The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-24

Fin. and rubbed the crossed brass sa-
bers on his hat with sudden fury.
The widow sighed
But l can't live at the post, Mr.
Strait" she answered. and stood in the
middle of the floor. thoughtfully play
ing with her marriage ring. The far
rier looked at her timidly, tenderly-
"Sit down, Mrs Bell" he cried des-
perately. IF you can't find a chair, sit
down here
And he pulled the widow on his knee.
"Oh, Mr.. Strait" said Mrs. Bell, but
resisted very gently.
will you come and live at the post
as my wife?' the farrier whispered, but
the wicked widow, conscious of an Of
fer from the corporal now in her
pocket played with the farrier.
'Oh, Mr.. Strait" she said, you SOL
Tiers at the post all say the same
thing, and none OF you mean it-not
one"
At that there came a modest rap at
the door, and the widow jumped to
open it. 1t is probable that she knew
who it was, for the twinkle of her eyes
betrayed a love of mischief, but she
evinced great surprise at seeing Corpo-
raj Healy standing in the snow. She
threw the door wide and Hospitality
open.
why, Mr.. Healy," said she. ito think
you'd come through all that snow-for
the second time today. too. You must
like the town, Come right in
IF it had showed baynits and sabers,
me darlint,'' cried Healy, entering, I'D
have come for the
He did not finish the sentence. He
saw his old friend, Fin, and the cor
poral's face turned red and sghite and
darlSly purple in quick succession. The
farrier had risen to his feet at the
sound of the soldiers voice, and the
two faced each other in the cosy little
parlor with. for the first time since
they were both recruits, fierce anger in
their eyes The widow closed the door
and began to laugh and chatter
How funny now" she cried. Here
you two, whom the folks at the post
call the brethren, you're so thick and
such old friends, and you've never met
at my house before. How FUNNY"
So she chartered. while her lips were
vet red with honest Fins kiss, and
Healys appeal crumpled in her pocket.
Old hearts are more slow to flame to
either love or anger than those that are
young, but once afire they burn with
the snap and glare of fury. Healy
heard nothing of Mrs. Bells chatter;
his ears were full of savage humming,
like the buzz of a KafIir impi. The far
rier did not look at her; his eyes were
fixed on the corporapS. In the breasts
of both there blazed the same primitive
passion of jealousy which maddens at
times the stays of the mountains, the
tigers of the jungle. For the sake of a
woman's lip, the comradeship of a
score of years was forgotten.
The corporal found his voice first.
Accuse me, Mrs, Bell he said with
hoarse voice, fur dishturbin' yez.
Tt,c h,rcipacS I'm afther hayin' wild far
rier Strait Will We come Out?'
He shot the last words angrily at his
old friend. and as quickly as the def
ance reach his ear. Fin took a step
forward. Healy turned to the widow
and bowed with stiff, soldierly formal
ity.
I'll be likely in town tomorrow
said he ION the matther av the bust
ness betwixt US"
At once the farrier faced the widow.
Mrs. Bell" said he, tomorrow I'll
seek an answer to my question"
But the widow made no answer; she
was now pale and trembling.
Corporal she stammered, Mr..
Strait"
They were swiftly gone, however, the
farrier closing the door behind him. and
the widow sat down, no little frightened
at such sudden mutual s@rath. The
smartest and most amorous of youthful
lovers she cou'd have managed. playing
one against the other, but the white
heat of these veterans was beyond her
power to cool. She warmed her pretty
white hands at the stove and shivered
and laughed a little, and cried a little
in turn.
"The two silly old things sshe MUIR
INJURED. ITO go and fight when ones
Just as rice as the other"