Willmar tribune., 1900-12-26
CHAPTER IX.-CoNr1SUEp.

C>tI11 q
ss Copyright 1897. by F. Tennyson Nee,y.l
s CHAPTER IX.-CoNT1SUED.
"Bless my soul!" said Folsom. ~
supposed that was what she was for.
What did these women mean by tell
ing me I must have a companions
guide, etc.?''
They meant, you blessed daddy,
that they wished to provide you with
one of their number, and me-with
something I do not want. If Mrs.
), FLETCHER is to be housekeeper, have
nethng to say, but-don't you think
your big daughter old enough and
wise enough to select her own COM
Apanions? Daddy DEAR" she continued,
after little pause, and nesting close
to him with a pathetic look in the big
D brown eyes, her lips twitching a bit,
81 know how loving and thoughtful
you have been in all this, and
wouldn't have you think me ungrate-
I ful, but-did you believe I was always
4 going to be little girl? What do
you suppose I studied housekeeping
for at school? Mrs. Fletcher is en-
gagged, I presume, and can't ask you
to undo that now, but I wish you had
written to me first. However, if you
don't mind, there's somebody I'd
rather you would invite to take the
fourth seat to-day, and then you can
have Pappoose beside you, if you
WISH"
& "Why, of course, sweetheart, any
one you like"
''Lieut. Loomis, then, daddy-the Of
ficer we met on the train. Jessie likes
him, and he's such a friend of her
brother-the only one we have yet
seen who seems to know him at all.
Then you could ask him to dinner,
too.'',
Folsom's face was a study. Doubt
and perplexity both were twitching
in the little muscles about his lips.
''We met three officers, did we not,
Elinor, and I had hought-somewha
of-asSing the major and his guest
1 He said he wished to call. He was
here while we were driving yesterday.
I met him later"
~ Eyes, I saw his card" was the hur-
ried, Indifferent answer. "But they
are not like Mr.. Loomis. Daddy, I did
not at all like that Capt. Newhall, or
for that matter"
''They both seemed prodigiously
struck with you," said Folsom, in mis-
guided confidence, yet pardonable
pride. "They've done nothing but talk
to me about you ever since.''
'They did nothing but talk to me
all the way over the mountains. ex.
cept when they were out taking what
have reason to believe was an occa-
sional drink, daddy mine. Jess had
Mr.. Loomis to herself. They have
found your weak spot, daddy. They
know you love to talk of your daugh-
ter. You have only known Maj. Bur-
leigh little while. Is it not so?"
Only within, the year, perhaps,
though of course I've heard of him a
great deal.'
"And this Capt. Newhall, whose reg
iment is in Louisiana while he's out
here on leave-1 thought officers went
, east when they got leave"
"Newhall says he's out looking over
some mining schemes. He has money
to invest, I believe
HE should invest some money in a
travelling suit, daddy. dear. That coat
and his linen seemed woefully out of
condition. Gentlemen are not care
less about such Matters
''Oh, he explained that his trunks
were delayed in Omaha or somewhere,
and were coming along next train. 1
own I was prejudiced against him.
too, but of course if he's friend and
guest of. Burleigh's he-he must be all
right. He's staying with him at the
depot"
+: = 'And you've got to invite them to
dinner?" asked Miss Folsom, after an.
other pause, during which she had
been thinking deeply.
IS mot If you don't want it, pet. Of
course they'll expect it. Army officers
are hospitable. you know. Burleigh
has asked me to dine with him a doz-
en- times, though I've only been there
once
Then you'll have to invite him,
daddy was the answer. with quick
decision. "Only, just wait for day
or two. Capt. Newhall was going
right out to the mines, he said, and
there may be others we'd be glad to
have. Jessie's brother ought to be
here any hour"
"Yes,'' said Folsom, obviously. 1--WE
been thinking about him-Tve been
wishing"
But he hesitated and faltered and
could not meet the deep brown eyes,
so full of searching inquiry and keen
intelligence.
"You've been thinking-what, dad
dy?" she asked, and now her slender
hands were on his shoulders and she
was turning him so that she could
study his face. "You have been hear
ing something you do not wish us
to know, daddy, dear. I heard Mai.
Burleigh say something to Mr.. Loomis
about about Lieut.. Dean, and I know
Z ls[. Mr.. Loomis did not like it, and Jes-
sic and I can't believe it. Father,
where is he? Why doesn't he come?
Why do these-these people at the
fort hem and haw and hesitate when.
4 they speak about him? Jessie is
getting so troubled"
TIN getting troubled, daughter"
answered Folsom, impulsively. IT
never met a likelier young fellow or
one that promised to make better
officer. He may be all right, too, only
.it isn't so much what they do say as
sawhnt they don't say that troubles me