The record-union., 1895-09-07

How strange everything looked to
Lucy. The cabin was built of rough logs
/ and there was but one window The
! home made bed stood in one corner. and
/ the entire furniture OF the room was of
! thessiuplest construction.
! IL was so good in you to come" said
Mrs. Blount. II have been looking for
| you ever since we was over TO your
house. how nicely you are fixed over
there. My old man says this is good
| enough, and maybe tits. We don't
mean to stay here only year longer.
and then we're going to the valley. Do
! you like II here, child? and amt YOU
| homesick? 1t is pretty hard for one so
! young as you TO come 10 such a country
as this.
! The talk and questioning went on so
fast that Lucy did not attempt to answer.
| Presently sue found an opportunity to
say:
My brother makes it very pleasant
| for me. and we are so costly situated in
our little home that | haven't thought of
| being homeslck. OF course there is not
much society here"
''Sociesy," exclaimed the old lady.
| "Why it's just aw ful, and it was said to
be worse before we come. Why, men gam
BILE and fight all around us most NV
old man was at the Flat last night and
heard OF one man winning thousand
dollars at poker. Just think OF it,"
"A minerY'
well, L guess he mines a part of the
time. Blount knows him."
II wonder who he is" said Lucy, with
woman's curiosity. Il am glad Clinton
never CANDLES. [ feel 1t would Kill me
if he did. 1t is dreadful habit"
Yes, indeed" said the good woman;
'but it's fearful common. They say his
name is Kirby Kirk"
x,,u ial
sprang from her seat. She felt the blood
rush to her checks. but she did not at
tempt to speak. She glanced at Mrs
BIount and saw she had not noticed her.
for she continued:
They say he is a fine-looking man:
but, dear me, what of that. There are SO
many men that gamble here that Pm
afraid my old man'll try his hand at it, as
he says mining is good deal like it, so
much depondg on luck"
Lucy had now recovered her cOmpos-
ure and continued the conversation on
various subjects, and then arose TO 90
after obtaining promise from Mrs.
Blount 10 visit her soon. Her mind was
filled with the thougbt-Mr. Kirk
gambler? She was greatly shocked, and
so they-yes, she-had been entertaining
a gambler. Reared, as she had been, it
seemed veritable crime.
What would Clinton say? He never
liked and always was susp icious of Kirk,
while she was disposed to defend him.
Well, their acquaintance must stop right
there.
She turned little bend in the path,
and, in All instant. was face 10 face with
Kirby Kirk. 1t was so sudden she could
scarcely repress the inclination to scream,
and the next moment he was shaking her
by the hand and laughing.
How | frightened you," be said. II
am very glad TO meet you. l WAS going
to call upon you, but heard you had
crossed the flat and was on the look out
for you. | am going 10 be absent from
here for a few weeks, but before l go
wish to speak to you on very important
matter"
He had turned around in the path and
was walking beside her. She had not
found opportunity to put in a word DUR
ing his rapid talk. For the moment
there came on her feeling of pity and
she did not speak.
Perhaps you are aware why this par
ticular locality has so great an attraction
for me-" he said, and turned so that he
stood directly before her.
why, how should >" she said, look
ing him straight in the eyes. At the
same time she felt very uneasy, for she