The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1901-09-12

on out west.
"Oh, jes toler'ble, as they say ont
there" he replied, laughing. "Op-t
in my case, the 'jes' toler' bic MEGA.
tirst-rate. l started as a cowboy, ano
then bought few head of cattle and
some land, and after that pushed
ahead pretty steady. l was always
Woodworking, and so got on faster
than some of my neighbors. After
awhile railroad came through, ano
a village started up less than three
miles from my place. That boosted
me right to the top. Now, I've got
as pretty a ranch as there is west
of the Missouri"
"Why, that's splendid" she cried
her face glowing with pleasure. Tn
awful glad you're doin so well
Folks around here have an idea that
you've been sort of runnin' out"
"How came they to get such no
tion?" cautiously.
well, II believe Ed Purcell spoke
of il in the first place"
ED Purcell!" Tom rose to his feet
in sudden wrath. Then he sat down
with a smothered laugh. The mean
liar! He didn't know the first thing
of what I've been doing. You didn't
believe him, Cordelia?'
She looked distressed.
How could | help it, Tom?" she
ALTERED. ED said he got letters
from YOU off and on, and | didn't
suppose he would tell story" Then
With an effort to change the sub
.eot: Did you bring your family
llong?"
"Fan.ily?"
ayes. your wife and children?"
He gazed sharply at her for mo-
ment to see if she was in earnest;
,hen he threw himself back in his
.har with sudden burst of laugh
err
Did Ed tell you that he asked
Us soon as he could get his breath
Wen, he's a dandy, he is. And die
fou believe it?"
She did not answer, but he cuu.t
see from her changing countenancC
and arerted eyes that she had be
ieyed it.
Look here, Cordeiia." he said
aBruptly, what do you suppose
anne back for?'
ITO look around-to see your rela
ions, perhaps" she answered, hest
atngly.
My relations are all out west. Fa
ther and brother Jake went there
soon after | did. No, it was on ac
cunt of this" taking a small slip OF
PAPER from his pocket and handing
t to her. Jake takes the home pa
per, and sometimes | look it over
Last week l happened to see this
item. Read it,"
She did so, mechanically.
I'VE understand that our esteemed
fellow-townsman, Paul Hackctt, has
obtained a lucrative position in the
city, and that he will soon depart
for the scene of his future labOrs
This will leave his sister, Miss Cor
della. to keep house alone"
Il don't see much in that" she said
as she handed back the paper.
well, l do. Anyhow, it brought
me here" His voice had suddenly
grown eager. and her gaze fell be-
meath his, while her face began &c
flush. Listen, Cordelia. When
was returning that night, after | had
gone home with Sadie Adams, | met
Ed Purcell. l felt more like pitching
him into the bushes than talking, but
the fellow was so friendly and soft
spoken that l was obliged to stop
through mere civility. He spoke
then told me that you and he were
engaged. | never liked the scamp
but / didn't suppose he would tell a
lie. The next day | started west"
Cordelia was standing now, her face
flushed and her eyes blazing.
Engaged to Ed PURCELL she
gasped oh, Tom. you didn't be.
lieve that"
"How could | help it," he an
swered, grimly, repeating her words
of a few minutes before. 81 didn't
suppose he would tell story" Then
all the anger and grimness left his
face, and as he held out his arms
the tenderness of - years repression
came TREMENDOUSLY into his voice. "Cor'
della, darling, will you go back with
me?"
She made shy step forward, then
hesitated
"rhere's John and the children
she said.
Bother John and the children
He's well to do and can find some
body else to look after them. VIII
you Gomez"
The flush grew deeper on her face
but her voice was clear and firm as
she answered.:
Eyes, Tom"
Feast for village.
In the PyrepeeS mountains the