The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-11-21

soothed by wife fitted to him. With
his modest capital he became a con-
tractor on railway then being driven
through the granite heart of the land
southwestward. His knowledge of the
language and of the people aided him.
With increased resurces, he settled to
coffee planting. Still in the first flush
of his good fortune he had not known
a moment of regret.
Upon plateau which, from a height
OF five hundred feet overlooks the
waves of the Gulf, he built his home.
Tall trees surround it and about it
brilliant tropic flowers bloom ever,
alive the day long with birds not less
gorgeous than themselves. Swept by
the breezes of the sea that sing MUIR
murously through the foliage, it knows
not extremes Of heat or cold. It is
far away that scarcely an echo of the
worlds turmoil reaches it, yet mile
distant, runs the railway he assisted
to build and the morning paper is laid
upon his table. If people knew of hiu
single lapse froE strict morality, they
would be apt to say that fortune has
been too good to him, for people in
general distinctly lack charity and are
oAessed by the belief that fortune is
too good to every one except them
selves. 1t is plain that his wife does
not think so, as she smiles at him
across the snowy cloth, while the
morning wind, soft as an infants kiss,
pours through the window. 1t is plain
that Jocosa does not think so. glanc-
ing in now and then from a ham
mock swung on the balcony. Jocosa
is busily endeavoring to absorb more
of The reading" With laugh of en-
joyment he reads from letter,
brought by the small Mexican boy on
the small Mexican pony from the rail-
way station just after daylight:
BALCONIES Rancho, Texas, U. S. A.,
March 20. 1S-
My Dear Weston and My Dear Lois:
Il sold cow yesterday and, being
provided with means, l will be with
you almost as soon as you get this.
The rancho is here yet and is un-
changed. You may have seen in the
papers an account of Maude's death,
He was killed in gambling den in
San Antonio three months back. His
had been hard life, poor devil, and
am not one to judge him. Vavara,
captured not long ago by the Mexican
authorities and being promptly tried,
has returned as convict to the army
in which he was, I think, an officer.
IT ever you see him buy him a pair of
shoes and package of cigaritos for
old sake's sake. The English are still
endeavoring to make money playing
POLO. l am tired of this place. For.
why? We have new governess from
place she calls Moo Yawk. She has
said that she loves me as sister. Bob
Harding has been here three times
within a fortnight and has had no
mind to do anything, except spoon.
remember with wonder that there was
a time when l liked Harding. Mr..
Glynn is we'll and "Palomita" is much
stronger. 'Toddy," I regret to say,
has returned to his evil courses and we
looked for thirty-six hours recently
before we found ''Miggs" curled under
cactus with a ratler, also asleep,
w4.hin yard of him. This is al due
to Harding and the new governess.
From the time of your fitting until
last night Mrs. Glynn has not men
toned your names. At dinner, how
ever, she laid down her knife and
fork, looked at each of us in turn and
said deliberately: ut was charming
ly romantic affair, don't you know.
shall write novel about it." We
knew what she meant and Lascellas
who was always an ill-mannered pig.
choked himself with bread to keep
from shouting. Until l see you again!
Affectionately, ALLYN"
THE END.