El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-02

| that fndefina bic air or preceding OF Gull
| ture. of distinction which can be nei-
Their bought nor acquired. And she
| found the melody of trained voices at
the opera sweeter than the triple note
of the meadow lark. the scent of hot
house roses more delicious than the
| perfume OF wild clover.
And so. too, she discovered entrance
ment in the homage of Eldred Wier.
Not that i'm his case there was the pos
sibility of comparison. She had never
been touched by the attentions of her
| former acquaintance. There had not
been one who attracted her. When
| she came east. she was quite heart
whole and fancy free. But missiles,
| the gentlest of missiles. well directed,
did their deadly and delicious work.
Perhaps these would not have been
| SO promptly effective. even If hurled
| by Dan Cupid's unerring hand. had
Deronda realized that she was the
| bright particular star or the season.
Had any one told her that her piquant,
golden brown beauty. her unconscious
air of aloofness. her repose begotten
of prairie life and placid daily duty,
had won for her n higher need of APP
probation than was usually accorded
a newcomer in an exclusive coterie she
would have opened her serene gray
eyes wide in smiling incredulity. All
the girls had admirers. Almost all the
| girls had lovers. But not one of them
| had such n lover as Eldred Wier.
One month passed, two. three. And
always there were the same tributes.
always there was the same direct and
personal Difference. Theaters. dinners.
1
noon visits, rides and drives. Always
the same low. Intimate tones. the al
lurement OF impassioned eyes. Then,
suddenly it seemed. it was time to go
home. Time to go back to the dull,
little town. to the rooms over the
depot to the horde of clamorous chill
dren.
EIdred wier was the last to leave
the Pullman. His worshiping eyes de-
voured the beauty of the shy, ex-
pectant face. His hand held hers in a
close and tender clasp. He bent his
head. He spoke in a tone that thrilled
her.
You know. you must know, 1 love
you You know. could l have my way,
I would never let you CO."
Then the train began to move. He
was gone.
Five years later there was a ire
mendous rush of travel westward. The
Nebraska town of Wymore was one
of those caught in the vortex of i'm
petuous pleasure seekers, although
there were many health seekers. too,
bound for the solacing serenity of Col
orado or the golden glory of California
4 splendid summer day was waning
when n snorting train disgorged its
myriads on the depot platform. A
young man, nervous and haggard of
aspect, helped an elderly woman to
alight. With scant show of patience
he hurried her into the waiting ROOM
II tell you I've got to leave you
awhile" he declared testify. I've a
letter to present to one of the eastern
officials of the road. His private car
is due here now. I'll be back as soon |
as l can" |
Needless of her whimpered objec- |
tons he hurried off. A tail, beautiful l
young woman, most charmingly gown l
ed. attracted the observation OF the |
throng as she came down the waiting |
room. She noticed the woman sitting 1
alone and evidently in distress.
"Can be of service?" she inquired, |
pausing.
The traveller. in apparel too elaborate /
and youthful for her years, looked up /
into the gentle face OF the speaker. Her |
wrinkled cheeks were chalky under /
their rouge, and her false curls and |
bonnet were awry.
Nor she shrilled, needless OF hear
ers. mo one can help me. 1 brought |
it on myself. Me. worth half a mil
lion. to go and marry that young whip L
that leaves me here like
bale of goods! Not even a drink of
water
The young woman brought her a
glass of water, set straighS the disor-
dered hair and bonnet and famed the
agitated old face, talking pleasantly
the while.
81 am here" she said. ''to meet my
husband. He is one Of the directors
Of the road. There. his special has just
come in. He is coming this way" She
rose eagerly There Is some one with
him." She took step forward. "Wel-
come. WILL" as the stately man who
had FASTENED to- her side bent and kiss
ed her.
IF it wasn't for this young lady,
The resentful wall was cut short by
A sharp exclamation. White as death
Eldred Wier stared at Deronda Leigh
tom She looked from him to the shriv-
eled old creature on the seat. So this
was why he had never written, had
never come. This was why she had
fancied her heart was broken until "a
better man drew nigh" 1;
II