The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-11-06

ASKED IF SHE MIGHT oCCUP THE FRONT
SEAT.
fore he had taken his departure he and
Barclay Perkins had agreed that, in accord
ance with a half expressed wish of their
departed benefactor, they would bestow
the old lady's diamonds, valued at $4,000,
upon a girl whom neither of them had ever
seen-Miss Marjorie Little, whose mother,
Aunt Lavinia's sister Ann, had incurred
the lasting snmity Of the family by marry
ing a man in every sense her inferior.
From the day Of that luckless marriage
Mrs. Bass had seldom mentioned her self
willed sisters name. except to declare EN-
phatically that no part of her fortune should
go to Red Rock, Wis, whittier Mr.. Little
had taken his bride to live the life of tho
wife of a lumber camp boss.
At the end Of eight years Mr.. Little was
killed by a drunken Chippewa Indian en-
ployed in rafting logs, and the support of
the dead mans family fell upon a brother,
George Little, then q foreman ina sawmill,
today one of the lumber kings Of the Pa
cifc slope.
Marjorie, who is now in her twenty-sec-
ond year, received all the advantages that
q bottomless purse could obtain, and when
she left school in Philadelphia and returned
home, after a tour of Europe with a party
Of friends, she dazzled aspiring society in
Red Rock by the richness of her attire, her
personal beauty, her familiarity with the
usages of polite society and her varied &C
complishments. She had heard often of
her fortunate cousins and of her relentless
aunt, but had never seen either of them.
Philip Barclay thought shat Aunt La
vinia's diamonds ought to be sent by ex-
vraoo a Ft ~ tho xxyhoroo boy1fo onI iIarf;<r ~
the young uni had been established.
Barclay Perkins, however. wished to make
a western trip and offered to carry the jew
els to their destination. He had his way
in the matter, and in early February, after
his cousin had zone abroad, set out for Red
Rock, Wis, via Chicago. r.
As far as Pittsburg his trip was unevent-
full. At that city a faultlessly attired, tim
orous young woman, with the largest and
softest Of blue eyes, the most golden of
curly hair and the trimmest Of figures,
asked confusedly if she might occupy the
front seat Of his section of the sleeping car
until the porter should appear to point out
her berth. AS she sat opposite him Mr..
Perkins studied her carefully, and was
| obliged to admit to himself that she was
; as charming a bit of femininity as he had
seen in many days. Even after she had
been ensconced in her own section, the in
fatuated young man kept his eyes upon
her, and in passing her on his way to the
smoking apartment took occasion to con.
graduate her upon the comfort of her sur
roundings.
The ice thus broken, the two spent many
pleasant hours together, and before reaching
Chicago had exchanged condolences and ad.
dresses and hopes Of meeting again, Bar.
clay's hopes being based upon determine.
ton. At the Union depot the female rela.
tive with whom Miss Florence Ashley, for
thus she gave her name, was to continue the
journey to Dubuque, Ia, did not appear and
MI. Perkins charming companion was al
most In tears. barclay offered his services
and prevailed upon her to wait until the
next morning, he promising to see that nc
harm befell her and pointing out to her
that her missing relative might be located
by the use of the photograph. Miss Ashley
consented tothe proposition with frank con.
fdence, and the two were soon m their
way in a cab to the hotel. That evening
they dined ~tete-a-tete in the ladies' ordi.
nary, and no like experience in Barclays
career WAS half 30 pleasant.
Only two Of the other diners eyed them
attentiveiy-a gray bearded man and r
young woman at the next table, who evil
IDENTIFY regarded them as a brand new wed
ding couple taking their first repast away
from their homes. In the parlor after din.
ner Miss Ashley offered Mr.. Perkins hel
honbonniere, and he partook of the choice
confections therein. They parted for the
night with a mutually reciprocated gentle
pressure of the hand, and Miss Ashley went
to her room. Mr.. Perkins descended to the
rotunda to smoke and think, and while
strolling about he paused casually to glance
at the register. There, in a firm, round,
masculine hand, he read among the days
arrivals:
George 8. Little, Tacoma, Wash.
Miss Marjorie Little, Red Rock, Wis.
Intuition told him that the gray bearded
man and the stylish young woman who
hnd observed him and Miss Ashley at din.
ner were the owners Of these names. His
inquiries Of Clerk Hammond strengthened
his mtuitiye knowledge, but he did not
Ingsr long. An unusual sense Of drowsi.
ness Oppressed him, which he attributed to
the long journey, the hearty dinner and tbs
strong cigar. Realizing that his girl cousin
would recognize him; that he must call on
her in the morning, and that she would not
be a woman II she had no curiosity as to
his charming companion, he sought his
roou sdioininu that OCcuDied by Miss