Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-01-03

rOQ6 OH. JACK iOOkeu dltot Htu'
clined TO call him back and tell him ne
couldn't come, but he didn't. Some
! thing in him said: go TO the dance;
| don't go to San Antonio" He got OH
| his horse, much TO the surprise OF
| couple OF mis- men who were lounglng
about. Jack hung about the ranch AL
day, and the following evening ne
mounted his favorite broncho and set
out for harmsn's ranch. lie was
dressed more like Mexican than
| Texan. On his head was VIDE
brimmed som brero, around when was
a gold cord. richly braided JACKET
that contained not less than fifty shin
| ing silver buttons, was open ana as
played a snow-white shirt the breast OF
which must have contained twenty
peats. His breeches were of bucKskln
aud his leggings Of deerskln. Inc lat
ter were richly embroidered at the out
er seams, and they covered beautifully
made pair of laced boots made OF ALI
gator hide.
dis features were as regular as II his
ancestors had come over with the con-
queoror, or If they hadn't. "The boss
is on the job, tonight" said one cowboy
in the calm, matter-of-fact way indigen-
Gus 70 the race, as Jack touched the
oroncho with the silver rowels OF his
spurs aud set that piece OF animated
machinery la rapid motion. II guess
he is" said another Without caring
whether they were or not they were
right. Jack arrived at Harman's. He
hadn't met dozen good women in his
life before he saw Ruth Hartman. She
was not woman to set the average
mans blood on fire, vet Jack
Adams saw her and became volcano.
She was dressed quietly, but in dainty
fashion. She gave you the impression
/ that she could wear anything, even
pOncho, and look captivating. She was
cast in delicate mold. Her skin was
as fair as lily that has been kissed by
a rose, yet her hair and eyelashes were
as black as the darkness OF the forests
on a starless night. She was pearl
among agatss. Jack saw, aud from a
free man became slave. In three
weeks time she promised 10 marry him
IL he would sell his ranch and take up his
residence in Indiana. Her parents
lived 10 the small town of Richmond,
in that State. The conditions made
Jack vince, but ne had the hot blood
OF she South in him, and he would have
sold his soul. She went back TO lndi-
ana at the end Of month. She put
her arms around Jacks neck as she
babe him goodbye, and said: You
will come" Jack cursed himself after
ward because his tongue had refused
10 do its duty. He sold his ranch in a
few weeks, and with several thousands
In his pocket went to Indiana. He was
married In tue house OF his sweethearFs
parents, and thoss who were at the
wedding said that handsomer
couple had never been mated.
Jack bought farm close
to Richmond, and settled down
| to married life. He worshiped his wife.
he was never sure that she loved him
with the same intensity. for Ruth Har-
man that was had the undemonstrative
way that seems TO be part OF those
who have lived all their lives in the
western part OF America. But Jack
had no cause for doubt. His wife
thought that her husband was better
thaa ordinary clay. He was so big,
so handsome, so tender TO her-for he
could be rough enough TO others-that
mis- like, in her opinion, had never been
born. A year passed. Jack began to
| pine for the wild freedom of the ranch.
| One day stranger came TO the house.
Ruth did not know him, but as he asked
] for her husband she invited him 10 sit
down and to have some re ireshment.
she did not like the man. IL was not
that his manner was not respectful, for
il was, but there was something in his
face that told her he was not TO be
trusted. Women are often very fine
barometers. Jack cana in while the
stranger was doing his best TO entertain
Ruth. A pang shot TO the wife's heart
when she saw the glad light that leaped
to her husbands eyes as they lighted
upon the guest.
why, halo, Tony, old fellow! how
are you?' cried Jack, springng for
ward, Shaping the visitor on the back
with one hand and gripping him with
the other.
"How do, Jack?" said Antonio Bar.
rios, his black eyes cleaning.
Jack was in the highest spirits. He
talked at the rate of 200 words a min
ute. Nobody could interject word.
He asked about people about whom
Ruth had never heard. Barrios was q
! Mexican. lie waited until Jack had
finished and then, in rather labored but
correct English, be gave the necessary
information and said that he was on his
way to New York. He did not say why
/ he called at Richmond, which is not on
the way to New York, and Ruth noticed
this. Nothing would do Jack but that
! Tony, whose full name was Antonio,
should be his guest for the night. Ruth
retired at the usual hour. Jack and
| Tony sat up until O'clock. From her
bedroom, where she found sleep lmpos-
sible, Ruth heard once, twice, three
times: "Now or never Is the time,
Jack" 1t was Barrios who spoke.
The next day Barrios went away. He
was q polite man. He kissed Ruth's
| hand as be was saying adieu. Ruth
rubbed the spot afterward in an uncon-
scious fashion. Two days after the de-
parture OF Barrios, just as they had En-
lshed dinner Jack told Ruth that be
was going away for few days. With
out knowing why, she was frightened.
She did not ask him where he was go
ing. He rode off on his favorite horse,
d hAlf-bred that had great speed as well
as marvellous staying power. Three
! days later Jack returned, though 1t was
midnight wh,c she heard his knock at
the door. BE looked haggard. She had
a supper prepared for him. He ate
ravenouslY. Then he slep like log.
The next day he asked how she had
spent her time, but said not word Of
how he had disposed OF his since ne had
left heme. Two days later Ruth hap.
pened TO buy New York newspaper,
! and in il she saw an account OF how a