Canyon City news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1903-1908, 1904-03-25

son. SAID they couin never pe rUILah-
tic lovers or some such argument.
Couldn't love him because size had
known him all her life. Thought 1t
was easier to love a stranger, sup
pose. who could bamboozle her"
"And so II was broken OFF,
"rhere was nothing to break off
They were never engaged. She sim
ply refused him. They are friendly
when they meet-coolly So What could
I do? She had to have her own way"
"A prosac friendship such as that Is
not dangerous" said the prince. Have
| your permission to enter the list?'
"My permission is worthless You
can ask Frances II you like. but it
won't do bit of good. You are too
rich. and Frances has peculiar notions"
"There Is some one in whom your
daughter is much interested. and per.
haps you have not heard, 1t is my duty
to inform you. although | myself do
not attach much importance to the
thing. There Is a blacksmlth"-
"Oh the blacksmith of PERM ex-
claimed Gordon, with slight coldness
In his voice. as though he did not relish
having the story told him by the prince.
81 am fully aware Of oil that"
"DOes Frances-does your daughter
love that man."
Goodness, no! She is interested. she
likes him and is trying to help him"
"Through pity. suppose, and pity
soon leads to love-"
"Well." said Gordon. laughing, "if 1t
does in this case neither you nor can
prevent it, am sure, however, the
girl is fancy free, and, as for him, he
is too simple and sensible to look upon
their friendship as more than ordinary.
They met in this way: When the road
was crossing into Tobolsk. | wanted
some peculiar ironwork done, and she
went with me. The stature and strength
and the handsome face of the young
ironworkcr pleased her. and she talked
with him. She saw that he was
magnificent specimen Of a man and fit
ted by nature to adorn higher station.
She is trying to assist him in improv-
Ing himself"
you take this very coolly." said the
prince. But, being Russian. perhaps
our customs are so different that this
free intercourse between girl like
your daughter and II mere ironworker
seems more to me than to you. Then
you assure me there Is nothing more
than mere friendship between these
two"
"No, do not assure you Of anything
Of the kind. | do not know. | think,
though. If there was Frances would tell
me- If there Is she will have her way;
II there Is not. the same"
"But II this blacksmith asked her to
marry him would you consent?"
I'D have to-"
"Do you consider such a thing prob
able?'
"Princc. | know as little about 1t as
you do. There was only one man-Jack
Denton-that wanted for son-in-
law. and she won't have him. Now. ]
know little about her plans. II she has
any. She might fall In love with you.
in which case could not prevent her
marrying you. If she does not fall in
love with you. | could not compel her
to marry you II I would"
81 am pleased at your candor." re-
piled the prince. II shall soon have an
opportunity TO speak 10 her myself l
trust that this conversation will not In
terrupt our friendship"
Nonsense! appreciate the honor
you have done my girl. But unless she
loves you your case is hopeless"
The prince bowed and took his depar-
ture and Gordon. laughing. turned into
the hotel
"I'll have to tell her." he said. Then.
with a sudden resolve: NO. won't
either. need rho friendship Of tie