Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-01-16
CHAPTER I.

n NAlN llAf HlhollAllN liAllnllAAAs
AS they fled out through the ample
doorway, with their Instruments under
their arms, the first faint streak Il
early dawn became visible in the east.
One of them, 4 lank, plain featured
young man OF ungainly aspect. but
penetrating eye. called the attention Of
the others To il.
Look" said he. ''Thcre Is the day
light! This has been Il gay night for
Suthcrlandtown,'
TOO gay" muttcred another. start
Ing aside as the slight figure Of n young
man coming from the house behind
them rushed hastily by. "Why, who's
thatt"
As they one and all had recognized
the person thus alluded To, no one an
swcrcd till he had dashed out of the
gate and disappeared in the woods on
the other side OF the road. Then they
all spoke at once.
Its Mr.. Frederick"
"lIe seems in a desperate hurry"
ole trod on my toes
ibid you hear the words he was
muttpring as he went hyF'
As only tlo last question was calcu-
lated To- rouse an interest, it alone re-
cciyed attention.
'No: what were they? I heard him
say something. but | did not catch the
words"
lie wasn't talking TO you or me-,
either. but / have ears HAT can hear an
eye wink. lie said. Thank God, this
terrible night is over Think of that.
After such a dance and such a spread,
he calls tits night terrible aud thanks
God HAT il Il over. | thought he was
one To rajcy this kind Of thing more
than most folks"
$50 dld l."
".And 50 Gll l."
The five musicians exchanged locks,
then huddlrd in a group Mt the gate.
"lic has quarrcled with his sweet
heart suggested one.
I'm NOT surprised ut That declared
ano.hr.. 81 never thought 1t would be
IL match
SHANE If Il wcrc"' muttcrcd tie
unsainly youlh who had spoken first.
As tire subject of this comment WAS
the son Of the gentleman whose house
they were Just leaving they necessarily
spoke low, hut their tones were rife
with curiosity aud it was evident that
the topic deeply interested item. one
of tie five who had not previously
spoken now put in n word.
Fl saw him when Ice first led ont
Miss Page TO dance, AMI | saw him
again when he stood MP opposite her
in the last quadrillc. and | tell you.
boys. there was a mighty deal II diff
ference IA the way hr looked ut her
the hast time from what he lid the
first. You wouldn't have thought him
the same man. Reckless young fell
lows like him are not To be caught by
dimplcs only. They want cash"
q family. ut least. and she hasn't
either. But what Il pretty girl She is!
Some fellow as rich as he aud as well
connected would he satisfied with her
good looks alone"
"Good looks" High scorn was OBJ
servable in this exclamation. which
was made by the young man who
have before characterized rs ungalnly.
81 refuse ~ acknowledge that she has
any good looks. ON the contrary, |
consider her plain"
"Oh, OH burst in protest from more
than one mouth. And why does she
have every fellow In the room dangling
after her. tllen?' asked the player on
the yellow flageolet.
"But she hasn't a regular feature"
"What difference docs that make
when 1t isn't her features you notice,
but herself"
81 don't like her"
A laugh followed this.
"That won't trouble her. Sweetwater.
Sutherland does, If you don't, and
that's much more to the point. And
he'll marry her yet. lie can't help 1t.
Why, she'd witch the devil Into lead
ing her to the altar If she took n no.
ton to have him for her bridegroom"
"There would he consistency In
that" muttercd the fellow just al.
dressed. "Rut. Mr.. Frederick
iibTAs Ahiit FNA4lN hi' WI NV
doorstep. Why. it's shc."
They all glanced back. The grace.
full figure Of Il young girl dressed in
white was 10 be seen leaning toward
them from the open doorway. Behind
her shonc Il blaze Of light-the candle,
not having been yet cXtinguishcd In I'll,
hall-and against this brilliant back.
ground her slight form. with al its be
witching outlines. stood out I'm plain
relief. There was an anxious bend
10 II, however, which none of them had
ever observed in it before.
"NNho was thaty' she began I'm Z
high, almost strldent voice, totally on
Of keeping with the sensuous curves Of
her strange. sweet face. But the ques
ton remained incomplete, as well n,
unanswered, for mt that moment he
attention. as well as that of the mel
lingering at the gate, was %attracte,
ny the sound Of hurrying feet and con
fused cries coming up the hill.
Murder, murder.' was the wore
painted out by more than one harsl
voice, and in another instant n dozei
men and boys came rushing into sigh
In n state OF such excitement that til,
nve musicians recoiled from the gate
and one Of them went so far rs to star
back toward the house. AS lie did S
he noticed n curious thing. The yOunI
woman whom they had all perceiye'
standing In the door n moment bcfor
had vanished, yet she was known t
profess the keenest curiosity Of an
.a. a.. @.xr.