The Irish standard., 1900-12-15
CHAPTER V.-CoNT1NuED.

"What on earth does John Folsom
want of a houselieeper?" asked the
helpmates of his friends at Fort En-
Dry, and in the busy, busting town.
"Why don't he marry again?' queried
those who would gladly have seen some
unprovided sister, niece or daughter
thus coz;ly disposed of. 1t was years
since Elnors mothers death, and yet
John Folsom seemed to mourn her as
fondly as ever, and except in midwin-
ter, barely 4 month went by in which
he did not make his pilgrimage to her
never-ne9locted grave. Yet, despite
his vigorous years in saddle, sunshine
or storm, and his thorough love for
outdoor life, Folsom, now well over so,
could no longer so lightly bear the
hard life of the field. He was amazed
to see how his sleeplcss dash to head off
Red Cloud and his days and nights of
Eallop back had told upon him. Wom-
en- at Fort Emory who looked with ap-
proving eyes on his ruddy face and
trim, erect figure, all so eloquent Of
health. and who possibly contemplated,
too, his solid bank account, and that
fast-buiiding house, the finest in Gate
City, had been telling him all winter
long he ought to have companion
an elder guide for Miss Elinor on her
return; he ought to have some one to
preside at his table; and honest John
had promptly answered.: "Why, Nell
will do all that" which necessitated
their limiting that although Miss Fol-
som would be u young lady in years,
she was only child in experience, and
would be much the better for some ono
who could take mothers place. mo
one could do that" said John, with
sudden swimming of his eyes, and that
put sudden stop to their Screenings,
for the time at least, but only for the
time. Taking counsel together, and
thinking how lovely it would be now if
Mr.. Folsom would only see how much
there was in this unmarried damsel, or
that widowed dame, the cotere at En-
DRY again returned to the subject, UNI
til John, il. his perplexity, got the idea
that propriety demanded that he
should have Il housekceper against his
daughters coming, and then he did go
and do, in his masculine stupidity, just
exactly what they wouldn't have had
him do for worlds-invite a woman, of
whom none Of their number had ever
heard, to come from Omaha and take
the domestic management of hishearth
and home. All he knew of her was
what he heard there. She was the
widow of volunteer officer who had
died Of disease contracted during the
war. She WAS clildlcss, almost dcsti-
tutc, accomplished, and so devoted to
her church duties. She was interest
ing and refined and highly educated.
lie heard the cu,o"iums pronounced
by the good priest and some of his
flock, and Mrs. Fletcher. substantial
person Of some 10 years at least, was
duly installed.
Fort Emory was filled with women
folk and cnnStcrnnt!Gn-mos of the
men being aiield. The scething qucs-
ton of the hour WIS whether they
should call OH her. whether she was to
be received at the fort, whether she
was to be acknowledge and recognized
at all, and then came. mirabile dictu, a
great government official from WASH
ington to inspect the Union Pacific
and make speeches ut various points
along the road and Mrs. Fletcher,
mind you, walked to church the very
next Sunday on the honorable secrc-
tary's arm, sat by his side when hetlrove
out TO hear the band at Emory and re-
ceived with him on he coloncl's vcran-
da, and that settled it. Received and
acknowledged and visited she had to
be. She might well prove woman
worth knowing.
Within Il fortnight she l.s.d made the
new homestead blossom like the rose.
Within u month cvcryt hing was in per-
feet order for the reception of Elinor
and her school friend-a busy, anxious
month, in which Folsom was fitting to
and fro to Reno and l'rayne, us we have
seen; to Halls ranch in the Medicine
Bow, to Isawhidc and Laramie, and the
reservations in northwestern Ncbras-
ka; and it so happened that he was
away tho night Maj. Burlcigh, on his
way to the depot, dropped in to inquire
if hc could sec Mr.. Folsom II moment on
important business. The servant said
he was not in town--llad gone, she
thought, to Omaha. She would inquire
of Mrs. Fletcher, and meantime would
the ma jor step inside? Step inside, and
stand wonderingly at the threshold of
the pretty parlor, he did; and then
there was Il rustic OF. silkcn skirts on
the floor above, and as he turned to
listen his haggurd, carcworn face took
on look some thing like that which
ovcrsprcad ii the night lie got the let
ter at teno-somethins That toldof be.
wilderment and pcrpl, Kitty, as u quiet
modulated voice told the servant to tell
the gentleman Mr.. Folsom might not
return for several days. Burleigh had
no excuse to lingcr. nolc o ask 10 hear
that voice again; yet as he slowly de.
scended the steps its accents were still
strangely ringing in Ills ears. Where
on earth had he heard that voice be.
fore?
tDu,I1p WI