St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1899-01-14

Y
everybody. All the menwho come from
the east-with letters, you know
sooner or later always visit the mine.
This is very absurd of me. There's
really no reason why should insist
upon accounting for .youv But if you
are from the other side, yousmay know
some of our Big Horn people? Some of
them are very swell, believe"
Es3iHI know good many people on the
other side who are not SWELL" Daroie
replied evasively. .ss..3.szsg i
/ "But do you know any one of our syn
dicate?" the girl persisted. "Of course
we think everybody has heard of the
Big Horn who has ever heard of the
Occur d'Alene.
| Excuse me-" said Darcie, c1umsily;
81 think your shoes are too close to the
fire. It's a great bore I can't be. ac-
counted for in the usual way" he con-
tinued, on resuming his seat; "still, the
| chances are I'm better as a riddle with
out the answer. The answer is sure to
be stupid. Let us assume that you have
| placed me, even If you have misplaced
me trifie; it can do no harm for one
night. And it may give you that con-
idence which--which gives me conf
dence to-a-offer you my escort to the
mine.''
| sam in need of an escort?" Miss
Bingham asked in astonishment. She
| saw no reason for so much confidence
| in her confidence on the part OF an in
teresting, certainly, but rather inexplic-
able young stranger.
"Quite so. i mean temporarily. Your
father-he's quite well; but as I've told
you, he's unconscionably tired. 1t wos1sd
be positive cruelty to ask him to turn
out again tonight. I'm taking for
granted, out of modesty, assure you,
in view of our accommod atoms. that
YOU'D rather go home" ~
"We must both go home,o saidaMiss
Bingham, rising quickly. II Iscan't mag
| Inc why you should think my fathersis
not .able!' 4ss SO ~ 4.fts;s,ss.s l4E
| But her lima agination was assisting her
vividly. at that moment, and painful
prescience born of unyouthful experi-
ence was shedding it's light upon Dar-
cie's remarkable proposition and the
awkwardness of his reasons. @
IT did not say he wasn't able," he
desperately interposed;g "he's forty
fathoms deep in sleep. Why drag him
out when I'm SO entirely at your serv-
ice? That's a brute of a horse of his
for mountain work = ses &
"What, Colonel? Why he's perfect
rocking chair!" Z
.'I mean getting chilled, you know.
He's a heavy man in the saddle. He's
he's not very used to riding, ishe?''
why, he never walks!"
"Pray have little consideration" Y
II must see il he is well.
But
"But this is the very excess of con-
si1eration! Please let me speak to my
| father!"
Darcie retreated to the fire, with a
gesture of despair to Mike, who made
| a sudden clatter with his saucepans,
while Faith, under cover of the shadow
at the far side of the cabin, satisfied
herself as to her fathers condition.
Mike was right in assuming that she
had seen him .''that way" before. a
"Oh, this is too much!'' confessed to
herself the heartsick girl. 81 think he
might have spared me this. And those
poor things trying to keep it from me
with, their silly excusesl OF course
they must know what ailss him. What
shall do? TIM certain they don't wish
ME to stay; he all but asked me to go,
and no wonder-they have enough with
| him on their hands. Yes;, I must go
back and stop the inquiries at the mine;
I must tell a few more lies No; Twill
not cry. They shall not know that I
know. will be as innocent as they
think me ''sgs - ssssss SAL X
She had remained some time by the
side OF the bed, long enough to gain
control. of herself, as she thoughh.
When she came forward into the light,
the hot color burned in her cheeks, her
head was high, her eyes wide and
bright.
"She takes 1T beautifully" thought
Darcie, scarcely permitting himself to
look at her; "but who knows how she
takes it when she is alone with i'll"
eyes; I think had better go back to
the mine," said Faith, coldly, tiff
either of you gentlemen will take me.
My father is too tired; it would be too
selfish of me not to let him sleep"
She fixed her eyes upon Darcie as if dar-
ing him to doubt that she believed what
she was saying. But / will go. Our
people might be anxious. Can we start,
do you think, pretty soon?"
1--WE might wait an hour said Darcie,
gently, "and still reach the mine before
ten" ss fsa#
"An hour! But therain has stopped,
I think. That roaring is the gulch.'
Mike stepped to the window to take a
look at the weather. TITS a wildish
night" he reported, "but there's moth
ing the matter wild startin'snow, iftthe
lady wishes. lean see the crown O the
full moon risin' the summit; she'll be
high and clear before yen come to the
funny part av the grade, The thrail
lis shinin' With wet; its as plain as the
lines on me PAIN. VIII ye have up tlie
harses or no 2'' g s.s5s. -
Is. t.Oh, yes; the horses, please il u
McGowan went out. The wind sucked
the door to after him with q loud slam
and lump Of dried maud fell from "a
ichink Id the wall. There was d mo-
.ment's silence; then Faith threw away
all concealment in one tragic look 81
s.Did you ever hear OF such a thingsas
this!'' g g -.
| II NAV saw I've never heard Of any