The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-12-21


81 don't know where it isl
''Ah! stranger too. You own this
placer"
''I don't see that that is your affair"
81 might make il mine, if the odds
were not against me-" Oliver muttered,
turning and Tightening his saddle
girths. A door in the house suddenly
opened. and in the flood of light stream
ing out Oliver saw a slight girlish fig
ure peering into the darkness.
''What is it. Louis? Not NJ. de Res
taud? Isis he hurt?"
"Onlv tramp. Go back into the
house" called the man. rudely.
4 fat little woman in a cap ran out,
seized the girls arm. and tried to drag
her in the door: but the young woman
defended her rights vigorously. and,
freeing herself, ran down the steps.
81 have entered romance" thought
Craig. advancing to the steps. After
travelling in extremely beaten paths
for forty years. have suddenly
achieved an adventure" Il have lost
my way he said, lifting his hat. Il
am not a tramp at all, but a neighbor
even landed proprietor. l did hope
for shelter, but l will only ask direc-
ton
but 1 don't know any directions.
sir, and 1 wouldn't trust Louis; he'd
like to get anyone into trouble. l am
thankfully ignorant of this horrid coun-
try; want to be: hate it But you
must come in and get dry and have
your horse rubbed down. What lovely
dog
The fat woman, who had descended
the steps unobserved, here interposed
an objection, clutching the girls arm
tightly. and talking hastily in wills
pered French that sounded like a pro-
longed hiss, so great was her agitation.
"Hush up, hagr said the singular
young woman, again freeing herself.
And now do come in for little
while"
She was bareheaded. and wore some
kind of a sleazv gown. As the rain
was speedily wetting her shoulders,
Oliver was forced to go up under the
roof of the veranda.
'You needn't be shocked" she went
on. merrily. sat what said to her: she
does not know word of English. and
she's gone and won't come any more.
Half the fun have is calling her names
and saying things to her she would so
like to know. Louis. take the gentle
mans horse and give her good care.
None of your tricks. for monsieur
might this once like to be friendly; you
never can tell: he and Lord Morris
were. Monsieur can be agreeable,
quite lovely, to strangers, if he wants
to be-
The man. grumbling to himself, led
the mare to the barn.
Il don't fancy leaving her to his
mercies,'' said Oliver, uneasily, as he
watched man and horse from the
porch. Somehow l have not over
much confidence in your servant"
Isn't he evil-looking? Annette,
though, thinks he is beautiful. But
Louis will be good to your horse; he is
too. like that one, will delight him.
His liking for horses is the only human
trait he has. Do come in, just little
while: we're not robbers or Benders
though things are funny. Bring your
lovely dog. VIII he fight little mite
of one?"
"If he did I'd disown him. smiled
Craig.
She stopped and picked up a fluffy
Skye terrier, and, holding it in her
arms. led the way into a luxuriously
furnished room with piano and fine
pictures, bright open fire. and evil
dences of travel and culture in bric-a-
brac. 1t was strangely at variance
with the wild and lonely country out
side, but oddly natural in Colorado.
In the Rockies the unexpected is al
ways happening: a day laborer is often
a college graduate waiting for stake,
or cowboy may be the son of an earl
acquiring experience
IF we tried to snare Travellers" said
the young lady, coolly, Louis would
rather hurt our business, his manners
are so bad. This is the den of Monsieur
de Restaud, who came here to avoid
the war with Prussia: he was only
young lad then, but born coward:
and his brother is colonel in the
French army. his father general. He
daren't go back to France. Sit down.
here's chair for your coat; you will
feel better dry. I'll excuse your shirt
sleeves
Talking all the while. she set chair
for his coat, one for himself near the
hearth, and then, kneeling down by
the big dog. she put the little one on
the floor and proceeded to make them
acquainted. Skye instantly became a
fluff of growl and fight; but Mac,
with an ennuyeed sigh, stretched
himself and lay down to rest. He real
lied he was intruding. but meant to
make the best of it in peace. She
jumped up. the dog under her arm, and
flung u log on the fire.
There; are you comfortable" she
asked, standing and smiling on him,
lovely flush on her face.
Delightfully."- So"
Oliver looked at her in wonder. Was
she child or woman? A slight, girlish
figure, but beautifully formed. tiny
hands and feet. mass OF short reddish
curls around the neck. parted smoothly /
in the middle. hazel eyes with dark I
lashes. nose retrousse, piquantly so. !
and a rosebud mouth that showed .
small white teeth of dazzling brilliancy. /
Her skin was almost unnaturally pale; I
and dimple in her left cheek drew 4
to its soft roundness. Her /
gown of yellow China silk chung to her /
beautiful curves. and the wide ruffie of /
the yellow around her throat was like /
the petals of flower. He looked at 4
her left hand; there was no ring; in /
fact, all the jewelry she wore was a