The Delta independent., 1900-07-20

--uI " ~ shI Eel s4E u .S-t u
Grace In her sweetest iliann;,::'.
- s.iouil br p'yascd to- hc Enswc..
ed simply ;;ud turIVd away 90 TAX
with Eer father.
Hobcrt CAM TO su9Dc: and t..c only
cl.augcs he had made In his tu.',t were
the removal Ct his slorca Ii, ard the
addition of y rough sack cc.T. Ext Er
was uowise embarrassed. lie certainly
tai ci well. ana Grace sew that her
father was greatly taken with hiLi.
Robert went away early. knowing
they were tired and presumably sleepy.
As the sound of his footsteps died Ga
his daughter.
Seems a little G,-.creE:. doesn't he:"
he asked.
different from what. caddy?"
"Why. from the whole tiresome let OF
conventional young men,"
He docs.' said Grace lightly.
There was pause.
"ArcE't you just Little sorry now
you refused h:m:" chuck!cd the old
man.
This isn't the nan / refused.- said
Grace softly.
The ten days cf ticir stay passed
rapidly. Thanks 10 the preparations
made by Robert FOR their coming the
roughness OF caiap life was greatly
softencd. He had worked Ike a Tro-
Jan TO make them comfortable. He Lad
actually brought water In siUlcc pipes
FROM spring in the mountain side anl
fitted up u rude hut very scrvlcpablc
bathtub In the cottage for the Use ~
Grace. In fact. she heard Of bis c.
ergy and industry on every hand. AL
she noticed. too. that her father leaned
upon him more and more.
Once she took her parent to task
little for absoibin. SO much Of Rob
c-t's leisure time.
THE boy Is full OF business" said
big load here. and there's no shiftIn;
II till Ingei SOL comes back. I've been
doing what ! can TO tighten 1t a 1T
tlc.''
Whenever she saw Robert he was in
his rough and ready mining garb-staf
wart. sunburnt. sinewy. He never al
Duded TO his clothes. aud Grace came to
believe thai he never thought OF them.
He was always Mt case In her pres
ence. and yet. strange to say. paid her
no compliments. n fact which seemed
~ slhe more remarkable when she
glanced In her little mirror and saw
the pleasing effects OF the pure noun
tails air and the simple, wholesome
dist.
She couldn't understand II.
l. -
bert and she whispered this contin-
sency with sinking heart. Had she.
like the ignorant Ethiop. thrown away
her pearl? Had this splendid. uncon-
vcntional fellow quite. outworn her
earlier fascinations? II sadly looked
like II.
Then came the day OF their depnr-
ture. and s,ill Robert hadn't spoken.
But along in the carly morning he said
to her:
''Shall we take a farewell look to-
gether Mt tie happy vnlleyY
10 they walked up the hillside path
q short distance TO a woOsled plateau
that overlooked the valley and It's
foaming stream for many miles. Rob
ert Ind made little sea; just within
the thicket. and they sat down. For
moment both were silent. Then Rob
crt spoke.
"wen." he quietly said, "havc you
reconsideredf''
Grace looked up with n start. There
was q mnstersul mir about him that
fairly paralyzed her tongue. She could
only stare and wonder:
Thine Is slipping by" said Robert as
he consulted his watch. II must seize
the nrst opportunity 10 speak to your
father"
Grace tried to say the cutting things
that surged In her mind. But when
she caught Roberts eye looking down
mon her with q tenderness Of express
sios-- that altogether bclied the busi-
nesullke form Of his speech she gave a
IIttDe gasp and incontinently surren-
defed.
FSftc<n minutes 4atcr Robert and the
capitalist clasped hands warmly.
s"An right. chr queried the latter.
with Q broad smile. -
"Yes. sir" replied Robert. '1t wosted
just ~ you wrote me II would. But u
has Ipcen n hard part TO play"
But you played 10 win. II was the
old clothes and the brusque manner
and. above all. the environment that
served TO cIinch her affection. for I'm
sure my little girl has loved you for
Ioag time. my hoy"
T. He took Roberts arm afectiouately
and walled with him 10 the company's
once. and Grace. watching NJ the cot
iase window rnd quite wWconsciotss os
ths plot that had brought her happi- !.
80 knew that all gas well.
ssr'm coming east as boon rs Mr.. In
geDoll returns" said Robert when u
rsne tSsRe fos 0se adicus. "and then