Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-09-17

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CHAPTER III.-CcOntinued)

" WAS uhinstened from Within, and prel-
" Rose Lamonte opened Il wide, utter
Ing joyful exclamation as she met the
newcomer.
Dear fathcrF' she cried. gladly, "why
did yon not come beforel / was begin.
ming 10 be- alarmed" And she threw her
arms about bis neck.
Take care" he said. kissing her gent.
ly; you will get wet; my clothes are
none Of th dryest. ! came home as soon
as could, for the rain"
Poor papa! yes--you are quite wet.
II IL pItyp And with her hand Ia his.
she was drawing him Ia, when her glance
fell, for the first time, on the figure Of
the man behind him. She half started,
and slight frown was visible upon her
pretty face, but she quickly dispelled 1t,
and, noddlng carelessly, said. "Good
evening, Gasparde.'
The man closed the door, and then fol.
lowing them, seated himself on a wooden
bench by the hearth; while Hugh La
monte. putting OF his heavy hobnailcd
shoes. took them In his hand, and cross.
cd the kitchen floor carefully, saying,
with slight gesture, 20 Gasparde, as he
passed through the door on the other side
Of the apartment: "Walt awhile, Gas
parde-walt awhile, and | will be with
you again"
Rose put away her wheel. swept up q
few dead ashes lying on the hearth. and
then busied herself about her fathers
supper. without once speaking TO or In
any way noticing the guest. He, how.
ever, eyed her from time 10 time, as she
moved about the room, with glance
which she evidently felt. rather than saw,
to be fixed upon her, and which she as
apparently studied to avoid. After some
ten minutes OF utter silence. finding that
she was determined not TO speak, he
opened the conversation on his own re-
sponslbillty.
well. Rose, you are silent tonight.
You are III, perhaps7"
MOL am not Ill.," she answered, cold.
lY.
"Yon are not glad, then, to see meT' he
continued.
II did not say So" she replied, without
looking at him.
"You will say nothing, Rose. that Is
pleasant aud kind. Come, you might give
me friendly word when l have walked
such long way tonight"
Il did not give sou the trouble. IL IL
ls q trouble"
Il came partly for the sake Of being
company TO your father-that he can tell
you" said Gasparde.
The pretty lip of Rose slightly curled.
Her father need company!--a stout, bold,
sturdy peasant, who was afraid of moth
Ing human, and who, she very well
knew. passed through the forest every
time he went to market, aud often re-
turned after nightfall, too. "A probable
story" thought the young girl. ''He only
says 1t for the sake Of appearing amia-
ble."
"And So" she said, aloud, glancing, at
the same time, at the strange adorn-
ments which he were at his waist-"and
80, as my father was not able to take
care of himself" She paused a mo-
ment. He had not seen the quick glance
which she cast ut his belt as she spoke,
and standing an instant with her eyes
fixed on his face, In silence, she sudden
ly said: "What are your pistols for?"
He started, and put his hand to them,
remembering with CONSERVATION that he
had forgotten to conceal them before en-
tering. Recovering himself, however, ho
answered, putting on careless look:
20, these are arms that brought ON
purpose tonight; for you know 1t Is
much later hour than the one at which
your father usually returns, and they
would be good for both of us to have, as
we were coming through the forest, in
case Of danger"
Rose gave shrug, too slight for him
to notice. As she did not once attempt
to break the pause which he allowed to
follow his words. by Offering him the
least encouragement to proceed, he mus
tered audacity without.
II have been thinking for long time"
he went on, that 1t Is very lonely living
without wife, and as am an honest
fellow, likely to make my way in the
world, though, perhaps, am not so hand
some man as a pretty maiden might
choose, yet know, cousin, that you are
too sensible a girl to refuse good hus.
band on that account, and will, perhaps,
think reasonably of the affair. Win you
marry me, Roser"
mo, Gasparde, viii not" she replied;
"and I wonder you ever presumed to
think Of such a thing"
20, you are jesting, cousin-you are
jesting, surely" he said do but consid-
er the matter. Come, will make you a
good husband, as said before, though
think 1t hardly ought to be repeated"
Hardly, indeed" she returned, slight
ingly, twisting his last words to suit her
own fancy. "But for all that, Gasparde,
/ never win marry you, and you need not
ask me again."
And, quite wearied with his pertinacity
indeed, with the very sound of his
went out and shut herself in
her own room till he should be gone. She
had but just retired when Hugh Lamonte
re-entered, bearing a small basket, which
he gave to Gasparde.
"These are the things" he said. "But,
Gasparde-those pistols In your belt?"
and his glance rested upon them uneasily;
1--WE forgot them. Did Rose notice
themW
Eyes; but I smoothed 1t all. She thinks,
/ suppose, am a great coward. made
up grand story Of being afraid in the
forest. Well, no matter. All the better
isn't 1t, captain2
"She Is as well not to know"
"Well, am going, captain. Shall you
be at the rendezvous tomorrow nlghtT
Hush! do not speak loud. | cannot
tell. It Is probable, though. Good night"
And he closed and barred the door be-
hind Gasparde. And returning to the
kitchen, he sank into seat, with bitter
sigh.
20. for vonr sake. nv poor. innocent