Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1901-02-01
ed the country, buy a ranch. 1t was

cied the country, buy ranch. 1t was
probably with that END in view that
he rode almost at once to the Halloran
place and explained to the haciendado
that he would like to be shown how Il
ranch was run. He met Miss Halloran,
and her father told him that she was
engaged to a lieutenant at the neigh
boring post, but that severe cod was
contining the officer to his house. He
expressed wish that Lovatt might
meet the lieutenant some day, and
Lovatt hoped that he would. 1t was
possibly in this hope that he called at
the ranch for six successive days. but
always-had he known it-at an hour
when it was quite unlikely that any one
would be coming over from the post.
After that they saw him no more.
On the evening of the seventh day
Chester was in charge of Strathmore's
quarters again. Strathmore was recov-
ering from, the cold, and he told Ches-
ter that he had missed him profanely
much. Everything had gone wrong. He
asked what the striker had been doing
with his time.
Chester threw an armful of wood up
on the fire, and stood up, brushing the
chips from his sleeve. "Well, sir" he
answered, Il have been getting en-
gagged"
Strathmore's jaw fell. That meant
that he would have to hunt up new
striker, of course. Then he remem-
bered Mamie Pearle. "That's rather
coincidence, Chester; so have l."
Chester's congratulation was respect
full, but not so cordial as it ght have
been. Il shall ask your permission and
the captains to marry, SIR" he said.
Strathmore accorded his own. but
shall be sorry to lose you, Chester,
very sorry. What is the girls name?'
Chester grew red all over his nice
boylsh face. He was finding out that
saving another Is not all hero!sm, nee
essarily. He produced piece of paper
from his pocket-a piece of flimsy,
ruled, pink paper stamped with a white
dove. Strathmore gave a little start
But Chester was doing this because he
thought 1t best to deal the final blow
at once, not to mince matters in the
least, and he did not hesitate. He
smoothed out the sheet "That's the
name, SIR" he said.
Strathmore read 1t. 1t was Mamie
Pearle.
"The last name," Chester explained
SIS Halloran. She's the daughter of
Halloran of the ranch"
"Oh! said Strathmore, dryly. His
eye had caught misspelled assurance
of enduring love. "Ohv he repeated;
"and may l ask if she knows who you
are?"
| Chester grew more red stu. "Welr
! he reflected that an entirely honest
| intent could never be preflxed by that
| Yankee word-"well, sir, | began by
letting her think that my name was
Lovatt-part of it really is, strand
that was titled and rich-which am
not-but''-he plucked up courage as
he went on-"lf she loves me, of course
| it will be all right"
Strathmore handed him back the
npte. AND If she doesn't"
Tit will still be al right"
Strathmore did not try to understand.
His opinion of Chester had fallen very
low. AS for his opinion of Mamie
Pearle he realized, suddenly, that it had
not dropped half so far. -
1t was almost retreat, on the follow.
ing day, when he took to Chester's
room bundle of London papers that
had just come by the stage. He cast a
quick look around. II see you've got
the photograph of the girl out again."
| he commented.
Chester nodded, but added, with the
faintest shadow on his face: "She's a
married woman, SIR"
Eyes" said Strathmore, and turned
to leave the room.
| "Oh, lleutenantw Chester called.
Strathmore stopped. II thought you
might like to know, sir, that I'm not
engaged any more"
For full half-mlnute Strathmore
looked into the Englishman's lmpene-
trable blue eyes; then there came a
twinkle in his own. 1T seems to be
another coincidence, Chester" he said,
quietly, "for neither am I."-Argonaut.
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