Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-04-06
TOMORROW AT NOON

ohtSieu lus 6iduu CeutTdl 0taIlou
passenger in the sleeping-car Arcadia
was in state bordering on frenzy.
He had smoked so many cigars that
the porter regarded him with appre-
hension. He had stamped up and down
the aisle so fiercely that baby had
shrieked in fright whenever he appear
ed. He had cursed so horribly that the
ancient spinster in the section next his
had been on the point of swooning sew
eral times.
He was big, athletic fellow, with a
| ruddy complexion, determined lips, and
eyes like gray velvet, with black lashes
and brows. His face would have been
noticeable at any time, but now, crown
ed with an enormous silver-embroid-
cred sombrero and distorted with i'm
patience, it was doubly conspicuous.
That cowboy must be getting ready
to kill somebody" said the commercial
man from Omaha to the railroad man
from Buffalo.
Either that or he's going to see his
girl" replied the other.
The railroad man was a keen Judge
Va hdLuiC. loul w SH
man from the Valley of the River of
Lost Souls. Col. was ON his way to
New York to find his sweetheart
AS he sat moodily biting an unlighted
cigar and counting the mile-posts he
recalled, as in dream, his meeting
with the exquisite creature he was
seeking. He remembered that clear,
bright morning when he rode jingling
and Gathering into Durango, just as the
train from Alamosa was pulling up to
the station; how he threw himself off
his mustang and Joined the crowd OF
miners, cowboys, loafers and "greas-
ers" on the station platform to see the
passengers alight.
He heard again the murmur of ad-
miration as she stepped from the train
and walked through the throng with
the air of princess.
His heart pounded madly as he re-
called the masses Of red gold hair, the
luscious lips, the eyes of most unholy
blue-the blue of the mountain sap
phires-and the graceful svelte form
His thoughts shifted to the afternoon
when he was introduced to her at the
ranch adjoining his own. She had
come to visit her school friend, the wife
of his neighbor He remembered her
wonderful pink gown with clouds and
billows Of lace, the tiny fan she welded
so coquettishly, the rings on her white
fingers. She looked like an angel to
the big, clumsy, blushing, stammering
ranchman-a pink and white angel
with halo of dazzling blonde hair.
Poor Tom Weir then and there lay
his great, unsullied, honest heart at her
tiny feet. From the first moment she
spoke to him he was her slave.
Now he thought Of those heavenly
days that followed; the long walks and
rides in that glorious air that mounted
to their heads like champagne; the
nights when the great red moon swung
over the snow-covered mountain
peaks; the first mad kiss, the tender
confession the sweet surrender and the
solemn betrothal.
And now he was going to see her!
Two years had gone by since the girl
of his heart had said good-by to him;
since he had held her to his brawny
breast and with swimming eyes and
husky voice had begged her not to for
get him.
She had written him often sweet,
kind, tender letters, letters he had
kissed and cried over and put under his
pillow at night She had kept her
word. She had not forgotten him
that radiant creature. o, where was
man so madly happy as he? And o,
when, when, would this train get into
New York?
There was only one little bit Of alloy
IN this happiness; a mere trif1e to- be
sure, but still there. A few words in
her last letter had troubled him. He
had read and re-read them trying to
discover just what caused his uneasi-
ness, but in vain. Still vague, intan-
gible something seemed threatening
him. Some instinct sounded note Of
alarm as he pored over the perfumed
paper in his hand.
Il am tired of teaching" the letter
ran. THE life of a governess Is so
narrow, so confning. So l have gone
in for art"
That was all.
Art-art? Art is perfectly harmless,
to be sure, but it was strange he had
never seen her draw or paint anything.
Indeed, he remembered that when with
the enthusiasm Of the typical Western
ranchman, he had pointed out the
beauties OF his beloved mountains she
, had seemed rather bored than other
, wise.
He made a sudden resolution. He
would go to New York. He would see
! her and beg her to give up art and
come near to natures heart with him
There was no reason why their mar.