The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-04-08

DloOQ OF the calm-eyeQ maiden In the
pictured idyl of Priscilla and John
Alden. Gentleness, and high breed
ing, and an idealized standard Of
purity were hers by right of birth,
one would say, since the witness of
them was written large in every line
of the sweet face and in the I'M
ashamed gaze of the steadfast eyes.
remembered the unworthy sus-
picion which Macpherson had refused
to let me set in words, and did in
slant and ample penance for it's har-
boring. Whatever might prove to be
the windings of the labyrinth in
which she seemed to be involved with
Wykamp, this honest-eyed young
woman must be held blameless in
thought, word and deed.
She made me welcome as Macpher-
sons friend with a touch of gentle
courtesy which carried me swiftly
back to time and place where the
strenuous travail-spirit of the egois-
tic west was not.
eve are not quite strangers, are
we, Mr.. Halcott?" she said, giving
me her hand in unaffected sincerity.
"Nfr. Macpherson has told me much
about you. I hope the Torolito is
helping you"
"Thank you; it is, in way-tem-
porarily, at least. But one would
need to be. very exacting invalid
not to be helped by the Torolito."
"l'm glad you like it, she re-
joined, in an upfash of gentle en-
thusiasm. "When 1 was n newcomer
used to lie awake nights listening
to the thunder of the river in the up
per canyon, and longing to be up and
out with the solemn mountains and
the stream and the soft darkness. 1t
was the Happy valley of Rasselas
over again; but they're going to spoil
it for us now.''
"The land company, you mean?"
said L; and from this the talk went
easily to the threatened metamor-
phosis. At the end of it, l said: 'sIf
1 were rich enough I should be
tempted to try to buy them off. It's
thousand pities to graft a truck
farm upon such a shapcly stock of
natures growing"
isn't it?" she said.
Macpherson was growing FESTIVE.
Don't you want to go inside and lie
down on one of the benches, Hal
colt? It'll rest you for the ride back.
You're looking a bit tagged"
smiled at his clumsy attempt to
dispose of me, and glanced at Miss
oanborn. She was evidently bracing
herself for something trying but in
eff get down shall never get up
again" said I. Nov that we're this
near, I'm going to ride on to the end
If the valley. Put me on the horse,
Angus, and wait for me; I'll pick you
Up as I come back"
He did it, with palpable gratitude;
Ind so rode on and left them.
Fifteen minutes later I repassed
he schoolhouse; and, not to mar
heir leave-talings, waved my hand
20 them and rode on down the val
ey. Macpherson overlook me in the
second half-mile, and the gloom in
lis face was absolutely portentous.
charged it to my inconsiderate
taste, and made instant amends.
GO along back to her, if you want
%; [ told you 1 could find the way
home alone"
For five full minutes he did not re-
by. Then the words came tumult-
wise.
THAT'S the heart-breaking pity of
t, Jack; [ can never go back to her.
Do you observation-disclosures. For
leaven's sake, bear with me if you
'an, old man; [ shall go mad if 1 |
lon't talk about it. She says it's all
over between us; that WEE mustn't /
meet again; that if I'm obstinate, |
rs l promised to be, she'll go as she
zane. And she wouldn't tell me why. /
God in Heaven! what have / done?"
ITS nothing you've done or left
lndone. Can't you see?-it's Wy
lamp."
Macpherson consigned the engineer
TO place from which the theolo-
5ians assure us there is no escape.
That's all right; his Creator may
send him there, but you're under |
bonds not to-
The double quartette of pounding
hoofs beat out another mile of
silence, and then he broke out again.
Damn it all, man, why don't you
say something's"
"I've been trying to think of some
thing worth saying. Let's begin at
The beginning. Here is very riddle
Of mystery with only two people
who can solve it. One of the two
won't talk; ergo, the other must be
made to. You were in Fort Cowan
the other day. May L inquire what
you did?"
81 located placer prospect Oh the
inc of the Glenlivat ditch, and made
ready to ask for an injunction if |
WylSamp runs his survey across it,"
Good! But you also asked ques-
tons. Who knows anything about
Nobody at the fort; he's from the
east"
"Who employs him?"
"The board of directors, I suppose.
He's the chief engineer of the COM |