Middletown transcript., 1898-04-30
TnRY WERE MATED.


I ton on the Idaho Central when a tall
rough looking man with one eye bursI
through the rear door, and, stepping
forward to the middle of ths aisle
called out +:
"I'm lookin' fer q lady named
Meri,el st. Clair.''
il There was but one woman In the
/ coach, and she would hardly have teeT
4 selected as fitting such name, bat C
the surprise Of every one she quickly
turned her head and said, !" Cnmmer,2'
/ It was none OF the business Of The
others in tha coach, but they could moi
help giving undivided attention to the
transactions of the two. The woman
was angular and red-headed, aad she
had voice like the shrill utterance oi
bot box. The man, who was III
homely specimen as that section Of
the new State could possibly produce,
seemed rather abashed as be approached
her. Indeed, his conduct was dis
tinctly apologetic.
"Mebbe you air the hired hand foE
Montgomery Fitzmaurice," said the
woman In affable, conciliatory way.
swell, marm- uin - um - mebbe
you're the msid-in-waitin' Of Meribel
st. Clair ?"
81 am Meribsl st. Clair herself, y
deiantly.
The man gasped. but looked inn
mensely relieved.
II am Montgomery Fiizmanrice, +"
be said.
"Mont.gom-ery-f.s-mau--"
"That is," hastily-s'that's what
wrote it to the paper, but my real name
is Bill Bubbles. You say yo're Miss
St. CIaIr''
"Jest partly. Jest Partly, Mr.. Rub.
bles. That's what I signed to the ad-
vertisement, but my own right names
M'haly Jinkins."
They looked each other with faces
expressive OF mingled emotion Of
disappointment and relief. Both were
evidently surprised. Finally the man
managed to say II wouldn't a.
knowed you by yer picture"
"No. I reckon not. borried it from
the photograph artist. I don't RELY
kno' whose it was. But you pear
kinder changed from the likeness you
sent me. Had sickness, mebbe."
"No," be answered meekly. 81 got
that from the telegraph operator up at
Little Crossin'. It's barber down at
Salt Lake that it was took of in the
first place. -
There were several seconds Of silence.
Both were evidently deeply torn by
emotions. Both were doing much
thinking. Finally be said:
II notice you've got only one eye.
You didn't mention that In the letters
you sent.'
mo. ! din't. You don't mind my
sayin' that l see that you are con-
siderably stoop shouldered an are
several years older than you stated"
tOh, no. / don't mind 1t at all.
Fact is, il I was standin' up you'd
also see that I walk with q limp"
"Is that 50 2 Well, since you are so
free Of tellin' such things, / don't OBJ
iect to saying that my left leg is made
o cork.''
They looked earnest ly into the faces
OF each other for nearly minute this
time, and the drummer in a low tone
offered tn bet on the outcome, but
the stock man who heard it was too
much interested to countensnce any
distraction. At last the woman in a
hesitating way, suggested
ssThat there mansion house an them
thousands o. cattle"
"For a real fact the house is q log
cabin, with one room an a mud ruff,
an there's only 40 head of cattle. I'm
sorry to disapp'int you. The hause
amt hardly big enough for yer peauner
that you spoke Of"
~ amt got no peanner an ii I had
! couldn't play on 1t. + don't know,
how. That's the truth an hope you
won't feel bad"
II was easily to be seen that this was
wrench to him, and shade Of regret |
crossed his face. But it was the last
confession. After another pause he |
turned smiling face upon her, she |
having been looking out OF the window
in mournful way, and said:
'Ssy. what's the odd ? don't keer
fer the difference il you DON'T"
She also smiled. swell, plague take
it, it's 1000 mile back home, an'-an'
well, iii stick to the Engagement IL
you feel that way"
Regardless Of my one eyeP"
eyes, il you don't mind my limp an
my stoop shoulders an my beia'
fairly old woman"
II don't IL you'll overlook the cork
leg. Wen git right of at Morganville
an git married all the same as though |
you was Meribel St. Clair an I was
Montgomery Fitzmaurice. I'm SORRY |
about the log house,"
"An' Ill hate it about deceivein'
you about the peanner."
"But it'lI be all right" He learned
over and kissed her and the other four
Immediately made. up
purse OF $40 for wedding present.