Julian started nervously into on explana-
| slon.
Yea You see il was this way. Pm
| clerking in Westvilie, where it's awful dull
for q yOung gentleman like NE. There s
| hardly any society that one cares for. you
know, and | thought I'd have some fun
out of advertising as did. read book
! once about a man playin z himself oft for n
woman and that gavo me the idea. And
then YOU answered. and your letters were
| so gond-aH the fellows in the store
thought $3.50 good nstureh and kind. you
know. Aud when my vacation time came
| they all dared me TO come out West and
eeyou; and SO l came. They thought your
| letters no end OF fun."
| Yes: tnev WAS end OF fun" assented
! Hiram dryIy.
You needn't lie troubled about the
money you SENT Julian went on in a
| quick propItistory way; for brought it
ali back 10 you. OF conIsel w0uldn't joke
| in any but an honest way"
| ANY but an honest way, said hiram.
The yonng man found this repetition OF
| his words becoming rather trying. lie
| looked up the road after tho stage.