The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-05-19


solemn, wind-swept mountain spaces
and Of the widespreading, peaceful
plains. He longed to find a quiet cor
ner. But the clatter and hubbub pur-
sued him to his hotel.
The address of the letter he was car
rying over his heart took him far up
town. When he succeeded in MASTER
ing the intricacies of the bells in the
apartment he found door was opened
by a pert little maid, who stared SUI
perciliously at his height and breadth,
his clothes and his sombrero.
NO. she drawled, miss Cameron
Is not in; she is driving in the park"
"Can see her this EVENING"" he de-
manded imperiously
why, no" she said, with astonished
eyes, of course not. No one ever sees
her in the evening""
when can | see herr" he felt himself
going hot and cold by. turns.
"You might possibly see her at noon
tomorrow" snapped the maid. She's
never up before noon" Then she shut
the door with decided bang.
Tom strobe away, hurt, angry, suspi-
cious. What did it mean? Art, car
riage, living in luxury. Never up be-
fore noon. Suddenly he stopped and
cursed himself for a mean, pitiful cur
that he should suspect her of anything
that was not good and pure and Wom-
anly. To-morrOw-to-morrow at noon,
he would see her. Everything would
be explained, and on his knees he
would beg her to forgive him for his
unworthy suspicious.
AS he entered his hotel he ran into a
man from Denver whom he knew.
They shook hands and adjourned to the
bar. Tom was honestly glad to see
him. To tell the truth, the ranchman
was lonely and bit homesick.
Got the dumps?" laughed the man
from Denver. "Oh, brace up! Go to
the theater and amuse yourself Let's
see. Go to the Gotham. There's a
great show there. Out of sight. Say,
but there's girl there that's beauty.
The town has gone wild over her. She
is on only for a few moments, but she
leaves an impression. I'll see you to-
morrow about noon. Good-night-in a
- of hurry" and he was gone be-
fore Tom could tell him that to-mor-
row at noon he had an engagement.
The theater was crowded. The stage
was peopled by hosts of pretty girls
with braZen smiles and alluring eyes.
There was plenty of fun and music
and dancing and laughter.
But Tom was not interested. Perhaps
his lonely life had not fitted him to en-
joy such a shaking of folly bells. Per-
haps the heart that had always rever-
enced womanhood despised the dubious
jest, the offensive innuendoes. He won
dered as he looked about how nice
women could bear to listen to such
stuff.
At times he lost sight of the stage.
Tomorrow at noon," ran in his mind.
1t throbbed through the melody of the
orchestra, it resounded in the strains of
song. The violins breathed and whis-
pered and sobbed the refrain over and
over, Tomorrow - tomorrow at
noon"
At last the stage was darkened. He
heard some people next him talking
about the beautiful woman who was to
pose as statue. He leaned forward.
The curtains parted. On a pedestal
stood woman with masses of cluster
ing hair falling over her white Shout
ders. Her superb form stood out like
marble against the somber background.
What was it the men were calling
out as the carriages rolled up to the
door of the theater? O., yes, how
stupid of him! Tomorrow, at noon,"
of course. And what did all those
blazing letters read in the glittering
signs along the crowded thoroughfare,
Tomorrow at noon-to-morrow at
noon"
He went to his room. He laughed as
he flung himself upon his bed. "To-
morrow-to-morrow at noon"
The man from Denver knocked on his
door and ratified and shook it. Wake
up Weir!" he shouted, wake up. It's
Darling of Denver. Come, you lazy
beggar, want you to go to luncheon
with me-"
There was no answer.
Wake up, Weir!" he called again,
banging the door with his fist.
But no answer returned from the ST.
lent room, where the brawny form lay
stretched upon the bed and where the
II 4r;a
the white forehead in which the ranch
mans sure bullet was buried.
A flock of mutton sheep ought to be
found on every farm because they are
bound to be profitable as scavengers
alone.