Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-09-09
HAPPY AT LAST.

John Overton sat alone, smoking his
pipe. He could hear the men as they
laughed and joked around the campfire,
but he could not join in their merrymak-
ing.
Five years ago he had left his eastern
home to endure the privations of a mining
engineer in a new country. A scheme
carried out successfully placed his name
permanently before the scientific world.
He felt elated that night, yet his thought
would turn to her. In the years that had
gone by much of the attention Of that
quarrel had passed away. After all, she
was only a girl then, sweet Priscilla Grey.
His mother had dreaded to see him 90
away SO far. She had enough for both,
but when he and Priscilla quarreled the
course of his life seemed changed.
His mother had died since, and he had
come into her fortune. Yet still he tar
ried. He had grown to love the west.
"Why is the paleface brother sads"
"Why, you naughty little girl, why did
you stray so far from home at this timer"
Overton exclaimed as he looked upon the
dark, sweet face so near his own.
"Father came to see you, and l came
too. I am going away, Overton. The
heart of Robin aches within her. She
loves the mountains, she loves her father,
she loves Oyerton. When he is sad, she ID
sad When he is gone, the winds sigh
more deeply In the pines; the brook, as 1t
leaps over the stones, is not so gay. Even
the sun shines not 80 brightly when Over
ton is not here"
As her sweet, monotonous tones ceased
Overton looked into her face. Her mother
had been the daughter Of a noble chief Of
a tribe Of Indians, and her father was an
officer at the fort. She was perhaps Is
and carried herself with the dignity Of her
race. She had her fathers classic features,
but the sadness of her mothers people
shone in her great black eyes.
When Overton came to the northwest
country, he had some work to do at the
fort where she lived. He had killed a huge
snake one day. An instant later and it
would have been upon her. Since then
she had loved him with the unreasonable
affection Of al animal. Her father joined
them as they sat there. Taking Robins
hand, he drew her to him.
"Poor little one! am going to send
her east, Overton.
mo better plan could suggest itself.
You should have sent her some time ago.
Be a good little girl, Robin. Learn a lot,
but don't forget your old friends"
II shall never forget" and, turning
quickly, she glided away.
Unusually bright, her constant. com
partnership with her father had deepened
her intellect. They learned to love her In
the school. With careful treatment her
skin grew fine grained and fairer. Her
hands were very small, soft and dimpled.
She did not look like an alien, and few
could guess that Indian blood ran in her
veins.
Her habitual sadness never left her, but
her smiles were ready and often. She
combined the best Of the two races from
which she sprang, and a more charming
woman was never introduced into the gay
world than Robin, daughter Of Captain
Strathmore.
Overton had made rapid strides In his
profession. The years seemingly left no
impression on his handsome face. To his
heart he still clasped his dream of Pris.
| ella.
She had been married and was now q
| widow, still as lovely and as fair as in her
sweet girlhood, so rumor had it.
For the first time in many years he de-
cided to 60 home, back to the old haunts,
the old friends and Priscilla.
Alas, he found them changed! The old
| house was the same, but his mother had
gone away. At the club new faces greeted
him. Selfish, narrow, aimless men stag.
mated in the little town. He felt Their and
there like taking the next train back where
he could breathe the pure, sweet air and
feel the freedom and ambition of the
plains.
A relative was to entertain that even-
ing, and he was the guest of honor. He
came In a little late and paused a moment
in the corridor. Looking across the room,
he saw the object Of his dream, the Prls-
ly, but
Accustomed as he was to read human
nature, he saw In that face everything
which he left out Of his ideal.
She had thrown him over for a rich
man. He had thought that she had been
forced to 1t by her parents, and had pitied
her 80 much.
She looked 30 complacent, 80 self salts
fed, so worldly. Everything she did
seemed to be for effect.
what an idiot ! have been!' He
turned and walked to the piazza. what
An artificial atmosphere! l am going
back by the first train"
He turned to go, but before him stood =
magnificent woman. Was 1t her expression
or wa 1t her face that reminded him of
that n old masters SO loved to portray?
Her regal head, her beautiful face, had
the dignity of a queen. As she smiled he
thought Of the running streams in the
mountains, the music Of the pines Of the
beautiful western country Of his adoption.
Then her sweet monotonous voice broke
the silence.
"Has the pale face forgotten the Robin
Of the Springtimef"
His lips could form no words. He opened
his arms and clasped her to his heart
Philadelphia Item.