The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1904-07-23
THE HEIRESS OF
YELLOW FLATS

Ihc Interstate limited had rumbled
along for the last hour ami half across
brown, level plains, whose hopeless HON
o1n,ne .tyof landscape was only OCCASION
ally relieved by clumpS of detected and
no less hopeless cotton woods. Present
IN the whistle footed hVaI>ely. There
MAS II grinding of set brakes. ami tn"
grain slowed Down and came To Il stop
before II bare little station. II dcrelict
seemingly in this level waste.
Tancred rose rather unwillingly from
his comfortable chair and proceeded by
the obsie1uiouS porter bearing his heavy
sSnit case. stepped from the limited Oh T."
the uneven board platform of Yellow
i1lat station He looked about him, and
his heart sank. The porter beside him
seemed to have the representative OF II
civilization THAT world depart when the
Emitedpulled out. SO Tantled gave the
porter a half dollar and stood watching
thc receding train with II feeling that he
aid been marooned.
There was one consolation, however.
He could finish up the business which
bad brought him thither in a day or
two and quit this dcsoation. \ week of
This flat nothingmSs he felt would drv"
him mad. He sught the STATION agent
and inquired of him the best way to
reach Tapey's ranch. he agent hail"d
n nondcscript individual addressed as
jock. who was lOifing on the benches.
and asked him what he could do for this
gentleman. who warted to get to Tap
lcy'S.
Odd man Taplcy mt the IN z" said
Jock. &" Sure Drop YOU there or my
way to the Crescent" He led the way
10 81 vehicle outside, half wagon, half
bnckboard. Hop in," he said hospital
bly,.
Jock clucked to his team. and they
inltcd over the brown plains behind "A
pair of piebald ponies whose chief ac-
GompliShmcnt seemed to lie in whsk-
ing their tails owe the lines and run
ming like mad. jock WAS n~t loquaci"'Is'
and Tancred was in Tomood to talk.
Frankly he wished the thing WIS over
,ind that he was starting back cast.
He fell to wondering what sort Of II
girl this niece of Tuplcy'S WAS like.
Probably She was old andmore orle>S Of
a, barbarian or perhaps She was the sort
who would say. "Oh amt that lovely.'
when he told her his late client, the Hon,
Peter Chisholm had left her a fortune
that had becn the envy of many Srhcm-
ing women in the cycle of the ummnr-
licd Peters acquaintance. Jock here
beside him could probably rmliglnrm him
nS t" Miss Parsons Int it was scarcely
worth while. She was some quite i'm
possible person. mo doubt. He handed
Jock IL cigar anh put the whole thing
frvmhS mind.
1t was gray twilight when they drove
M to the ranch house at the IN. Tam
cr"I aIightcd and waS warmly wei
coined by Tapley.
Il don't care ~ snap "f my fingers,
what business it is THAT has brought
YOU" he said to Taucred. YOU'RE to
Stay juStas long as You cam stand it
withus. and Il little longer if You have
any charity for isolated old chaps like
myself hra ddcd hospitality. "A man
III touch with things in the oaSt is Il
God>rnl. sir. Supper will be ready,
shortly. ana meanwhile Gcrtlmde shall
give You some tea. Pardon me II mo-
mcrt and I'll hunt her NJ"
The room they hard entered evidently
served us library. Books lined the
wallis tempting chairs offered their com
fort, skin rugs covered the polished floor.
Ii was quiet ind in excellent TASTE. Tan
crrd'> miSgivug> about the lady wrr"
somewhat miti"atpd.
At that moment Tapley returned.
Mr.. Tancrrd.." he said. permit me
10 present the lady whose business
brought YOU here, my niece, Miss Par
SONS"
Tancred bowed and murnurcd his
greetings somewhat incohrrertly, for
surprise had tied his tongue. Had he
met her on Broadway he would have
looked mt her more than once. hut find
ing such IA girl at yellow Flat fairly
took away his breath.
Wont you let me take away the bad
taste of your ride with some tey' >h"
asked solicitolSly.
Tancrcl acuuicsccd heartily und seat
cdhimse If near the dainty tea table
where she WAS busyng herself
"Twemty he told himself mell-
tally, &" and the finest eyes in America"
In that half hour at the tea table
Tancred fell in love, and. having fallen
in love. the object of his coming here
intludcd itself like a Black cloud in the
fair Sky of his happiness. This girl
was an heiirNs 1t was this he had
come to tell her And Tancred, albeit
II strudy young lawyer. was by no
m.lus wealthy. He >u3!,nty resolved
10 icy III" ln'luHH - main Ill the bafk-
grnundior 81 week at least. He would
be unrrScrvr'lly happy for that time
and them-"Sullicirrt unto the day is
the evil thereof" he told himself.
Cousin Peter cou!In' have left mt
much.' said Miss p#l.n!r.
NO" said Tmnrlrd. rlrlyins ont hi
resolution. I'll 60 oytr the papers care
fully. and I'M week., time think
can tell you the cX;Irt mount"
\ week wcIt by--twl wceks-multh
Still the exact amount of Cousin Peter,
legacy waS not vOuchtufrd 10 Miss Par
sous. She seemed to have found /; rich
cr legacy in her rides with Taucrec
Wcrosss the brown plains and her talk,