Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-10
PART l.

PART 1.
He had been doing California-Tom Has
ken, lieutenant of cavalry and stationed
at a territorial post. Had he planned a
vacation on his pay as one of Uncle Sans
officers he might possibly have taken in
Chicago for a week, but this trip had come
to bin through the kindness of a relative
and his three months leave had been en-
joyed 10 the utmost. He was now on his
way back to his post and duty, and one
afternoon as the train descended the east
ern slope of the Rocky mountains he re-
ceived a card at the hands of a car porter
with the added message:
'Gem'Ien would like to see yo' in de
next can. sab. an right away, sah.''
John Livingstone" That was the name
on the card, and it was not strange one
to the officer. He had met the Living
stones two months previously in the Yo-
semitic. He had encountered them at In
tervals since. Indeed, he had made II
his business to run across them as often
as possible. The LiviEgstones were father
and daughter-the most Englishy sort of
an Englishman-she the sweetest. loveliest
girl the bachelor officer had ever the honor
to cast his eyes upon. He had planned TO
be introduced and had brought 1t about.
Englishmen are, and after three or four
accidental meetings he was also sus-
picious. The girl N1nette was naive, ingen-
uous open hearted. There were signs
that she even like the lieutenant Father
and daughter were going east on the train
which was bearing him back to the fort
among the foot hills: He had planned 1t
so. and so 1t was.
sit down. Mr.. Haskell-sit down. said
the Englshman as the officer entered the
special car in which the foreigners We're
travelling. Il sent for you to have little
chat. You are an officer in the army?
The lieutenant bowed
Il am travelling over the country for
p!eeSU r-traVeiing with my daughter. l
am not looking to invest any money in
the United States. and my daughter will
marry in England, if at all 1 hope 1 make
IL plain 10 you"
'Iou-you wish to warn me against fall
ing in love with your daughter replied
the officer.
Exactly. my boy-exactly. Gads, sir
but / like to inset a man who can see
through q hole III a wall. Handsome girl
nice girl-but 1t ends right there for you.
She is as good as engaged to capital
good fellow at home. I'm talking to you
straight Hope you haven't been hit too
hard. for 1 rather like you officer
and man. Do you understand
Have you seen any evidences that II
love your daughter?' asked the lieutenant,
Plenty of them, my boy," laughed the
father. You have displayed good sense,
however. Indeed, you have acted the part
OF a gentleman. and that is why I've sent
Tor YOU Yes. you have been smieten, and
j dor't mind telling you that Ninette has
been Gre or less hit, but 1 guess no far
TIER She Is my only child. Her pin money
for month equals your salary for a year
and L don't want an American for a SON
in-law. Nothing special against en- YOU
know: but 1 just won't have it. Am 1
plain?"
Very plain, SIR
'Fhat's the best way in these things.
If you were one of the millionaires of New
York. instead of a poor army officer, 1
woI ldn't have it. What can't be won't
be Be a philosopher. my boy. Have a
glass of wine?'
''Thanks-no."
Feel a little sore. but don't blame YOU.
You'll get over it in a week and thank
me for my bluntness. You want to say
goodbye to Ninette, of course, and I'VE
no objections, only-only-''
You have done me the honor to call
me a gentleman finished Haskell
neutrality-suspicious. and I'll trust Won
he glad TO have you come in before you
get off. Nothing against you as an officer
and a man, You know, It's Just that the
girl Is as good as engaged to a capital good
fellow. you know, and 1 don't want an
American for a son-in-law Going? Well
don't mean to hurt your feelings Nv
way Is the plain way. and it saves any mis-
officer and a gentleman
Lieut. Haskell left the car feeling mad
hurt and chagrined. He had still another
feeltng-love for the daughter whose father
had go bluntly given him the right-about-
face An hour before he had not quite
known his own heart. Now he was sure
that he loved, and the fathers admission
that he was rot totally Indifferent to her
gave him new hopes. When a man has
been turned down. In a matter Of this
kind. however. his pride is called to the
front, and as the officer resumed his seat
In his own car his mood was not a pleasant
enc There was ample food for reflection
as the hours passed. and it was in a me-
chanical sort of way that he rose I'D and
left the car as evening came, and the train
halted for few minutes at a station where
refreshments could be procured. He had
just begun to sip his coffee when shouts of
alarm from the platform drew him away
and he rushed out to find the train crew,
the station loungers and half a hundred
passengers tumbling over each other
There they go-they've got away-youU
hit the girl if you shoot,''
Five minutes before the train came in
four rough-looking men had ridden up on
horseback, and while one held the horses
at the end of the long platform the others
had strolled about as II expecting some one
on the train. If they were noticed before
the train arrived. one gave them any