The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-10-18

received another letter from Mr.. Wit
ham, and Of a character vastly dissimi-
lar to those of earlier date. More.
over, a small package accompanied the
the letter. Within reposed ring
whose glistening stone was worthy to
grace even Dolly's taper fingers, and
the sender was following the ring.
'Here" the young girl calculated,
almost tearfully. "He's coming here !"
Fred knitted his brow; manifestly
he was disconnected, and he took the
letter from her hand. But there was
no loophole for misconstruction. The
writer was no longer an appealing
swain, suing for favor; he had met
with an accident-had narrowly es-
capped death, and by it was warned
that delay frequently detailed disaster.
At the closing statement, however,
Fred exhibited some slight relief. Mr..
Witham did not intend ''roping q
wife" as he would q steer--unan-
nounced. He would await Miss We'll
don's pleasure at the Palace Hotel.
"And we'll have to meet him there"
Fred declared, in tone OF despera-
ton.
"Wo!" the young girl exclaimed.
"Tm not Miss Weldon"
"Well, ] will, them" Fred returned.
"But what will | tell him-that you're
sick. dead, or have left the city?"
Miss Halstead shok her head.
''That would only mean procrastina-
tion, with an explanation still to be
made" she said, dubiously. "No; IL
you are going to meet him-if you
dare TO meet him-tell him the truth"
Fred WINGED. II had not previously
occurred to him that an encounter
with Mr.. Witham might entail bodily
discomfort.
"Do-do you suppose he'll fght?"
he queried, half absently.
"I hope so; you deserve it," was
the young girls reply. Then she
paused and her eyes sparkled mis-
chievously rs she noted her COM
panion's detection. 'No; l don't
mean that. Fred" she added; 'I
would not like you to get hurt. But
you must see him"
"And 1 will, Dolly" was Fred's
earnest rejoinder, his love for her sex
fast tending toward Capitalization.
"For you I'd interview that gentle
man who buys his shoes at the far
rier's."
But words are not actions. The
following day was nearly at an end
when Fred entered the Palace Hotel
and glanced over the register. In
wardly he was praying that the name
of Witham should not appear upon its
pages that its owner might be re-
posing beneath wrecked train, shot
by express robbers, intoxicated by
the wayside-anything But there
it was, and at sight of 1t he repaired
to the barroom.
That courage, however, which is
attributed to Holland appeared to
have lost its potency, and he soon re-
turned to the Office. His hand trembled
as he drew card from his pocket;
but it had TO be done, and as rendered
"Mr. Witham," he said, tersely.
Five minutes later speaking tube
wheezed, and he watched the clerk.
But the suspense was of brief dura.
tion. Yes; Mr.. Witham was in and
would be pleased to see Mr.. Weldon
at once.
Fred drew long breath, then
Strengthened up and walked toward
the elevator. Hitherto he had never
entered one of those elevators at the
Palace without specializing on their
safety, but now he wished 1t would
fall. He even contemplated, mentally,
hi9 own bruised and mGogled remains,
and the consequent press notices. But
it reached the third floor without
mishap.
The bellboy, too, seemed as if bent
upon fastening the calamitous work,
for he at once conducted him to tho
door of Mr.. Witham room and tapped
loudly on the panel.
Come" was the CHEEKY response
that fioated through the transom, aud
Fred shuddered. Then he pulled him
self together and turned the knob.
But on the threshold he paused.
Mr.. Witham-the "cowboy'-was
seated within, and of exterior he was
not Mt all formidable. His features,
albeit bearded, were boyish, pleasant
and rather handsome, and his attire
was that affected by man OF the world.
But it was not with him that Fred was
now concerned-Dorothy Halsted was
seated on his knee.
Fred was like man dazed by some
sudden revelation he seemed. almost,
to stagger. But the Cowboy" smiled.
Then lifting Dolly he deposited her in
his own seat and advanced with ex-
tended hand.
my wife, Mr.. Weldon" he OBJ.
served lightly. "We have had her
fathers blessing; I trust we have
yours"
Fred stared; he was yet like one in
the dark, and he scarcely noticed the
hand which clasped his own.
But he was speedily enlightened,
and by Miss Halsted--or, rather, the
r..