El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-19

cit was kind of you, but I am not
hungry. I supped full Of horrors, y
smiling up at him with something OF
her old brightness, from an easy chair
into which she had dropped restfully.
"And I am SO comfortable here. 1t is
hardly worth while to lie down-if
you do not mind stopping little Ion
GER
"Well, no. 1 do not mind certain
1y,' smiling broadly at the idea. Was
she not conscious of the exquisite alb
surdity of such words to him?
There are SO many things 1 want
to have explained to me. About Ar
talissa, for instance. I cannot under
stand how she came to turn against you
So"
t.Oh, that" smiling embarrassedly.
GAS Kipling says, That is another
story We had few words was i'll
a bad temper the morning you went
away, giving me no opportunity for a
word of thanks or farewell. 1t was
rather unkind of you, don't you think?''
'Oh, if you say so, perhaps. Her
eyes dropped upon the handkerchief
which she was industriously drawing
through one gloved hand after the other.
''But am waiting now to discuss Ar
talissa's conduct, not mine"
well, I was in an ugly frame Of
mind, as 1 said, and it became fairly
maddening, the sense of obligation to-
ward the girl, with the obvious misun-
derstanding ON her part, the expectation
that-oh, q man feels like fool telling
such things!" breaking off miserably, a
deep flush staining his sunburned face.
'Don t ask me to go into details. 1t is
enough to say that 1 felt 1 ought to ex-
plain myself somewhat; that I made a
bungling job Of it, and she hates like
an Indian
''But she has wiped off the score of
all obligation by this, - her eyes flash
ing Indignantly, her cheeks aflame.
"Surely you owe her nothing now?"
81 don't know. 1t grinds little
YETI his glance modify following the
pattern of the carpet.
'And the horses-have you any clew
to them?''
Jim Kittery was arrested with my
Black Prince at Laramie this morning.
He had ventured into the town for
whisky, like the fool he is. He had sold
the filly at place over in my country,
and have already sent a man to fetch
her back, so in all probability she will
be yours yet His smile seemed rather
strained. ''You know perhaps that your
brother planned to give her to you, a
wedding PRESENT."
He spoke of it, her eyes falling
embarrassedly. ''But now
"Well?" as she paused.
''Oh, nothing, only my engagement,
SO far as it was an engagement, is
broken
"Brokenr' fire in his eyes as he sprang
impulsively toward her, but after step
he seemed to bethink himself and moved
ON to the window, parting the lace cur
tain to stare down into the street.
'What ought one to say on such an &C.
oasion?" he asked presently in an odd,
muffied voice congratulations seem
hardly in order
II don't know that there is call for
any remark at all, " she replied rather
tartly, and after moment, as though
she would change the subject, she ask
ed, "And when do you go back to x 6?''
Never. I am going to leave the
country He came modify back from
the window and resumed the place near
her chair. 81 am sick of cattle, sick
of the life, sick Of the whole business.
1t is like dropping buckets into empty
wells and growing old with drawing
nothing up. And l want change. I
must have it. I have been offered the
of an outfit in New Mex
leo. and am going there as soon as I
can get away"
''To New Mexicor' Edith gasped. 1t
was as if he had said he would go to
the other end of the world. ''Ah, why
will you? Why will you not go back to
your father if you are tired of this life?
have thought of it SO much, so wish
ed you would CO." flashing an appeal
ing glance full in his eyes.
'Have you, dear little girl?'' his
heart speaking in the glance he gave
back to her.
''My friend, Mrs. Hallet. with whom |
have been staying in Denver she |
went on hurriedly, her color rising, |
was talking the other day about her |
brother who died. He was killed, but |
it seems that his poor old father will |
never admit that he is dead; that he |
will not some day come back to them.
He has his room always ready for him. |
Every day he prays for him. / could |
not but think Of you as 1 heard it, and |
with tears in my heart for the poor old |
father who somewhere must be mourn
ng in just that way for you. All, can
you not see that your hard, unyielding
obstinacy is cruel to him; that you have
punished him more than he deserved in
Ill these years? Can you not guess how
MS heart must be eaten out with sorrow,
waiting for the opportunity to atone
like that poor father of the Paul
who died, for the son who will not re-
urn to him?''
He had buried his face in his hands
Is she went on, and when he looked up