Evening journal., 1903-09-03

in love with that girl. Bat your ro-
nance is all over. lie married her at
last?"
"Why do you say at lastl"
"Oh there was some sort of a family
row. She had another brother, who was
opposed to the match. So was her
mother. But Peter was never thwarted
in his life"
"Ohl yes, he was once-Hilda Hunter,
you know?"
Il forgot that. But really, I don't
think | ever heard of just such another
fellow as my foster brother. He was rs
kind and gentle as a woman, generally.
he was lion. That's the kind OF boy
he was. and. of course. as man. he mas
grown worse, | suppose"
Better, should say. ] believe IN hon
men. You are one of them, Dan"
"A sort of pet lion? Eh, honey2 Well,
all right, Madame Leo iiilda Hunter,
you shall see the other lion soon
won't it be great, DanY
'Wel, 1 should say After a few
months we shall all 60 to Kentucky-an
three of us"
Dan smiled and Helen blushed through
her smiles
Dear old DAM" and her arms were
about his neck
He held her away directly. and while
the wealth Of his love bcamed from his
black eyes, he said;
won't they be proud Of you, thought
And l will have so much to do, TO even
up for years of almost neglect. Poor old
pap is lonesome since mother went over
yonder. He will be glad to see MS all l
am going TO fiX him all right-and~eVer
so many more And Wen have the hap
piest home in Kentucky, honey"
There was much of this in Dams Den
yer home. He was n very busy man, too,
with interests that'h Con. Nirginia-had
brought him. and the Maverick, that was
one of the best paying mines in the
mountains. But Sep had immediate
charge of that.
So the summer wore along, and the
autumn came in its still and soft and
gentle way, The snow reached furthel
down the sides of ihc great peaks, the
Titan monarchs that showed their white
heads and ermined shoulders along thC
rocky range There was deeper pmple
&. in the draping of their hassocks, the
foothills, and the gray carpet of the
plains gave sharper contrast To the dark
shadows Of the flying clouds that chased
across the sufacc.M -. l.f
On one of the October days there -oams
deep seriousness about the pretty cot
tage home of Dan 1aber The servant:
looked wise and eXpectant, and were
very quiet. DR.. Bland came early in The
evening in his close brougham, and Tho
boy who drove was sent back with the
vehicle and without definite orders to re
turn A professional nurse had come
earlier in the day, and was being obeye'
by the servants as though she were Z
queen. But she was remarkably respect
full TO Mrs. Zimmerman and Mrs Mus
sey, two motherly women, neighb0rs WHIT
were there.
The doctor and Dan took tea alone
the mothers and nurse were in Helen
room, and the two men remained befor
the CRATE in the coy dningroom ant
talked together in low tones, and on sub
jects that neither was interested in
After some hoursN Mrs. Alussey cam
softly to the diningroom door and said
in almost whisper
Doctor"
The physician arose at once, and turn
ed toward the woman. From one glanc
he learned enough to make him say;
Come, Mr.. Taber."
They entered Helen's room and tn
doctor seated himself on the edge of tn
bed. Dan went to the other side an
leaned over, taking his wife's hands tina
were outstretched toward him, in hi
/ own.
Within the hour that followed ne'
life lay motionless and still. for an in
stant before him, and then the bah
opened its little mouth and Dan Tabo
experienced the strange and indiscribabl
thrill that comes to a father when h
hears the first vail Of his irst-bor
child
Helen sank into Inconsistencies an
! Mrs. Zimmerman gently led Dan froI
the room. Ie
The doctor informed him that his hei
was a healthy girl, and that the mothC
was doing as well as could be expected.
!. For some days afterward Helen an
pearcd to be getting along satisfactorily
She spoke often of her mother, who ha
been expected to visit them. but had bee
detained, first by home affairs and the
by illness, and of Carrie Berry and lt
husband and of Lucie, who had soenlht
and Dan married in December, -afts
n which the captains troop had been o.
dered to Fort Laramie.
Later Helen talked, wildly and 81
~ laughed in her wanderings. and spoke
: Sergeant Appleton and poor little Hild
= Hunter, and so9etimes she said;
y Dear old darling Dam
Dan, who was nearly always ther
! would gently smoothe the bronze hal
- and take a delicate white hand to j
lips, with;
Il am here, honey"
# A fever had set in and it did not
e away until it took with it the swel
It young wife and mother, and left ther
W half-orphaned, baby girl, and a stror
man stunned by grief that words mu
e. leave untold.
e, Mrs. Dalton came an last, but too lat
Is She came with her manly son, Barto
II a tall and handsome collegian.
A strong, vigorous, self-possessed w
man was Helen's mother, and she 30
he her grief as such woman does, with
ie fortitude that is helpful Under such q
I'd cumstanccs.
y Dan Taber accepted tho sensible Kin
liness of his mother-in-hw, ard WI
c. grateful. Barton and he became earne
and honest and quiet friends. No wo
e. of complaint, and few other words. car
from the stricken husband. He atfend
10 his business affairs punctually al
steadily. and by the middle of Novemb
was ready to 60 away. The babe and i
Is nurse, Mrs. Dalton, Barton and Da
with two other servants-a mari,
r. couple, Sue and Wash, octoroons -wei
upon a crisp, bright morning, passenge
D. on the railway train, eastward boun