The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-30


once loosered, babbIs d on, tell ng MIN the
terms of Johnsons proposition and end
ing by saying he had pledged her to
secrecy as to his part in it, and eau
toned her against all other would-be
buyers.
Lambert smoked long and furiously
that night over this new phase of mis-
difficulties and as the smoke wreaths
grew denser they evolved the vision Of
a rosy girl, with laughing eyes, who had
promised to snare his fortunes, however
great they might be- Tony's little
freckled face, he remembered. always
beamed with pleasure from the depth of
her bonnet when she saw him, and Tony,
with a rich oil well back of ner, and
foreign travel. private tutors, Paris
gowns, m ght in time become like other
people; but here the laughing blue eyes
arose through the smoke wreaths to
mock him. He drew the difference be-
tween this lovely creature. the finished
product of care and cultivation, and lit
tie Mexican What s-Her-Name slipping
her chinela On and off at the heel as she
talked to him. Still, Tony was a good
little thing; she was slim and straight,
and if she could be induced not to tog
herself out in such outland.sh colors she
might be almost pretty, he unused. Then
he stopped short and laughed at MIN
him whether she were pretty or not?
Tony was waiting for him the next
time his trap clattered down the dusty
road. she had that confiding manner
that is so fiattering to a man who knows
the weakness of his strength. Johnson,
she told him, had raised his offer for the
whole tract several thousand, rocky, un-
productive acres. Lambert groaned. He
had to have it, there was no choice:
co lXrith hn Of TNJ, ,gfO,
staring him in the face, the prospect of
bankruptcy pursuing him from behind,
and the only means of obtaining the
prospective millions walking close be-
side him, Blue Eyes was forgotten, and
he did 1t.
1t was quickly said. Then he kissed
her blushing cheeks and the coveted land
was his-and Tony He mad discreetly
refrained from saying anything more
about her property after hearing John
sons offer. so she did not know he cared
anything about it, and there was not
doubt as to her sincerity in her simple
little heart.
Johnson was the first man Lambert
met when he went back to the hotel He
made a strained effort to be affable, and
Lambert, who could afford now to be
generous, pitied him for the disappoint-
ment in store for him and tried to Guido
up to the bar like two old friends and
Lambert proposed a toast to Success"
Each man drank deep to himself, cycling
the other commisseratingly for the shock
he was about to receive.
Tony was undeniably a good little
thing, although Lambert regarded her
merely as his means of escape from in
solvency, and his only feeling for her
was a vague sort of gratitude She
bored him bv the abiPCt devotion, Sba
lavished upon him. Once, however, it
had really touched him. when she said:
For you there is nothing in the world
1 would not gladly sacrifice"
But he had only said: YES yes, that's
a good girl, but you shouldn't wear
bright pink. 1t is not becoming
Lamberts success went to his head,
and made him long to throw his arms
around the neck of the whole world and
treat. He spent money with a pr1ncely
lavishness, and Johnson came in for all
his share. And Tony, too, was happy;
she went about with a suppressed mirth-
fitness in her eyes as If she had Sc
cret source of happiness nobody but her
self kncw-which, indeed, was the case.
And so they We're married. The little
bride was decked, not in shimmertng
white, but in all the gaIdy colors her
primitive soul loved A gorgeous yellow
-NCSSiICNi
slippers. Lambert wondered if she would
slip them on and off at the heel during
the ceremony. But nothing could ruff1e
his serenity; he looked his animated
rainbow over in good-natured amuse-
ment-sbe would soon be wearing Paris
gowns, her tawdry fnery left behind
AS soon as he could bring the subject
up he said, as If he had not thought 1t
all out weeks before:
IF you would rather deed this ranch
over to me to save you the trouble OF
looking after it, l suppose I could attend
to 1t. You know you are of age now
and can do as you like"
But Tony. the glow of pride still in
her heart from the conscious success of
her wedding. gown, looked UP and an
swered sweetly: Did 1 not tell you
there was no sacrifice would not gladly
''What?" cried Lambert--"what are you
saying?"
II could not think of letting you be
ashamed of my clothes among all your
fine friends. so I have made a SURPRISE
for you. She glanced up archly. ex-
pecting the appreciation her surprise de-
served. II know you don't care for -