The aegis & intelligencer., 1899-12-01
/. 4 AsTTER G ENVIRONMENT. -.
She Thought Her Suitor Was q
. Nero Dancing Man-After-
/. ward She Changed Her
Mind.
BY w. r. ROSE.
!. s..:.::.:::.:::.:::s::.:::.:::.:::.::.::.::.:.

1 want q c1anSe. III SICK OIL tne euele
east. l want to lose myself somewhere
beyond the odor of factory smoke and
the glare of electric lights"
you'll be glad to welcome both,"
said Roger Hendricks a little grimly,
when you find yourself where there
isn't the slightest tint of smoke on the
dismal horizon and where your electric
light is an evil smelling lamp or sput-
tering tallow candle"
"Trust me-" laughed Grace. you'll
find my romantic views have o very
practical background. And we are to
visit the mines, are We"
"Yes," replied Roger, "the new
Midas. want to look them over my
self. They are the coming wonders Of
the mining field and I'm anxious to see
just what shape they are in. By the
way" and he looked ut her narrowly,
"an old friend of yours Is our assist
ant superintendent at the mines"
"a friend of mine? WhoY'
Robert Conklin."
"Robert! l knew he was going away,
but had no idea where. It's certainly
L u
of the german. Daddy, want to tell
you something. Robert asked me to
be is wife just before he went away"
"Did he? Well, there are worse
young men than Robert"
"Are there, daddy? l thought they
were all monotonously alike, the same
| clean shaven faces, the same dress suits
and white ties and patent feathers and
languid drawls and inane small talk.
Robert was a charming fellow-of the
conventional type-and he had beauti-
full white hands and a lovely complex
| ion, but he was too much like all the
| others to please your fastidious child"
What did you tell him, my girl"
! "When he popped? Oh, told him
bluntly that he wasn't my ideal, and I
sent him away"
| Roger smiled.
"And he came to me-" he said, land
( sent him away still farther. But it
will not embarrass you to meet him ut
the mines"
Not In the least, daddy. Why should
it?"
"I don't know" He laughed and
turned away.
He did not tell his spoiled darling
! that he was Roberts sworn ally or
that he was plotting at that very mo-
! ment to secure what he thought was
her happiness.
Three weeks later two seated wag-
On drawn by 4 team of stout, though
| very tired, horses mounted the last hill
that interviewed between the railway
| station and the Midas mines. In the
| wagon were Roger Hendricks and
! Grace and an extremely taciturn,
! though highly skilled, driver, who had
been sent over to meet them.
AS they mounted the crest Of the last
long hill Roger Hendricks turned to
the driver.
"Is Superintendent Ingersoll wcllT'
he asked.
Dunno" said the driver.
Don't know" echoed the capitalist.
"Isn't he at the mines"
"Nope. He's across In Californy."
%What for?"
Health"
81 didn't know he was ILL.," said the
capitalist. whats his trouble?"
"Knife in ribs. Couple O. fellers from
SINNERS Flat came over an started a
| fuss. Superintendent tried to stop 'em
an got jabbed. Pobsy run In an floored
the fellers blff! bang! an then he toted
superintendent over the line to a doc
fellers."
"And the mines:"
mines is runnin all right. Bobsy's
runnin 'em."
"Who is Bobsy"
7 "Dunno his other name. That's him
comm"
He pointed with his whip at an ap-
preaching figure.
1t was the figure Of tall young man
In n slouch hat, coarse flannel shirt.
rough breeches and long, clay stained
boots He had plentiful crop of hair,
a face extremely sunburned where II
wasn't covered by brown curly beard,
and his arms, exposed by his rolled up
shirt sleeves. were brown and sinewy.
| He took Off his hat to Grace and ex.
tended his hand to her father.
"By George" cried the latter, "it's
Conklin-it's Robertw And he leaned
over and vigorously shook the young
mans hand. Grace gave little gasp.
Was this rough young Adonis, bearded
and tanned. the white handed darling
of the ballroom?
| Then Robert quickly stepped to the
wagon. and reaching up swung her
| lightly to the ground
tina TO welcome you 10 the uIraes,
bliss Grace" he said In an easy man.
ner, with no trace Of self conscious
ness. And what astonished Grace most
of all was that he made no excuses for
his decidedly unconventional garb.
"Hold on" cried the capitalist as
they walked toward the superintend-
4 ent's cottage. "Are you Bobsy?"
! That's what the Chinese cook calls
me-" laughed the young man, "and l
4 believe the rest of the camp has adopt
ed the title. We all have our nick
| names out here, you know. But this is
the superintendent's cottage. Miss
4 Grace will take my room, and you, sir,
! will take Mr.. Ingersolrs. The Chinese
| servants will serve your meals here"
land will you not join us?" asked
| Grace In her sweetest manner.
81 should be pleased to-" he answer
ed simply and turned away to talk
with her father.
1 Robert came to supper and the only
changes he had made in his toilet were
| the removal of his slouch hat and the
addition Of rough sack coat. But he
| was nowise embarrassed. He certainly
| talked we'll, and Grace saw that her
father was greatly taken with him.
Robert went away early, knowing
they were tired and presumably sleepy.
| As the sound Of his footsteps died on
the gravel walk the capitalist turned to
his daughter.
Seems little different, doesn't he r.
he asked.
Different from what, daddyT
"Why, from the whole tiresome lot of
l conventional young men,"
| "He does" said Grace lightly.
There was pause.
| aren't you just little sorry now
| you refused him?" chuckled the old
man.
This isn't the man / refused" said
Grace softly.
The ten days of their stay passed
rapidly. Thanks to the preparations
made by Robert for their coming the
y roughness Of camp life was greatly