The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-10
By.
'J.u.IoWnsend

tremely fond of Clematis, the only
daughter of Mr.. Knowlton, the owner
of the sheep ranch; but as she was
but n child when he first came to the
ranch, and he nearly twice her age,
nothing was thought of 1T by the fam
ily. Often Lon used to say 10 Glenn, as
they all called her, in his polite Span
I ish way:
lyon shall be my wife some day,
senorita."
Glenn would reply laughingly: "If
my hero does not come along l will,
Lon"
But suddenly there had come to CIe'
mats Knowlton that marvellous trans
formation into the fullness of woman
hood; the prairie flower had bloomsd
into wondrous beauty, and with that
transition Glenn found that her hero
had come and she gave herself to him,
with all the confidence of her young
and ardent nature.
The declaration that Alonzo Memlico
made came TO her with surprise n
pain.
She had never thought of him as a
lover, and the manifestation of his pas
sion filled the breast of the lovely girl
with strange forebodings. She knew
something of his sullen and revengeful
nature. That laugh of Ions when he
promised not to shoot Alph still rang
in her ears with n horrible dissonancc.
She determined Il walk out on tho
prairie, for it was rot quite dark, to
meet her lover, whom she was that even-
ing expecting. The solemnity and
that fell upon the wide en-
panse of prairie corresponded to the
vague feeling of trouble that possessed
her. She felt that she must at nee
inform Alph Of the danger that threat
ened him.
Alfred Long was a young man who
had come from Ohio several years be-
fore to make his fortune on n Kansas
ranch. He had commenced with a lit
tie flock of sheep, and by industry n
good management his herd had grown,
until he was one of the largest flock
masters in the country. There was
that about Alfred Long that marked
him for manliness and honor. He was
modest, quiet, brave, and possessed the
confidence Of his neighbors in an I'M
usual degree. His ranch was near TINT
of Mr.. Knowlton, so that he early met
Clematis and naturally fell in love with
her, and in the last few months they
had ~plighted troth 10 each other, but
their engagement was not known out
side of the family OF the Knowltons
Glenn saw n black speck moving swift
" along n distant undulation of the
prairie. She walked towards il, and
soon found it resolve itself into Alph
on his pony, who was Fastening to
keep his tryst. He threw himself from
the pony and the lovers were in each
others arms.
"Why, darling, what makes you trem-
bic SOP"
80, Alphl Tn so afraid for you"
She kissed him p~assionately.
"'Fraid for me? What is it, sweet
hearth"
"It's Lon. He told me he loved me,
end / can't forget the hate i saw in his
eyes when l told him l was going to
marry you, Alph," said the girl, sob
bing and shivering.
snow, don't, don't, little one. Lon
will get over this,' said Alph, kissing
her tears away.
"Wonld you get over it, Alph?" said
Glenn, archly, smiling through the radi-
ant drops.
"Heavensl Glen, IL you put it that
way-but I'm not afraid. I'll make it
oil right with Lon"
They had now reached the rarch,
and Afph, throwing the rein of the pony
over n post, went with Glenn into the
house.
But another eye had seen this meeting
on the prairie, and Lon shook with
rage as he saw the tender embrace.
Curse we, Sc ye," he Kissed, you
sneaking wolf, conn TO steal my pretty
lamb"
In the morning Glenn found that Lon
had gone away without warning. but
her father said he would be back for
the shearing. The girl was relieved
10y his absence, but could not entirely
7uell the haunting dread that oppressed
her.
The time soon came for the shearing
of the herd, and the gang of shearers
was at work. There was heard tn,
click" ''click" of the swift moving
shears intermingled with the bleatiug
of the lambs separated from their moth
ers. Lon had come back, and was work.
ing busily, albeit IL was noticed how
somber and gloomy he looked.
- 80
on 'arth," said one of the shearers.
Guess his gals gave him the grand
bounce" chuckled another.
To their good-natured sallies Lon
made little reply, only clipped on the
faster.
Alph was also among the shenrers,
MS he had clipped his own flock early,
and there was no faster shearer. no one
more popular than the young Ohioan.
During the week ofthe shearipgClem
was sccoseed by an old man. n lerder.
who had D,cn fOr many years or lie