Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-01-22
The Old SILVER Tran.
~ MARY {. sncKNEY.
Icopyight 1895. by J. D. LIpplneoa Col
CHAPTER vu.-CoNrNuEp.

N CHAPTER VII.-CoNTNuED.
Neil passed his hand across his mus
lache. brushing as II were the smile
which threatened to break into laugh
Ter ut her feminine simplicity. sand
Am sure also that 1t would be very much
nicer" he agreed, his tone almost
caressing in its gentleness. 81 only
wish we might settle It so easily; but
am afraid It would take more than my
eloquence to induce your ather to see
the matter from my standpoint"
"But can you not see how very easily
be might be deceived?" she anxiously
urged. "He Inns not had the manage.
ment Of the mine himself; and II any
wrong has been done"
"You do not know how glad IL makes
me that you are even willing to admi.
the possibility of wrong having been
DONE" he said, as she hesitated-"t1
have you Of your own accord giving me
the benefit Of q doubt, Miss Meredith.
You cannot guess how sweet It Is to me
10 feel that you IRE little bit my
friend In the case. Whether lose or
win, shall always like to remember it. )"
"I'ut you will not listen to any talk
Of compromise" she tentatively re-
Joined, with q disappointed air.
"Pdrdon me; I shall only be too glad
to listen II your father will consent t.
such q conference. You must further
pardon me, however, II say that am
not very sanguine rs to the results;
though Heaven knows how gladly !
would tie to any hope that-well, that
would make us friends"
She did not answer anything to this:
ind after n moment he went to fetch
back his horse, that had wandered too
far, feeding by the roadside. He
changed the subject as he came back.
"And how is your wrist, Miss Mere.
dith?" he asked. ut has been on my
mind for several minutes that / should
like to know"
almost perfectly well, thanks. And
that reminds mel told you that 1
wanted to apologize"
"And I told you that / could not pos.
sibly imagine why" smiling broadly at
the idea.
"About your handkerchief, you know.
I ought TO have returned II to you be-
fore this, but the fact is, / did not quite
know how to manage It," looking up at
him with little, embarrassed laugh,
her glance shyly falling to her flowers
rs she went on. "You see, did not cx-
plain to papa about meeting you the
other day. II think It is q great
nuisance explaining things"
$50 It Is" he cordially agreed. "And
I'm awfully glad you did not bother"
"But l have been so worried about
that handkerchief" she laughingly de-
clared. IF ventured to put It in the
post office, I knew that the postmaster
would be discussing with everybody
how it might happen that !, Col. Mere
dith's daughter, should be sending
parcel to you; while il I sent the boy
who does chores at the hotel to take II
to you-well, you know the landlady's
peculiarities, perhaps. She would be
bound to ferret out the mystery or die
in the attempt. II only l could have
had q premonition that was to meet
you to-day, so that might have brought
II with mel"
"Could you not have u premoniticn
that You would meet me some other
day-to-morrow, perhaps?" he daring
ly suggested.
II had thought that might send IL
to you by mail from Denver; but that
would involve some delay" she re-
turned, looking up Mt him uncertainty.
''But would II not be much less trouble
simply to give It to me here?" he urged,
ingenuously.
"You would have the trouble Of COIN
ing after it," she protested, doubtfully.
He regarded her inquiringly for an
instant, breaking into laugh rs he saw
that she was quite In earnest. "You are
SO considerate!" he exclaimed; "but I
should not mind coming in the least,
and in fact, shall be going over to
Tomtown tomorrow anyway. II you
could be walking here ut about half
past nine in the morning-would that
be too early for your"
She rose with n slight accession Of
dignity, an embarrassed flush rising to
her face. Excuse me; / did not say
that would come here to meet You at
all. / could not. don't you see? II
would loolk-wcll, It would look odd,
to shy the least"
"Are you referring TO the impression
II might have upon me, may ask?"
Certainly not; you would under
stand the circumstances; but other peo-
pie"
"And has Mrs. Grundy, perchancc, q
Eeat in this neck Of woods?--I
should never have supposed it," his
glance ranging the rugged heights with |
contempt for such argu-
ment. However, IL must be Just MS
you say, Miss Meredith. And perhaps |
should ask II you mind my leading my |
horse along beside you here?" They |
had been lettering down the road with |
he last words.
"0h, no; only" her glance straying |
uncertainty to the turn ahead. beyond
which the first cabins of the camp would
be in evidence.
"0nly SO far I may go, but no farther.
Alb, well, ! am generally philosophical
snough to believe in the half-loaf
Iheory, even II / am sometimes auda-
'ious enough to ask for more. II we
ire not to meet again, I am sorry; but
It least I appreciate my good luck to-
lay-you need not think me ungrateful
or that. As to the handkerchief-
,lease don't give Il another thought; II