Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-19


twinkled
Mary staggered.
Down there? At Ffolliottsr'
AYE, lass-at Ffolliott's! lost it all
at faro last night
For a moment no sound but the even
ing breeze whispering among the creep
Crs and bushes and the harsh note Of Z
night bird broke the silence. Then
womans voice tender and low and full
Of tears mWmWed, "Rube, dear RUDE,
I forgive YOU
Don't Mary, don't. I'd rather you
would strike me.
The stars twinkled their diamond
ewes on the man and girl as they said
farewell. For Reuben had settled TO
leave the canyon that night.
Reuben Halse and his companions
had been gone from the Great White
Canyon for a week Mary's cheeks
never very full of color, had grown pale
and heavy. and blue lines beneath her
large eyes told of sleepless nights and
many tears.
Yet Paul Harding Beauty Paul, as
he was called in the canyon-Jhought he
had never seen Mary look 50 lovely
as he clattered UP 70 the door Of the
pos,omce one morning and asked the
Young postmistress If there was any
thing for him.
Nothing for You, to-day.
Vet Paul seemed loath 10 go. He
pulled his long. tawny mustache, jingled
his spurred boots upon the floor, and
continued TO stare through the pigeon
hole indo at the girl, as she fitted about
her usual business.
Anything I can do for you?' she
asked him. presently.
NO. Paul said slowly. taking in every
detail of the girls pretty figure clad in
q cotton frock of gentian blue. But
might / speak to you one minuJe-pri-
ya,ely?"
You can say what you've got to say
where YOU are.
He stared silently, first at his boots
and as his eyes wandered up they lit on
the snowy shelves of bright utensils and
shining saucepans which lined the walls.
How, different You keep your place
from what a'man's shanty is
But she stayed his compliments.
You live down by the Blue Pools,
don't you2'
yes. next to Reuben Halse till his
place was burnt out and he came to my
shanty. / saw Rube three days back.
You saw Rube?' Mary clasped her
hands above her heart.
Eyes. He and his chums passed
through Long Toms ranch. I've been
ont there this two months past helping
him brand and count the cattle Rube
told me that YOU and he had parted ane
the reason why. He asked me TO look
after YOU q bit. You see. we've been
good pals. and Ia like 10 do him a turn
now he's gone under. You will let me
look after YOU now and again, won't You,
for Rube's sake?
Surely, Paul Harding, for Ru5e's
sake YOU may look after men when i
can look after myself.
As weeks and months went by and the
green Of the canyon changed TO red and
gold. Paul found that If he was TO Tools
after" Mary he had 90 give up the sa-
loon
And. indeed. for a space Ffolliott's
knew him not till one October morning
his aIOwanCe--the money which bought
his family freedom from his disgrace
full presence arrived from England.
For the next week FfolliOtts was
pandemonium. with the Beauty as q
presiding demon.
Mary heard of it and refused to speak
To- or look az him. Then it was that Ia
flung himself before her one day and
prayed her to save him from that from
which ne was poweriess to save him
self-from drink and dice and bad COM
uauiOns.
And she did what other good women
have done before her and Will do again.
She placed her hand in his, and with
her heart full Of RUDE Halse she prom
ised TO marry Paul-fOr his souls sake.
The eve of their marriage day arrived,
and with it Pauls allowance from Eng
land. The occasion and the Opportuni-
" suggested carOuse. and Paul in
formed the boys he would be standing
treat at Ffolliott's that night for the last
time.
Paul was full of liQuor-he had
drunk Mary's health with every man in
the place-and ne was also full OF luck
for once i'm q while. A pile OF gold lay
before him on the table, and he was
lust proposing another round In Mary
honor. when big Bill Redfern strobe
I'm and was greeted with a shout of
"Halloi Bill. you back. What luck,
pard?'
NO luck" was the reply. 81 leave
luck to fools. I've been working and
have struck it rich, and have come back,
me and RUDE Halse, my pard. But
come. let us have the drinks all round
When Paul Harding heard that RUDE
had returned his anger knew no bounds
and shouted:
"This is my treat. Take drink
with me-" and he flung his glass OF IL
guor i'm Bill Redfern's face.
In an instant there was q sharp re-
port of a pistol a little curl OF smoke
and Paul Harding fell dead.
Some of the boys went to the post
office to break the news to Mary, ana
thew saw through the shutters RUDE
Halse and Mary sitting close together
and talking in low tones. The boys
quietly Withdrew and left the lovers
alone
a cOroner's jury viewed the body OF
Paul Harding and knowing Bill Red-
ferns skill as a shooter, brought IN
verdict of intentional suicide while
drunk