The Washington times., 1903-02-01

OF budding womanhood, was clad IN a
gown Of some soft material. which ad-
mfrabIy outlined its deHcateIy taper
ing curves But Stanley wished she
would speak; he was not at all pleased
with his own position.
Il am glad you stopped me" she
said at last. in a faltering tone.
Exactly! So. I presume, is the man
who appeared to have business in the
next county" Stanley observed, dryly-
But the tone and words apparently
fell on deaf ears. The agitation she
was undergoing inwardly had deadened
all sense of outward perception.
I should certainly have hit him" she
added as if no interruption had oe-
CURED. for I'm an excellent shot"
An obsolete accomplishment" Stan
ley returned in the same dry tone as
before. When was a boy we rather
admired q man who bowIed over two or
three Of his neighbors before break
fast; but such pIeasantries nowadays
entail stone-wan discomforts and grid
iron attire However" he added, with
a glance at the open country through
which they were now passing, won't
you tell me your name aud where you
would you like to go?"
This line, and presumably at the
mention of their destination. a wave of
color swept across the young girls fea-
lures Her dull. distracted expression
broke like a shattered mirror. Sinking
into a corner of the carriage, she bu-
ried her face in the cushions
MY name is Marie Arguello, and the
driver is taking US home" she sobbed
passioaately; but my mother! oh, my
poor mother"
/ At the name Stanley raised his brows-
Then he leaned back with an impene-
trable face Nevertheless, beneath his
apathetic exterior, he pitied her sin
cereIy. There was but one cause to
which he could attribute her rash act,
and his sympathy had always been with
those OF her sex who were driven to
/ desperation by faithIess man.
4 must-I will tell you" she broke
out again. "Oh, my poor mother"
Stanley shuddered. Such an explain
alton he considered wholly superauous.
He anticipated tale which, for him,
had long since been robbed of its nov
city by the police courts and news
papers Almost at her first coherent
sentence. however, he stopped her with
a gesture. Her narrative from is very
! beginning was assuming character
vastly dfssimiIar 10 that expected
zone moment" he interposed in a
matter-of-fact tone. Let Us proceed
coolly First, who was the man, and
why did you think it necessary to shoot
him."
Because he has robbed my mother
of her home-of the very roof which
sheltered her head the young girl re-
turned, with something of the same pas
sionate energy which she had previously
exhibited.
Stanley uttered an expressive Ali
but it was UNDECIDED. Launched upon
the recital of her mothers wrongs. the
young girls agitation vanished, and she
appeared. for the moment, &c lose all
sense OF her own predicament
The man. one Charles Danton, had
not actually taken possession Of her
mothers home. but. as shown by the
tale unfoIded, there was every. probable
ity that he would soon be able to do
so. The place in questfon-comDrfsin
some 500 acres of land and an ancient
adobe residence which had been erected
in years long past-was located on the
shores Of the lake toward which Stan
ley's gaze had first wandered when
alfghting from the train. Heretofore 1t
had been considered Of little value, but
with the advent of the boom spectators
innumerable had sought to purchase II.
To everyone, however. had the same an
swer been given: 1T Is not for sale"
By all except Danton this reply had
been accepted. but at it he had waxed
wroth. had given vent to language IN
becoming a gentleman. and mad at Last
been elected from the house and for
hidden 10 return. At this StanIey's eyes
flashed ominously. BY no means. how
ever. had Danton abandoned his efforts
Failing by fair means, he had resorted
to fouI-or. rather. to business methods
Ply connivance with INSCRIPTIONS
officials he had induced the authorities
Of the city to construct a road about the
lake. to regrade and almost rebuild The
one leading from the city. and set aside
large appropriation to be expended
upon the lake itself
Not" the girl fnterpoIated. almost
ferceIy. because such improvements
are needed. but because my mother viii