Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-08-23

Children ought to be allowed to name
themselves, don't you think SOP"
1T might be better, but Minny is q
pretty name, and" with d smiling
glance of admiration, for Oliver liked a
pretty woman, "suits delightfully."-.
was named Peter-thinlS of that.-but
luckily had middle name. Allow me
to introduce myself: Craig Oliver, OF
Denver, and your neighbor in the val
ley of the Troublesome"
81 amr-she hesitated a moment and
looked at him defantly-"Mrs. de
Restaud. knew you'd have to know.
put it off on purpose. Now please
don't look at me out of the corner OF
dignified and stop being pleasant to
me because am married"
II don't see," said Oliver, uncon-
sciously becoming more distant, "that
your being married makes any differ
ence."
81 am glad; for up here they daren't
talk politely to me because of monsieur;
in fact, for weeks / only have Skye to
talk to. know l run on foolishly; but
I am like an exile meeting neighbor
from the home country. No gentle
men come here; Lord Morris was not;
he might have been once, but liquor
changes everybody. Since Aunt Ham
nah was sent away, six months ago,
there has not been living soul here l
even endured. BY the way" smiling
again, ARE you hungry"
II breakfasted this morning" an
swered Oliver.
well, I'll get you something to eat.
Please let me; it's such fun to have O
visitor. And don't You mind If you
hear growls from the kitchen"
She ran out before Oliver could OBJ
ject; so he sat and watched his steam
ing coat, wondering il the proprietor
would shoot on sight He remembered
now seeing the crazy Frenchman," as
he was called IN the valley, a small,
wizened creature, looking as II he
took morphine, from his strange color
and the unnatural brightness of his
eyes. The pity of I'll the girl-a
child, almost-was his wife. This is
odd," he thought, IAN adventure, and
Doctor John will never believe a word
of it." Unfortunately, Mrs. de Restaud
had left the door ajar, and Oliver be-
came painfully aware of her converse
ton:
Annette dear-how l wish the Utes
would carry you off! how tired they'd
be. though, of their bargain.-let me
get that tea. Don't you touch me.
Witch! they'd hung you in Salem
days. I am getting this for the
stranger who looks like hero out of a
book-a big, broad-shouldered man;
not little, evil thing, like your dear
monsieur or your own pet Louis with
his Sing Sing manners. Such a
charming stranger, with the kindest
smile, and eyes that smile too, and a
gentleman like used to know before
| was shut up here. Cat, let the waiter
alone! ! hate your monsieur. his own
father called him "a coward. Oh, wait,
my love, until | practise shooting:
some day I will put a little round
bullet hole in your lovely cap-frill."
A crash of crockery, the slam of a
door, and Mrs. de Restaud came back,
flushed and triumphant, with loaded
waiter and n conquering air.
"Cold ham, fresh bread and tea" she
said, setting II on the table. at is
better than nothing have been on q
foraging expedition and outgeneraled
the enemy. Now, do eat! Perhaps you
ought TO have whisky; but monsieur
has the keys"
~ have n flask" smiled Oliver, but
this tea is much better"
81 think so. And are things nice,
truly?"
"The very best, and how good you
can imagine to Il man who has tasted
since seven this morning. You see,
was bound to have that antelope;
was on his trail the whole day"
'1t seems cruel to kill tho poor little
things" she said, wistfully; they
have such hard time In the winter,
and the elk are 80 starved then they
come down to the corral and eat hay
with the cattle. / would like to put
hay out for them, but / am not al
lowed; and just think my money has
bought this ranch; IL was mortgaged
for all IL was worth-monsieur spent
everything, you know; but you don't
know, and think am dreadful" She
ran to the window and looked out.
"You would not mind" she said, anx-
iously, "hurrying u little? Monsieur
ought to be back any moment. II he
and his friends have been drinking
very much they are ugly-especially
monsieur. Oh, did not mean you
should stopl"
81 am through" said Oliver, uneasily.
"It was very nice, indeedi but | am
afraid have made You trouble, will
do you harm by being here. You must
know where Morris place is."
"Down the road here somewhere, but
/ don't know just where. never was
there; It was not fit place. Don't
you think" she went on, feeding his
dog scraps from the waiter while she
spoke, that IL Is funny of me TO talk
of my husband TO strangers?"
81 don't want to be stranger" said
Oliver, gently, "and you know one