Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-08

son society does It's best to discourage
outsiders" as being likely to prevent
the capture, in due form, Of what 1t
considers its own legitimate prey. But
in this instance 1t was different-fCr
wasn't is possible that this merry
young stranger might captivate and
marry some penniiess subaltern. there
by leaving the field open for some
spinister sister to ensnare the very ell
gible and decidedly wealthy Horton?
Decidedly so; and upon this basis the
campaign went on, much to the evident
amusement of Olga, who, with womarl-
1y intuition and a knowledge of the
ways or women far beyond her years,
put two and two together and told
Horton it was all very funny. Fancy
those army frumps, Jack. being jeal-
GUS of me-poor me! Jack" (this with
mock solemnity,) "are in you in love
with me?'
Olga, wish you would not talke
in that frivolous manner. It isn't like
you-and you should have enough con-
sideration for me to believe those peO-
pie sincere in their attentions" And
Horton turned away with panied look,
but Olga's arms We're around his neck.
and her face was close to his, as, with
wet eyes. she whispered:
Jack. dear. have hurt your
Never before had John Horton been
SO tempted. Should he now tell her
what for two years had been in his
heart of hearts, unknown to anyone,
despite his loquacfous enthusiasm con-
corning her? Or should he take adj
vantage of her dependent position and
her eighteen years, or Whereabouts. and
confess himself?
1t was but a momentary struggle.
then Horton was himself again-a mute
worshipper of the goddess he himself
had created-or found and developed.
Yes, you have, dear. Please don't
speak of my friends againin that way
he said. disengaging her arms.
Olga's mouth dropped and there was
a piteous look in her eyes as she re-
piled
II won't. john Then, with a sud-
den kiss she walked away as though
she intended to go to her room for a
big, feminine cry. but she didn't. A
half hour later found her at the piano
trying to MARBLE a Mexican song while
she fondled the cat with one hand and
picked out the accompaniment with the
other.
Horton stood in the gallery for some
seconds, her parting kiss burning upon
his cheek, her pathetic face as she left
him still before his minds eye.
Pm an old bruter he told himself
"a man of my age"-he was 2S-'talk-
ing to a buoyant. irrepressible child in
that manner merely because / am sup
posed to be her guardian. Jack. you
old scoundrel, you ought to be ashamed
of yourselfr'
If there was a male person in south
western New Mexico who did not fall
down and worship that little Norwe-
gian-A Apache he failed, probably
through fear, to declare himself; but.
of all the love-stricken young idiots
that ever commanded a first platoon
with credit in times of peace and in
times of war; and fell ignobly before
the initial onslaught of the little fellow
with the arrows of love. MIR. Dandy of
the Nth, was the bell mule.
With him Olga's affair was serious
to the young lieutenant. He all but
neglected his duties to be ct her side
when she and Mrs. Horton were stop
ping at the post; and, even in his in.
fatuation, almost compromised her by
falling in with one of her mad fancies
one day when he had obtained leave
of absence and riding with her I'M
chaperoned to Lordsburg and back,
at dead Of night.
For this Horton took both of them
seriously to task, as soon as he learned
of the affair. as he did the evening
following through his shocked and
distressed mother who rode into town
in an army ambulance in order to tell
him.
To Dandy, whom he found in his
bachelors quarters, he said in his
lowest quietest tones:
Dan, if it were almost anyone but
you, if didn't know you for a gentle
man, I'd punch your head and call you
out besides. But for Olga's sake---''
perhaps you couldn't punch my
head, Jack" interrupted his friend,
calmly, mot if l were present. But
let's say nothing more. and-it shan't
happen again. You don't know how
sorry I am. I suppose she'll never
speak to me again, after all this" he
concluded. sadly.
But she did, and she also OBLIGATED
as pall-bearer at the funeral of his
hopes, week or two later, when he
proposed to her at a picnic given by
the ladies of the garrison in honor of
Olga's departure from the fort. she
was kind enough to him, and all that,
but Dandy took it rather hard. and
swore he'd resign his commission, re-
lire to the mountains and adopt her.
1itage as n profession. Instead, how
,ver. he exchanged to northern post !
fell in love again, and married his
wife's sister, who was plain. |
cut who had money enough to disguise
the fact somewhat.
Fielding comes next. He was a
eading light of the local bar at one of |
he larger Arizona towns, and attended |
o good deal of business for Horton,
who was interested in copper over
here. He came to Silver City to con-
suit with his client, met the "papoose," |
Ind a heart heretofore considered i'm
orcgnable capitulated at first glance
md Fielding was lost. He neglected |
lis other suits to attend to this one to
uch degree that it hurt his practice.
ind in the end he met the same fate
1t the charmer's hands as had poor |