The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-26

Hello, mister, I'm shore glad to sec
you" Thus spoke Charles the driver, O
few weeks after, when boarded his
stage for another trip out Campo way.
1t was lovely day in December. The
early rains had put the roads in fine con,
dtion. The grass was up, the flowers
in bloom and nature wore that most
charming of smiles which is only lavish
ed on southern California in the winter.
"How's Dora7' asked.
Jest the same, only purifier" replied
Charley. Il see her every day, and by
gosh. dream of her every night"
do you speak as you pass byT' I
asked.
. "She Does" he replied laconically.
"By the way, Charley, I'm going to
stop at old man Things, near Potrero,
until your next trip" said.
"Why, that's where Dora boards!" he
cried. you'll git to see her." Then he
inquired suspiciously. "Air you a mar
ried man, strangerY
II am." l said. And he looked re.
lieyed.
stopped OF at old man Things and
met Dora.
live oak tree after the others had re.
tired, and found Dora really good,
simple hearted, If rather light headed,
young girl of average good looks, en-
HANGED by contrast with the muchachas
del pals girls of the country and very
fair sample Of the normal school girl who
is sent out to waste her sweetness upon
the desert air until she arrives at that
specialized stage Of severity which enti-
ties her to teach in town.
] led her to talk of Charley and told
her how he adored her and how her
heartless flirting had ruined his life. l
discovered that she was softly crying in
the moonlight, and she said, II know
am little wretch, but, oh, II you knew
how | suffer when l see Charley go by
each day without speaking you'd pity me.
l think he Is the handsomest, strongest
and bravest man in the whole world"
"How about the way you treated him
in San Diego?" asked.
"Oh, that horrid institute" she sobbed.
'',Ihe music and lights and the talk Of
those male schoolteachers got into my
head, and when Charley came in dressed
in that perfectly awful suit and heard
them all laughing at him was foolish
enough to be ashamed of him. 1t was
for only a moment, however. deter
mined to dance no more that night and to
devote myself to him, regardless Of the
laughter and queer looks, but when
went for him he had gone, and now I've
lost him forever" And her tears flowed
faster and faster.
'Do you think you could fix things IL
you had Charles alone for about ten min
utes?"
Just let me get the chance" she said,
drying her tears, while look Of lofty res-
olution came over her face.
As l went to bed l pondered on how
easy 1t was for third party to bring two
people together when 1t seemed impossi-
BILE for them to get there without assist
ance.
The next morning I left for Campo,
telling Dora to be on the road In three
days from that time.
left Campo with Charley on the third
morning, and dwelt considerably on Do
ra's failing health and my belief that she
was pinng away for the love of him, but
he was as stubborn as bucking broncho
and kept muttering things about "white-
washed sepulchers."
Just before we got opposite old man
Things grew deathly sick and swore
would die if did not stop and get some
for which the old man was
justly famous.
Dora came through the trees just as I
made Charles stop, while leaped from
the wagon and went to the house. staid |
away about half an hour, and when got |
back it was a couple of turtledoves sit |
ting on the front seat Of that glorifed old |
blackboard.
The last heard from Charles and Do
ra they were settled on the Jamul ranch, |
with bouncing boy named Patton Burg
man and called Pat for short.-Everett
Independent,