The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-07

noticed it myself, casually-one might say
even playfully-but without any particu-
lar significance"
The girl. regarding her apologist with a
thence, replied briefly:
Il signalled."
"who did you signal TOT" asked Bill,
gravely.
The young gentleman I'm going to
A start. followed by slight litter from
the younger passengers, was instantly sup
pressed by savage glance from Bill
What did you signal to him for 2" he
continued.
ITO tell him was here, and that it was
all right" returned the young girl. with a
steadily rising pride and color.
'Wot was all right?" demanded Bill.
That l wasn't followed, and that he
could meet me on the road beyond Cass'
Ridge station" She hesitated moment.
and then, with still greater pride, in
which a youthful defiance was still
mingled, said: i've run away from home
to marry him. And mean tot No one
can stop me. Dad didn't like him lust be-
cause he was poor, and dads got money.
and got lot of dresses and things to
"And you're taking them in your trunk
TO the other Teller ?" said Bill, grimly.
"Yes, he's poor" returned the girl, de-
family.
.. nrIs En-, your fathers name is Mullins'"
Its not Mullins. I-I-took that
name. she hesitated. with her first exhibi.
ton of self-consciousness.
'Wot is his name?"
ELI Hemmings."
smile of relief and significance went
round the circle. The tame Of Eli or
miser and usurer, had passed even beyond
Galloper's ridge.
The step that you are taking, Miss
Mullins l need not tell you, is one of
great gravity" said Judge Thompson.
with certain paternal seriouness of
manner, in which, however we were
glad to detect a glaring affectatlon, land
| trust that you and your affianced have
fully weighed it. Far be it from me to
interfere with or question the natural af-
fections of two young people, but may l
ask you what you know of the-er-young
gentleman for whom you are sacrificing
SO much, and perhaps imperilling your
known him long?'
The slightly troubled air of trying to un-
derstand-not unlike the vain wonder
ment OF childhood-with which Miss Mul.
Inns had received the beginning of this
exordium changed to relieved smile of
as SHe Sdi1 quickly. 'Oh
yes. nearly whole year"
And" said the Judge smiling. "has he A
vocation-is he in business ?"
Oh. yes" she returned, "he's q col.
lector"
"A collector?'
Yes; he collects bills, you know
money" she went on with childish eager
ness, not Tor hlInseit--he never has any
money. poor Charley-but for his firm.
Its dreadful hard work, too. keeps hum
out for days and nights, over bad roads
ana baddest weather. Sometimes. when
he stole over 10 the ranch Just 10 see me
mes been so bad he could scarcely keep his
seat IN the saddle, much less stand. And
mes got to take mighty big risks, too.
Times the folks are cross with him and
won pay, once they shot him in the
arm, and he came to me, and | helped do
II up Tor him. But he don't mind. He's
real brave, jest as brave as mes good"
lhere was such wholesome ring OF truth
In this pretty praise that We were touched
In sympathy with the speaker.
Nv hat firm does he collect for pa asked
the judge. gently.
Il don't know exactly-he won't tell
me-but think it's Spanish firm. You
see she took us all into her confidence
with sweeping smile of innocent vet
haIf-mischievous artfulness-"I only know
because peeped over a letter he once cot
from ms hrm, telling him he must hustle
up ana De ready for the road the next day
but l think the name was Martinez-yes.
Ramon Martinez"
In the dead silence that ensued-a silence
50 profound that We could hear the horses
In the distant stable yard rafting their
harness-one OF the younger Excelsior"
boys burst into hysteric laugh, but the
fierce eye of Yuba Bill was down upon
him, and seemed to instantly stiffie him
into silence, grinning mask The young
girl, however. took no note of it: following
ont, with iover-iike ditfusiveness, the
"reminiscences thus aw akened. she went on:
YES, Its mighty hard work. but he says
Its all Tor me, and as soon as we're mar
ried he'll Quit. He might have QUIT i, be-
fore, but he wont take no money of me.
nor what told him could get out of dad