Arizona republican., 1898-09-26
Iye OLD
 SILVER TRAIL.
BY MARY E. S,TICKNEY.
(Continued from Yesterday)

But since his encounter with Doro- thy Meredith in the rain he had found . great deal of time to think of women, l and of the one whom his reason told him he would far better forget, his cneny's pretty daughter. The episode ac the worlds fair had made deep impression upon him. For many days he had recalled her looks, her ways, her voice and smile, tantalized by long ing to meet her again; but, then, man like. giving up all idea that the wish could ever Ee realized, and his mind further occupied by the troubles be- tween the mines, which had come upon him not long after, he had almost for gotten the fancy altogether, until with a shock he recognized her as she passed in at the door of the Windy Guleh hotel one day and realized that she was Col. Meredith's daughter. The discovery seemed effectually to dispel all the lingering glamour of the worlds fair meeting; he had no smallest wish to recall himself to her memory. Al most, he could fancy, so keen was his dislike of Col. Meredith that he could read somewhat of her fathers charac- ter in her face; while certain he was that she was by no means so pretty ess he had supposed her that other time when he had seen her in the twilight.
 And then, as though in mockery of his self-delusion, fate had brought about the encounter in the rain, when, in her appealing helplessness and the frank delight with which she had recognized l him, she had seemed ten times moro | winsome than she had been before; while the after meeting in the Tom town road, when, prepared for cold re- buff, she had surprised him with sweet gentleness, had effectually completed his conquest. He was over ears in love with her. That he had met her but three; times all told, that she was to him scarce more than an ideality, count cd for nothing in the mad infatuat tion to which he had surrendered himself With the fatuous reasoning of lover he felt that to him had been given. a.. 1t were, charmed eyesight, to compr2 bend her nature. It was as though he had known her and loved her all his life.
 As may be understood from this brief sketch of his career, Harvey Neil was not lacking in force of character or tenacity of purpose: and no sooner had he fairly diagnosed the sweet be- witchcry that possessed him than it had become unalterably fixed in his mind that Dorothy must be his. Al first thought the difficulties to be en- countered in carrying out this purpose seemed but to infamc his eagerness. He eXulted in the thought of com batting the opposition which was to be expected from Col. Meredith. of get ting the better of that gentleman in winning away his pretty daughter from under his very nose; it WAS only when lis thoughts dwelt upon Dorothy herself that he grew anxious and troubled. Marriage rather more than any other bargain demands the consent ing attitude of no less than two; and, lPredisposcd against him through loyal ty to her fathers cause, as he assumed that she was, he could not but foresee lgrave obstacles in the way of his woo ing developed from her sense of duty. Given opportunity, he had all a lovers confidence that he could so storm her ] heart, so compass her about with sweet observances, that he scarce could fail in winning love for love; but when ii came to practical consideration of ways and means he was forced to own him self nonplussed. To retreat, passion said, was now impossible; but to ad vance at the impetuous pace his fancy would choose he had to acknowledge was almost equally out of the question
 But he did not forget that he had one chance of seeing her again. To be sure, she had expressly refused to meet l him; but that should not prevent him from seeing her if it were possible Far rather would he face her displeas- ure, trusting to clever pleading to win him pardon, than miss any smallest op- portunity to further his suit.
 But there was no anger, and only thf lamest assumption of surprise, wher he met her up the Old Silver trail next 1 morning, and his heart grew light with the guess that she had half expected him.
 ''You did not go to Tomtown," she faltered, recklessly refining her horse Out III SO thS qodAiliS dSPo uo IiiOuSh u ride by him.
 ''I did-last evening"" he returned i promptly turning about to bring him self beside her. "I got another horse and went right back after meeting you It was after II o'clock when I rode through the gulch on my way home I came the long way round on account of the bad road by night. There was q light in your window as came by the hotel"
 'How did you know which was my window?' she asked, her cheeks grown d little pinker. Her horse had taken the e. from the other, and they were riding .&ong side by side.
 T saw your shadow on the curtain you were sit, ing in a rocking-cllair I hot