The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-02
CHAPTER VII-COntinued.

CHAPTER V1I-COnttnued.
Harkless usually ate his breakfast alone,
rs he was the latest riser in Plattville (There
were days in the winter when he did not
reach the hotel until 8 oclock.) This morn
ing he found bunch of white roses still
wet with dew and so fragrant that the whole
room was fresh and sweet with their odor
prettily arranged in bowl on the table, and,
at his plate, the largest OF all with pin
through the stem. He looked up, smilingly,
and nodded at the red-haired girl. THANK
you, Charmion.' he said. That's very
pretty
She turned even redder than she always
was, and answered nothing, vigorously dart
ing her brush at imaginary fly on the
cloth. After several minutes she said
abruptly, You're welcome"
There was a silence, finally broken by a
long, gasping sigh. Astonished, he looked at
the girl. Her eyes were set unfathomaply
upon his pink tie; the wand hao dropped
from her nerveIess hand, and she stood rapt
and immovable. She started violently from
her trance. "Ain't you goin' to finish your
ooffee?" she asked, plying her instrument
again, and bending over him slightly, whls-
pered: Say, Eph Watts is over there behind
you.''
At a table In far corner OF the room
large gentleman in brown frock coat was
quietly eating his breakfast and reading the
Herald He was OF an ornate presence,
though entirely neat. A sumptuous expanse
of linen exhibited itself between the lapels
OF his low-cut waistcoat, and an inch of
bediamonded breastpin glittered there, like
an ice-ledge on snowy mountain side. He
had steady, blue eye, and a dissipated.
1ron-gray mustache. This parsonage was Mr..
Ephraim Watts, who, following calling more
fashionable in the eighteenth century than in
the latter decades Of the nineteenth, had
shaken the dust Of Carlow from his feet
some three years previously, at the strong
request Of the authorities. The Herald had
been particularly insstent upon his deporta-
ton, and. in the local phrase, Harkless had
run him out Of town" Perhaps 1t was be-
cause the Herald's opposition (as the editor
explained at the time) had been merely moral
and impersonal. and the editor had always
confessed to a liking for the unprofesstonal
qualities Of Mr. Watts, that there was but
slight embarrassment when the two gentle
men met to-day. His breakfast finished,
Harkless went over to the other and extended
his hand. Cynthia held her breath and
clutched the back Of a chair However, Mr..
Watts made no motion toward his well-known
hip pocket. Instead, he rose, flushed slight
ly, and accepted the hand offered him.
I'm glad to see you. Mr. Watts" said the
Journalist, cordially. ALSO, If you are run
ming with the circus and calculate on doing
business here to-day, I'll have to see that
are your You're looking extremely WELL
"Mr. Harkless," answered Watts, II
cherish no hard feelings. and never said but
what you done exactly right when left,
three years ago. No, sir; I'm not here In a
professional way at all, and don't want to
be molested- I've connected myself with an
oil company, and I'm down here to look over
the ground. 1t beats poker and fan-tan hol-
low. though there amt many chances in
favor Of the dealer, and in oil it's the farmer
that gets the rake-off. I've como back, but
In an enterprising spirit this time. to open up
now field and shed light and money in Car
low. They told me never to show my face
here again, but il you say stay, guess ]
stay always was sure there was oil in the
county, and want to prove 1T for everybody s
benefit. Is 1t all right?"
my dear fellow" laughed the young man,
shaking the gamblers hand again, ut is all
right. I have always been sorry L had to act
against you. Everything Is all right! Stay
and bore to Korea II you like. Did ever you
zee such glorious weather?'
I'll let you in on some shares. Watts
called after him as no turned away. He nod
ded in reply and was leaving the room wher
Cynthia detained him by flourish of the
hy-brush. Say" she said-she always called
him "Say"-"You've forgot your dover"
He came back and thanked her. "Will yol
pin 1t on for me. Charmion?"
''I don't know what call you got to speal
to me out of my name" she responded, look
ing at the floor Jncodily.
"Why?" he asked, surprised.
II don't see why you want to make fun 0
me-"
Il beg your pardon, Cynthia" he said
xravely. IT didn't mean to do that. ] haven
been considerate. I didn't think you'd b.
dlspleased. I'm very sorry. Won't you PHI
1t on my coat?'
Her face was lifted In grateful pleasure. an
she began to pin the rose to his lapel. He
hands were large and red. and trembled Sh
dropped the flower, and, saying huskily. .
don't know as could do 1t right" seize
violently upon O pile OF dishes and hurri
from the room.
Harkless rescued the rose pinned 1t on hi
coat himself, and, observing internally, fo
the hundredth time, that the red-haired wait
resi- was the queerest creature In the village
set forth gayly upon his holiday.
When he reached the brick house on tn
pike he discovered a gentleman sunk in a
easy and contemplative attitude IL a big chai
behind the veranda railing. At the click {
the gate ths lounger rose and disclosed tn
stalwart figure and brown, smiling, handsom
face Of Mr. Lge Willetts, an habitual devote
OF Minnie Briscoe, and the most eligible bach
slor OF Carlow. '"The ladies will be dow
right off," he said, greeting the editors finer
with a perceptible agitation and the edite
himself with friendly shake OF the han'
"Mildy says to wait out here"
But Immediately there was taint rustlir
within the house; the swish of draperies c
the stairs. q delicious whispering when ligl
feet descend, tapping, to hearts that beat q
answer, the telegraphic message, 1--WE com
We come. We are near! We are near!
Lge willetts stared at Harkless. He hs
never thought the latter good-looking un1
he saw him step to the door to take Mi
Sherwood's hand and say In a strange, lo'
tense voice, GOOD morning" as If he we
announcing at the least: Every one IN tt
world except us two died last night. It is
solemn thing, but am very happy
They walked, Minnie and Mr.. Willetts II
tie distance In front OF the others. Harkle
could not have told, afterward. whether tn
rode, or walked, or foated on an airship
the courthouse. All he knew distinctly w
that a divinity in pink shirt waist. and
hat that was woven Of gauzy cloud by moe
.ng fairies to make him stoop hideously to 8
under h, dwelt for the time on earth al
was at his side, dazzling him in the mornll
sunshine. Last night the moon had lent
0 silvery glamour: she had something OF t
ethereal Wilderness OF night-dews in that "
tory light d nymph to laugh from a spar
ling fountain at the noon or, as he though
rem nembering her courtesy for his pret
speech, perhaps q little lady of King Lou
court, wandering down the years from Fo
tainebleau and appearing to clumsy mort'
sometimes, of a June night when the mo
was in their heads