Willmar tribune., 1900-12-26

They were standing at the moment
in the corner of the library farthest
from the doorway. The front win
dows opened to the north, giving q
fine view of the rolling hills rising
higher and higher and looking down
upon the grass-grown slopes spread
out at their feet, criss-crossed and
traversed by hard-beaten roads and
trails. Immediately in front of the
house Folsom had seeded and watered
and coaxed into semblance OF a lawn
the best turf to be had in that Sec
tion of Wyoming, and inclosed it in
a spick and span white picket fence.
The main road between the fort and
the railway station passed directly in
front of his gate. The side window
of the cozy room looked out to the
stream, once rich in trout. but now
much infested'by the mules from Bur-
lcigh's corral, which lay half mile
away to the southeast, out of sight
of Folsom's house except from the up
per windows. Eager to stock the IL
brary with standard works against
his daughters coming, the old trader
had consulted friend among the off,
GERS and had sent lavish order to
house in Chicago. Books, therefore,
were there in plenty on the handsome
shelves, and they were not ill-chosen
either, but it was Mrs. Fletcher who
pointed out how stiff and angular
everything looked, who introduced the
easy lounge, the soft rugs, the heavy
hanging portieres of costly Navajo
blankets. 1t was her deft touch that
draped the curtains at the windows
and softened and beautified the lines
the hand of man would have left
crude and repellent. And that IL
brary had been her favorite haunt;
but since the coming of the girls Mrs.
Fletcher had seemed to retire to her
own room aloft, and to spend no time
below stairs that was not demanded
by her household duties. Now as the
father and daughter were talking
earnestly together, they heard Mrs.
Fletcher moving about overhead as
though looking over the work Of the
housemaid. Jessie had gone to her
own room to write a short letter to
her mother. Maj. Burleigh was to
come at 1880 to drive them out to
Pinnacle Butte, sharp, rocky height
far across the valley, from the sum-
NIT of which wonderful view was
to be obtained. 1t lacked but five
minutes of the time and suddenly
Mrs. Fletcher's voice was heard on the
floor above. It was well-modulated
voice, gentle and controlled, with q
clear, vibrant ring in it that made the
words distinctly audible to the hear
ers below.
''The majors carriage is coming up
the street, Miss Dean. There are two
officers"
''Two!" exclaimed Jess, starting to
her feet, thinking only of her brother.
"Oh! I wonder if" And then they
heard her go pit-a1pat through the hall
to the front of the house, heard Mrs.
Fletcher more deliberately follow,
heard presently the beat of horses
hoofs on the hard roadway, and the
whir of coming wheels. "I'll go out to
meet them, ,Elinor-Ill-I'll talk to you
more about this some other time. You
don't care to go on this ride this morn
ming one bit, do you, dear?" he added,
uneasily. 49,. p. ....
mo, father; frankly, I don't-but he
has been polite to you and attentive
to us. There's no help for it,
And so Folsom went alone to the
door to meet his visitors on THE porch
without, and did not hear, did not see
Mrs. Fletcher, who came hastily down
the stairs, her face singularly pale, a
glitter of excitement in her eyes. On
tiptoe she fastened along the broad
hall, reaching the library door just as
Folsom stepped out on the porch. On
tiptoe she darted in, closed the door be-
hind her, almost rushed to the north
window, and there grasping the cur
tain she crouched, needless of the posi-
bility of observation, and for half a.
minute clung and crouched and stared.
Then, as Folsom's genial, powerful
voice was heard in welcoming accents,
and heavy footsteps came along the
broad board walk, the woman straight
ened suddenly and, noiseless as before,
hurried back across the room and came
face to face with the daughter of the
house.
"Oh, Miss Folsom!" she faltered, her
bosom heaving in violent agitation. II
did not know you were here. I-excuse
me-" and fastened out of the room and
up the winding stairs.
"Pappoose" never hesitated. Coolly,
quickly, she stepped to the window.
Maj. Burleigh had just reached the top
step and was exchanging greeting with
his host. The stylish team and glisten-
ing wagon were just spinning away.
It'll be back in five minutes" she
heard the quartermaster explain to her
father. "Newhall has to meet some
people coming in by stage from Green
river. I thought I'd rather spend the
time hcre.'
And on the back seat, affably waving
his hand in adieu, and jauntily lifting
his rakish forage cap in salutation gen.
eral to any of the young ladies who
might be watching, sat the gentleman
whose regiment was in louisiana while
he was up here on leave looking after
mining investments.
CHAPTER x. a..
"Three mortal hours" said.Miss Fol-
som to her fond little school friend and
chum that afternoon, "have had to sit
or stroll with or listen to Maj. Bur-:
leigh. I never once was able to enjoy
the view. What made him hurry us