The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-03-03

part for even little while from the
one individual whom he found it pos
sible to love. and repeatedly declined
to permit her TO leave him. Strange
as it may seem, no one among her
many admirers had had the temerity
to seek her hand. This may have
been due to the fact that wholesome
respect for the choleric temper of old
Freeborn impelled them to keep their
distance, but it was more probable
that the spirit of reverence with
which the fair Mildred usually in
spired members OF the opposite sex
bade them recognize their own un-
worthiness.
At the time that entered Free
born's service the feud between Free
born and Marquand was at its height.
Marquand was man of middle age
and questionable practices. Year by
year his once large fortune had grown
smaller and smaller, and he was now
striving desperately to regain all he
had lost. He was an inveterate gam
bier, and his ranch house was the re-
sort of half the gamesters in the
county. Among the men in his en-
ploy were several Englishmen who, it
was said, had certain dark pages in the
history of their lives which it was to
their best interests to conceal. They
we're not without future prospects,
however, and night after night, when
not engaged with the herds, they were
to be found sitting around "Lon"
Marquand's gaming table.
l had been on Freeborn's ranch
about three months when the time
arrived for O roundup. A new cause
OF dispute had lately arisen between
Freeborn and 'Marquand, and / had
been told to look for trouble.
One night, while was sitting alone
before our camp FIRE, awaiting the re-
turn of my companions, fell to
thinking of Mildred Freeborn. Since
had first met her she had interested
me greatly. She had taken to me
kindly, and often while l had been
sitting with the men in the dining
room OF the ranch house she had sent
Nettie, her servant, to me with the
request that should visit her in her
little library. Although | was con
vinced that occupied q high place in
her esteem, was far from deceiving
myself with the thought that l had
inspired her with anything more than
mere friendly regard. l was still
under the influence of former love
affair, and though l admired and re-
spected her had felt no inclination
to offer myself as q suitor.
had found her an interestin 6
study, however. In the course of our
frequent conversations ! had observed
that she was dominated by spirit of
passionate unrest. The life she led on
the plains had become irksome to her.
She crayed the social glamour and ex-
citements of cities, which she had
known only in the books she read.
had lived in the unknown country and
was familiar with its customs and its
sights. When she sought my company
it was only that she might hear de-
scribed those things she so fonaly
hoped one day to see.
There were times when grew weary
OF her questioning, but her thirst for
information was insatiate and she held
me to my task.
During the last few days, however,
her conduct had undergone a change.
She had become more petulent in her
manner, and now seemed as desirous
of avoiding my society as she had
formerly been anxious to seek it. AS
] lay beside the blazing sticks, striving
to find some reason for her altered de-
meanor, my reverie was suddenly in
terrupted by the arrival of Tom Bax-
ter, one of the cowboys who had been
branding cattle during the afternoon.
"Wal, Dick" he drawled, as he
seated himself carelessly beside me on
the ground, shows that thar coffee
comia' on9 I'm ALFRED hungry, an
thar's lot o. hard work ahead fer us all
tonight"
"What's up-anything specialG" ]
asked.
"Nope. / reckon thar's nothin
what yer might call special, exactly,
he said slowly. "Still, fellow never
knows what's liable to happen when
these here Marquand boys is round. y
He paused, aud as l glanced toward
him l saw an expression of gravity
steal slowly over his rugged features.
"Confound their blasted hides, any
how !" he exclaimed impatiently. ''Tn
afeerd one of the peskv lot is brewin
a peck o. trouble fer our old man thii
night. Wimmen's funny lot-dog
gone 'em all, say-an' ull bear mor'
watchin' AN children will"
"What have women got to do will
it, Tom?" / asked, in surprise.
ga regular howdy-do, that's what
as you'll find out afore this roundup
done, reckon" retcrted Tom, dis
gustedly.
"Surely you don't mean" I began
''Ixin yer keep q secret if tell it te
yer?' he demanded, as he eyed M
curiously.
looked at him questioninglY.
"Kin yer?"
eyes"
"Wal, then, just keep yer eye
peeled fer trouble agin the suu goei
down termorrer night. That gal o
Freeborns is likely one, but fer al
that she's preparin' to take the bi
atween them glis'nen' teeth O. herr
an bolt her daddy's trail. One O. then
Marquand boys-an English lad nance
McPherson-has been shines on hel
fer quite spell. OF course, her oil
man wouldn't have him round thu
place, but somehow or another the.