Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-20
'J.G.Townsend


my hero does not come along will,
Lon"
But suddenly there had come to Gle.
mats Knowlton that marvellous trans
formation into the fullness of woman
hood; the prairie flower had bloomed
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 and
pain.
She had never thought of him as
lover, and the manifestation of his pass
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 nc
promised not to shoot Alph still rang
In her ears with horrible dissonancc.
She determined to walk out on tho
prairie, for it was not quite dark. to
rect her lover, whom she was that even
ing expecting. The solemnity and
grayness that fell upon the wide ex-
panse of prairie correspondent to the
vague feeling Of trouble that possessed
her. She felt that she must at once
inform Alph of the danger that threat
ened him.
Alfred Long was young man who
had come from Ohio several years be-
fore to make his fortune on Kansas
ranch. lie had commenced with lit
tie flock of sheep, and by industry and
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 un-
usual degree. His ranch was near that
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 tro,h to each other, but
their engagement was not known out
side of the family of the Knowltons
Glen saw bla k specll moving sw IT.
Nv along distant undulation of the
prairie. She walked towards it, and
soon found il resolve itself into Alph
on his pony, who was Fastening to
keep his tryst. lie threw himself from
the pony, and the lovers were in each
others arms.
"Why, darling, what makes you trem-
BILE 500"
30, Alph! I'm so afraid for you"
She kissed him passionately.
"'Fraid for me? What is it, sweet
hearth"
"It's Lon. He told me he loved me,
end 1 can't forget the hate | saw in his
eyes when I told him l was going to
marry you, Alph," said the girl, sob
bing and shivering.
"Now, don't, don't, little one. Lon
will get over this" said Alph, kissing
her tears away.
would you get over it, Alph?" said
Glenn, archly, smiling through the rldi-
ant drops.
"Heavens! Glen, If you put it that
way--but I'm not afraid. I'll make it
Ill right with Lon"
and Alph, throwing the rein of the pony
over 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, cu-se ye," he Missed, you
sneaking wolf, come to steal my pretty
lamb"
In the morning Glen found that Lon
had gone away without warming but
her father said he would be back FOR
the shearing. The girl was relieved
by his absence, but could not entirely
lucll 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 the
'click," "clck" of the swift moving
shears intermingled with the bleatiny
of the lambs separated from their moth
ers. Lon had come back, and was work.
ing busily, albeit it was noticed how
sombcr and gloomy he looked.
"Ycr'd think Lon lost his last friend
on arth," said one of the shearers.
Guess his gals gave him the grar%d
bounce" chuclSled another.
To their good-natured salles Lon
made little reply, only clipped on the
faster.
Alph was also among the shearers,
as he had clipped his own flock early,
and there was no faster shcarer, no one
more popular than the young Ohioan.
During the week of the shearing Glenn
was accosted by an old man, herder,
who had been for many years on the
ranch.
"What is it, Joe?" as she saw he had
something to say to her.
"Clem," the old man gave an embar-
raised cough, for he had guessed her
secret; ~ don't want to make you on
easy, but l don't like the look O. Ions
face, when his eyes is on Alph. 1t
kinder makes me grow cold!"
"Ohl Joe, you'll watch him. You'll
not let him hurt Alph, will your" said
Glen, pleadingly, all her fears return
ing.
IN keep my eyes on him when rs
round but the sarpint may bite in tho
dark"
"Oh! Joe. I've that feeling, too
that Lon may strike Alph in some UNI
guarded hour. Oh! what shall we do? p"
sain Glenn, sobbing.
Don't cry, Glenn. Ef old Joe doesn't
keep his eye peeled, it's cause he's
sleepin'"