The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-08-08
man. Then he hastily kissed her aud

was gone.
p
Mexican Jose died week later and
is buried in sand heap by the river
No one mourned his loss. Johnson fail
ed to find James Wilton, and Wilton
Jackman had disappeared from his
ranch by the lake.
''He was the man the sheriff want
3D." sad Oklahoma Bill, 'but I'm glad
he got away. Guess he's the chap that
has been doing the highwayman act,
though" No one disputed this theory.
Then Johnson left also.
Nellie waited until the country open
ed up to settlement and proved up her
claim. Six months later she sold her
farm and moved to Kansas. 1t was
rumoreG that Jackman was an express
robber and some people said that Bill
Doolin and the gray-eyed man We're
one and the same. Then the strip
opened and Nellie got claim there.
Some time after this, while she was
making filing Oh her land, she met
Jackman at Perry. He took her to
single. F.
EYES," was the reply. els your name
Jackman or Wilton? II,
"Wilton," he. replied. johnson is
dead" i
Did you kill him?" she asked. 81
Heaven forbid" said Wilton. "He
caught cold trying to arrest me and
died of pneumonia. l took him to
Muskogee and tried to save his life.
but it was no use. He gave me the
warrant he had for me and 1 Went
back to Montana alone"
"fOu know NV fa thor. cl1ro1v
jor?' she replied. "He is Judge Ches-
ter-my name is Edith Chester''-this
in the meekest of voices. Papa, as
you must have heard, has strong
prejudice against soldiers; but, believe
me, there is a reason for it. My broth
er ran away from home five years ago
and enlisted in regiment that was
sent out West. The shock unsettled
papa for a long, long time, and now
we are forbidden even so much as to
mention my poor brother Fred's
name.'
''Is that possible?' said the soldier,
kindly. accept my sincere regrets,
Miss Chester, for intruding myself
upon you"
said, hesitatingly THE prejudice
I-er-you must please excuse me now;
l am long behind my time, and they
will be waiting tea for me-"
And with a flushed face, and not
noticing the extended hand of the
major, She picked up her easel and
case and ran off toward home.
For the rest of the day the major
walked about with a pleasant smile,
which was duly noticed by his friends,
and many theories were advanced as
to it's probable cause.
But the major knew nothing of this,
and, indeed, such remarks had no
chance of coming to his ears.
On the following afternoon his steps
took him again to the same spot on the
shore road, and, with pleasure, he
once more saw his little friend seated
at her easel, deeply interested in her
work.
She turned at the sound of his foot
steps and came forward with an out
stretched hand and a sweet smile to
greet him.
He took her hand within his grasp,
and looked tenderly down into the
gray eyes upturned to his, while both
hearts beat quickly.
/ Then he turned to the picture with
few complimentary criticisms on the
girls work.
1T seems so strange" she said in an
swer, 'Ethat you soldiers should have
time to care for this sort of thing"
perhaps I'm an odd sort Of soldier u
he replied, looking down upon her.
II think you are a very nice sort OF
SOLDIER" she ansWeretl-and then no.
ticing smile lurking under the heavy
mustache added-''of course, I mean
to come and admire my poor little pic
ture.'
So they both stood. somewhat abash.
ed, yet happy in each others company
not noticing the approach Of a gray.
headed gentleman, who came stridine
| toward them with evident anger writ
ten on his face.
They turned simultaneously at the
sound of footsteps, and then the CIR
shrank back with the startled cry OF
"Father!'
The situation was a delicate one TO,
the major, but, in the presence of his
own sex, he found words and endeav
ored to explain his intrusion on Miss
Chester.
81 have nothing to say to you Major
Herbert" Judge Chester answered
CURLY. 1T came to my knowledge tina
my daughter had been seen in you
company, and thought it my duty t.
come and escort her home.''
How can you act so rudely, papa q
the girl cried. ''This gentleman wa
merely looking at my drawing, and
Enough said the judge. "The in
PRODUCTION to Major Herbert was no
my seeking; besides you can fnis]
your work at some other time. Fo
the present 1 want you at home"
With tears in her eyes, the girl pack
ed her drawing outfit, and accompan
led her father from the grounds, leav
ing the major standing there, gnawini
his mustache.
"And to think that she will suffe
for my sake" he thought as he walke
, modify homeward.
Three weeks had gone by, and Majo
Herbert had not once caught sight o
his divinity. He realized now what j
meant to be parted from her. He, til
unsentimental soldier, who for year
had resisted the attractions of the or
pOSite sex, was now pining for tn