Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-07-27
YOUNG ATHERLEY'S LUCK.

The morning sun lay warm and clear
after the rain of the night before, and
young Atherley, as his horse loped easily
along the wide range, sang aloud Tor
very Joy of light heartedness. Out here,
away from cities and crowds, how good
life was.
The train was in, and -AtheIley hur
red around the corner. then halted sud
denly. dazzled by the vision which con
frOnted him. On the lower steps of Il
car near the middle of the train stood
a girl, her fair hair blowing in the wind,
her hands full of pink roses. her eyes
gazing straight into his. For Il second
neither moved. Then. as a voice from
within called Marion, the girl, with
a quick flush, turned up the steps, and
Atherley, stricken with the conscious
ness OF his dusty chaps" huge spurs
and sonbrero, slipped back. He had
quite forgotten his letter. The engine
gave a preliminary snort, the conductor
yelled ~All aboard!" but Atherley still
stood motionless, his eyes fixed on the
ctr wherein she had disappeared. As the
slow length of train began to move the
Girl Slipped back to the platform for q
moment. and on the ground. almost at
Atllcrley's feet, fell a pink rose. TO
spring forward, seize the flower. then
swing aboard the last car as it passed
was to Atherley but the work of an
other moment Before he had fairly
realized it he was on the train and speed
ING eastward as fast as steam could car
~ him.
Practical thoughts forced way, and
his first act Was to take account Of stock.
Jim viii take the horse back he rea-
eoned. Its all right Luckily l have
Just about enough for my ticket to New
York" Somehow he had decided that
she lived in New York. And as for
meals. Well, WHO knows what may turn
up:" with cheerful optimism.
At the next stop he sneaked forward
to the smoking car and sat down TO
thi1K things over She was certainly a
mighty pretty girl Atherley, feeling
Tor the rose hidden in his breast pocket,
concluded that he would probably not
regret his action.
But Eve got to get busy on the food
question.
There were three or four other men
in tie ear the younger ones chatting to-
gethef, and another, rather older, read
ing In a corner. All eyed him curiously,
and Atherley had an inspiration. If ne
worked them right, amused them, told
them queer experiences, they might sup
ply him with food and drink, and as for
cigars, WELL he must husband those lie
had carefully. In pursuance of this idea
he moved nearer, and soon held the group
ellihralled with lis breezy frankncss.
so You really just jumped on the
train and came" asked an older man at
I J
his talk and moved away, 'and for no
other reason than that YOU wanted to
see the world?" Atkerton laughed ra-
Their shameface6ly.
That's what l told those fellows. But
1 don't mind telling you the truth. 1t
vast was on account of 2, girl" he
said, haltingiy. The older mans lips
twitehed.
"A girl! How so?'
Il saw her on the car STEP" confessed
Atherley ''And--and L liked her. he
ended lanely, not even to himself did
he care to mention the rose. Il won
der if YOU have seen her? he added,
eagerly. "She had on some kind of a
blue skirt, with white waist, and car
ried some roses. They called her
| 'Marion'"
-A1arion1'' he exclaimed, why, that's
my daughter unthinkingly. Then he
stopped, rather annoyed A young ranch
man, no matter how charming and gen
tle1nanly, was hardly a person to be pre-
sented to the carefully guarded Marion.
But Atherley was too absorbed to notice
the hesitation.
'Your daughter!" he cried Really
your daughter, oh, | say; what luck!
That will save me an awful lot of time
and trouble. I expected the deuce of a
Job IN locating her. Though I knew
that ] should do it in the end" he added
confidently. do you mind telling NE
your name|'
My name?" divided between indigna-
ton and niTth Il am James Arbuth-
not he declared rather pompously. But
Atherley was clearly umimpressed
Better and BETTER" he cried Il al
ways was a lucky DEVIL joyously The
older man leaned back and stared at hin
My dear young man, began he in
his most formal manner, Il think we
must understand each other | certain
| ly fail to see where the luck comes in"
Atherley, starting in his turn, became
suddenly enlightened.
"Of course. You mean that you don't
know me- he cried. "Oh, that's all
right easily. AI've heard dad speak
of You hundreds of times. I'm Billy
Atherley. and I've just been out looking
up some properties in the vest
The older mans brow cleared somehow
Not William FL Atherley's SOM"
-Atherley nodded
THE same. So now won't you intro
duce me to your daughter" wistfully
1t would save such a lot of time
Arbuthnot, his gray eyes twinkling
looked at the young fellow quizzically.
If you are much like your father, and
| think you are, you would be hardly apt
to wait long for my services he re
marked loosely. Come along, then
All ask of you is please not to get mar
ried before we reach New York" The
tone strove to be stern, but young Ather-
ley laughed happily.
Il make no PROMISES he declared with
gay defiance. ooh, here hold on a mo-