Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-02-10

~ hope It isn't very unmaidenly, dear.
hut there IS no time to stand upon for
malities. IL you still care for me--if
you think your position sufficiently hope
ful to Justify marrying, come down at
ouce or write. But if7-here q tear
would fan on The Dapcr-"yeu end that
for any reason it cannot he. then don't
answer; J shall understand"
10 was three days post 70 GEORGES
citation, md Lucy told her father she
would think over the matter and would
give him a definite answer in a week.
The sixth day came, and the poor girl
was trembling with excitement; the
seventh, and she could scarcely keep still
for q moment. But the post came-and
no lette~. At first a feeling ofrumbing
despair eoi7od on her, but she immadi
atcly rallied.
How stupid / ami There may not
have been time 20 catch the mail, or
George may have been out shooting.
So to make sure, and leave enough
margin, she begged her father for three
days grace, fer she never doubted
George. But the three days pissed. and
there was no sign.
Lucy was married to McAllistora fort
night a~ftorward.
"a very short engagement, my dear"
said Che majors wife 10 her bosom
friend. 'but you see the poor dear
colonel 3'ust 3 Off ut once. can't wait
any longer, "a, doctors say, and it SIS
everything 20 lavo Lucy settled before
ho goes. WI te and told George Far
leigh IL was coming oa-an awful blow
Tor him, poor fellow. unless he h@ for
gotten al about her, which isprohablo.
But he had not forgotten all about
her, and four hours after receiving the
good lady's information he sat like one
ia q dream. Then lie shook himself to-
gether, and in due course read tho do
nestle occurrence in The paper quite
calmly. The bicAllistcrs and George
Farlcigh never met, for be went into
the political line, and went from one
native ste TO another without once re.
turning to his former presidency. But
he now and again heard Of them-how
they led an apparently happy life in Il
quiet way, no particular love perhaps
on her part, but q sincere attachment 20
her husband. And presently McAllister
retired and settled in England.
1t was just fourteen years since George
left his regiment. He had got on wei,
and was uow resident at the court OF an
iInbecile prince with IN unpronounco.
able name. It was u hot night, and his
solitary dinner was scarcely over when
the days post came in-the English mail
with it-so he lighted a cigar and left
the table for o long armchair in the We
randa. The bearer placed the l1mp con-
veniently and retired 20 doze. The FIRST
letter chat caught his eye was from tine
postmastcr general, and wondering what
that exaltsd functiOnlry could want with
him he opened it before looking at Che
English letters and newspapers. The
following Is what he said:
Sir have tho honor to inform you
that an old MAJ died lately at the vii
lage,of ScTecpore, in the state Of Achin-
abad, who was formerly a tappalrauuer
in that state. On his deathbed he con
fessed to having stolen one Of the letter
bags many years ago, under the belief
that there was money In it, but that he
then became frightened and hid tie let
ters in q box without opening them.
This box he buried. bat after some trou-
bic it has been found, and the contents
are now being distributed as far MS the
addresses can De traced. The inclosod
is apparently for You, as on inquiry IL
has been ascertained that il was you
who were at the time iu Achiuabad. /
have the honor, etc"
IH~,r.-, f-..,-r- t1,, r--sAs-.. 80. Al. l..
closure at once; it was Lucy's. The
faithful bearer wondered why the sahib
was so long in coming to bed; also he
did not seem to be reading. for there
was no rustic Of paper, so with catliEo
tread he crcpt TO the verauda. The
sahib was lying back in the chair with
his hand over his face. Three and four
times the man returned, and always to
find his master in the same position.
IL was not till tho gray dawn made
the lamplight pale that George rouseI
himself from a long dream OF what
might have been and Of what had been,
and even then be did not feel in the
least sleepy, so for sheer lack Of some
thing to do he took up an English paper
that had just arrived. and CHANGING to
open it at the deaths reads.
april IS, at 10l Greenfair gardens.
Cheltonham, John McAnister, Esq, late
Of the Indian civil service. Indian pa
pera please copy"
Next month George Fairleigh started
for England on urgent private affairs
Million.
Great ben and Some Queer Ropusnanoes.
a great deal has recently been sail
upon the d-iscomp9sure OF our command
] n~ g. rnfnH "a. nH.7.. 80 sr.. ..--.- r.