Waterbury Democrat., 1900-10-29

"They did nothing but talk to me all the way over the mountains, ex- cept when they were out taking what I have reason to believe was an occa- sional drink, daddy mine. Jess had MT. 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 SOP"
 "Only within the year, perhaps, though of course I've heard of him great deal" N
 And this Capt. Newhall, whose reg imsnt is in Louisiana while he's out here on leave-I thought officers went east when they got leave"
 "Newhau 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. I own l was prejudiCed against him, too, but of course If he's Q 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.
 Not if you don't want it, pet. Of course they'll expect 1t. 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, dubiously. eve been thinking about him-pve been wishing"
 But he hesitated and faltered and could not meet the deep brown eyes, so full of searching inquiry and keen intelligence.
 WILL 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 MT. Loomis about-about Lieut.. Dean, and know MT. Loomis did not like it, and Jcs- r loI | where is he? Why doesn't he come? Why do these-these people at the fort hem and haw and hesitate when they speak about him? Jessie is getting so troubled"
 I'm getting troubled, daughter" answered Folsom, impulsively. 1T never met 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 what they don't say that troubles me- Burleigh here and old Stevens out at the fort and one or two others I've asked about him. Burleigh says he lost his nerve when they met Red Clouds big band. A boy might be ex- cused for that so long as he didn't misbehave. It was big responsibility for 8 young lieutenant. But. these people, as you speak of them out at the fort, really know very little about Dean. Burleigh says he's in position that enables him to know so much more about the character and habits of the young officers"
 Surely he can say nothing against MT. Dean!" exclaimed Pappoose, lnnlxinp with ply ir,l ;,, her brown eyes. No one knows how good and generous he has been to Jessie and his mother"
 They were standing at the moment in the corner of the library farthesc from the doorway. The front win dows opened to the north, giving a 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 ton of Wyoming, and inclosed it in Epick 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 west over the valley of a rushing stream, once rich in trout. but now much infested by the mules from Bur leigh's corral, which ray half mile away to the southeast, out of sight of Folso1n's house except from the up- per windows. Eager to stock the li- brary with standard works against his daughters coming, the old trader had consulted friend among the off, cers and had sent lavish order to a 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. It was her delft touch tbat draped the curtains at the yyin0 cyS