The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-01-05

1IoIl Gie uooiWdy. Inc liollo Will
dows opened to the north, giving
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 scmblance of a lawn
the best turf to be had in that Sec
ton of Wyoming, and inclosed it in
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
west over the valley of 4 rushing
stream, once rich in trout. but now
much infested by the mules from Bur-
leigh's corral, which lay half Il mile
away to the southeast, out of sight
of Folsom's house except from the up
per windows. Eager to stock the Ii
brary with standard works against
his daughters coming, the old trader
had consulted a friend among the Off
GERS 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, tie 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 Ii
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 short letter to
lleI lllObllcI. NliiJ I'ul lCiSoA was w
come at 1880 to drive them out to
Pinnacle Butte, a sharp, rocky height
far across the valley, from the sum-
nit of which Il wonderful view was
to be obtained. 1t lacked but five
minutes of the time and suddenly
Mrs. Flctcher's voice was heard on the
floor above. 1t was a well-modulatetl
voice, gentle and controlled, with a
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 tc
her feet, thinking only of her brother
ooh! 1 wonder if And then they
heard her go pit-a-pat through the hal
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 tx
meet them, Elinor-l'll-Ill talk to yol
more about this some other time. 70,
don't care to 60 on this ride this morn
ming one bit, do you, dear?" he added
uneasily.
"No, father; frankly, l don't-but HI
has been polite to you and attentive
to us. There's no help for it,"
And so Folsom went alone to thu
door to meet his visitors OH the porcl
without, and did not hear, did not SET
Mrs. Fletcher, who came hastily dow
the stairs, her face singularly pale, ;
glitter of excitement i'll her eyes. Or
tiptoe she fastened along the broad
hall, reaching the library door just a.
Folsom stepped out on the porch. o.
tiptoe she darted in, closed the door be
hind her, almost rushed to the nortl
window, and there grasping the cur
tain she crouched, needless of the posi-
bility of observation, and for half I
minute chung and crouched and stared
Then, as Folsom's genial, powerful
voice was heard in welcoming accents
and heavy footsteps came along thu
broad board walk. the woman straight
ened suddenly and, noseless as before
hurried back across the room and cam
face to face with the daughter of TIL
house.
"Oh. Miss Folsom!" she faltered, he
bosom heaving in violent agitation. .
did not know you were here. l-eNcus
me" and fastened out of the room am
up the winding stairs.
"Pappoose" never hesitatcd. Coolly
quickly, she stepped to the window
Maj. Burleigh had just reached the to-
step and was exchanging greeting wit
his host. The stylish team and glisten
ing wagon were just spinning away.
it'll be back in five minutes sh
heard the quartermaster explain to he
father. "Newhall has to meet som
people coming in by stage from Gree:
river. L thought I'd rather spend TIL
time here"
And on the back seat, atfably wavin
his hand in adieu, and iauntiiy liftin
his raliish forage cap in salutation gel
eral to any of the young ladies VIII
might be watching, sat the gentiema
whose regiment was in louisiana Will
he was up here on leave looking afte
mining investments.
CHAPTER X.
"Three mortal hours" said Miss 70
som to her fond little school friend an
chum that afternoon, have had to s.
or stroll with mr. liStpn 10 Mai R,,