El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-30

BOUND FOR
CALIFORNIA.

If Peter Jones entertained a passion
| for pretty Edna Fletcher. nobody knew
| 1t but himself. for he was ole of those
honest, retiring, soft hearted natures that
| never tell of their finer feelings.
Discouraged by his small chances OF
success, for Edna, like most pretty girls
was a bit of hirt, Peter accepted a
! profita BILE offer to go to California and
leave Port Raynor.
| Peter was scarcely missed in the social
| gatherings that made the summer houses
| pleasant at Port Raynor, but Edna Won
| dered what made them all SO suddenly
| dull to her.
She had plenty of attention from her
| old friends and neighbors and from all
the visitors who saw her pretty face and
| graceful movements. But her hero did
not appear, and Peter Jones was in Cal
ifornia.
He was growing rich in California, Mr..
Fletcher said, being a good business
man, with fine opportunity made for
him by the firm which had sent him out.
He would find some fair, gentle girl who
| was not petulant and would give the re-
turn he deserved for his love and devo-
ton, and he would marry her, of course,
and never come back to Port Raynor.
And here the sigh would have it's way.
Mrs. Fletcher was surprised that at
81 Edna, the most attractive girl at Port
Raynor. was Edna Fletcher STILL Tom
and Will were both married and living in
the city, where Edna spent the winters
with them and had rejected several Of
fers. She would not acknowledge to her
own heart that all her love had been Civ
en- to Peter.
Three years Peter Jones had been in
California and had been placed at the
head of the branch house there, working
faithfully in the interest of his employ
ers and slowly but surely making his
own fortune.
1t was dusk on summer evening
when the train drew up at the Port Ray
nor station and one gentleman stepped
out upon the platform.
"No baggage" he said to the waiting
porter. and he sauntered up the road to-
ward the Jones farm.
But the same road led him first to the
gate of Mr.. Fletcher's large, handsome
house. There was group upon the
porch, as there had been always in the
old times. "Of course not" the newcomer
thought impatiently. "All the young
folks are married and away"
He had hesitated at the gate, and he
thought he could spare time for short
call, only to inquire for Mr.. and Mrs.
Fletcher, old friends, who demanded
some courtesy from a neighbor so long
absent.
He went across the grass to the low
French window. This had been always
his path to the house, and he smiled as
he found himself on the spot where he
had left Edna three years before.
''I'll go to the front door and ring" he
thought. but going a moment to glance
through the half closed blinds.
Two figures, dim in the gathering dark
ness, were on the sofa. Both wore light
dresses and they were close together, as
If talking confdentially. Peter did not
think that he was being an eavesdropper.
He only fingered because he recognized
q voice whose tones had always been the
sweetest music in his ears.
But why need 1 marry anybody"
That was what Edna said. Not mar
ried-not married.
Peter did long to shout the words, but
a quiet, low voice answered:
"You need not, Edna. But papa and I
wonder sometimes if our little girls heart
Is really so set against marriage or if she
Is hiding some secret from us"
"Secret. 1 never had a secret?'
You are not engaged, then, without
our knowledge"
"No How could you think such
thing"
"And you really have never loved any
of your suitors?'
Silence. Peter Jones knew that he was
playing a very mean part, that he had
no right to wait for the unwilling of a
maiden's heart in this sly fashion. and
yet he could not stir.
'Was there any one, Edna" Mrs.
Fletcher said very gently, "who won my
daughters heart and did not know the
treasure was his?''
A choking voice answered.:
Eyes, mamma. but don't ask me who
it was. He-he was-nobody in particu-
lar
Peter Jones walked around to the front
door and rang the bell. Nobody would
have guessed by his quiet manner that
his heart was throbbing to suffocation,
his hands cold. his head dizzy with the
sudden rush of great hope.
There was light in the wide drawing
room where presently Mr.. Fletcher and
Edna came to greet him, and Edna, pre-
pared by his card, was self possessed and
gracious. She had changed in those three
years and lost her petulance, was more
womanly and yet as pretty as ever. And
Peter Jones knew that the love in his
heart was not conquered. but strong as
death there still.
"WeIl. just to think of itv' Mrs. Jones
said when she came home from the we'd
ding. THAT Edna should refuse such
splendid offers as she has and marry our
Peter! She was always talking about
grand. heroic men, and he has not even
a name-only the one gave him.
Dear, dearp'
you'll be contented. Edna?' Peter
said when they stood on the steamers
deck. bound for California. you know.
dear. I'm only a business man there as
here Nobody in particular. New York