The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1901-01-15


way the sitting-rom had been busted
that morning had Disguised him, once
and for all, with single life. The next
day he was officer of the day and
couldn't leave the post. The day after
that he had cold which he had
caught making his rounds, and it con-
fined him to the house.
AS for Chester, the way he put in
his time never did become quite clear.
But for a period of six days there was
a strange Englishman in a town some
Is miles the other side of the Halloran
ranch; some 25 miles that is, or more,
from the post. 1t was a mud town,
and its hotel was as bad as it's repu-
tation, but the Englishman stayed
there. He wore a conspicuous suit of
clothes, and spent money ostenta-
tiously. He let it be understood that
his name was Lovatt, and that he was
lord; also, that he was travelling
through the west, and might, if he
fancied the country, buy a ranch. Tt
was probably with that end in
view that he rode almost at once
] ~ DAA~ -AaAAO1 al p1uCC anu GA-
| planned to the haciendado that
he would like to be shown how
ranch was run. He met Miss Hal
loran, and her father told him that
she was engaged to lieutenant at a
neighboring post, but that a severe
cold was combining the officer to his
house. He expressed wish that
| 1nUnff rf1fcrhf
some day, and Lovatt hoped that he
would. 1t was possibly in this hope
that he called at the ranch for six sue
cessive days, but always-had he but
known it-at an hour when it was
quite unlikely that anyone 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 re-
covering from the cold, and he told
Chester that he had missed him pro-
fanely much. Everything had gone
wrong. He asked what the striker
had been doing with his time.
Chester threw an armful of wood
upon the fire, and stood up, brushing
the chips from his sleeves. "WeIl, sir"
he answered, II have been getting en-
gagged"
Strsthmore's jaw fell. That meant
that he would have to hunt up a new
striker, of course. Then he remem-
bered Mamie Pearle. That's rather
coincidence, Chester; so have l."
Chester's congratulation was re-
spectful, but not so cordial as it might
have been. 81 shall ask your permits
sion and the captains to marry, SIR"
he said.
Strathmore accorded his own. but
1 shall be sorry to lose you, Chester,
very sorry. What is the girls name ?''
Chester grew red all over his nice.
boyish face. He was finding out that
saving another is not all heroism, neces-
sarily. He produced piece of paper
from his pocket-a piece of fiimsy,
ruled, pink paper stamped with a white
dove. Strathmore gave little start.
But Chester was doing this because he
thought it 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 it. It 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. "Oh!" he repeated;
"and may 1 ask if sne knows who you
are?"
Chester grew more red still. "Well'
he reflected that an entirely honest
intent could never be prefxed by that
Yankee word-'well, sir, began by
letting her think that my name was
Lovatt-part of it really is, strand
that I was titled and ,rich-which 1 am
not-but" plucked up courage as
he went on-"if she loves me, of course
it will be all right"
Strathmore handed him back the
note. Sand if she doesn't?"
''It-it will still be all right"
Strathmore did not try to under
stand. 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
a bundle of London papers that had
just come by the stage. He cast
quick look around. 81 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
married woman, SIR"
"Yes?" said Strathmore, and turned
to leave the room.
"Oh, lieutenant!" Chester called.
Strathmore stopped. 81 thought you
might like to know, sir, that I'm not
engaged any more"
For a full half-minute Strathmore
looked into the Englishman's imper-
turbable blue eyes; then there came
twinkle in his own 1T seems to be an