The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-04-25

her brown eyes. no one knows how
good and generous he has been TO
| Jessie and his mother"
They were standing at the moment
in the corner of the library farthest
from the doorway. The front win
dows opened 90 the north, giving .
fine view Of the rolling hills rising
higher and higher and looking down
upon the grass-grown slopes spread
out mt their feet, criss-crossed and
trnverscd by hard-bcaten roads and
trails. Immediately In front of the
house Folsom had seeded and watcrcd
and coaxcd into scmblnncc Of lawn
the best turf TO be had in that Sec
tion of Wyoming, and inclosed 10 In
q spick and span white picket fence.
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 rushing
| stream, once rich in trout. but now
much infested by the mules from Bur-
leigh's corral, which lay half mile
away to the southeast, out of sight
of Folsom's house except from the up
per windows. Eager to stock the IL
brary with standard works against
his daughters coming, the old trader
had consulted friend among the off,
GERS and had sent lavish order TO
house In Chicago. Books, therefore,
were there n plenty on the handsome
shelves. and they were not ill.chosen
either. but ~ was Mrs. Fletcher who
pointed out how stiT and angular
everything looked, who introduced the
easy lounge, the soft rugs, the heavy
hanging portiercs OF costly Navajo
blankets. II was her deft touch that
drapcd the curtains Mt the windows
and softencd and bcautificd the lines
the hand Of man would have left
crude and rcpellent. And that IL
brary had been her favoritc 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 n short letter to
her mother. Maj. Burleigh was TO
come at 10:3o to drive them out 10
Pinnacle Butte, n sharp, rocky height
far across the valley, from the sum-
init Of which wonderful view was
to be obtained. IL lacked but five
minutes Of the time and suddenly
AIRS. Flctchcr's voice was heard on the
floor above. IL was n wcll-modulated
voice. gentle and controlled, with a
clear, vibrant ring In II that made the
words distinctly audible to the hear
crs below.
THE majors carriage is coming up
the street, Miss Dean. There are two
officers"
"Two." exclaimed jess, Starting 10
her feet, thinking only Of her brother.
"Oh! I wonder If" And then they
heard her go pit-n-pat through the hall
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. "l'll go out to
meet .hcm, Elinor-ill--i'll talk 10 you
more about this some other time. You
don't care to go en- this ride this morn
ming one bit, do you, dear?' he added,
uneasily.
"No, father; frankly, ] don't-but he
has been polite to you and attentive
To us. There's no help for IT,"
And so Folsom went alone 10 the
door TO meet his visitors on the porch
without, and did not hear, did not see
Mrs. Fletcher, who came hastily Down
the stairs, her face singularly pale,
glitter OF excitement In her eyes. On
tiptoe she hastened along the broad
hall, reaching the library door just as
Folsom stepped out on the porch. On
tiptoc she dartcd in, closed the door be-
hind her, almost rushed TO the north
window, and there grasping the cur
tain she crouched, needless of the posi-
bility OF observation. and for half n
minute clung and crouched and stared.
Then, as Folsom's genial, powerful
voice was heard In welcoming accents,
and heavy footsteps came along the
broad board walk, the woman straight.
ened suddenly and, noisc!css us before.
hurried back across the room and came
face to face with the daughter Of the
house.
"Oh. Miss Folsom!" she fa!tercd, her
bosom hcaying in violent agitation. II
did not know you were here. l--eScuse
me" and hastcned out of the room and
up the winding stairs.