Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-07-22


undeeeiYed In a momont.
My dear young lady, aren't you
ashamed of yourself to have kept me
out of your conddeneefa said the ma
jor, shaking a ponderous forehnger In
her direction.
Then Jack has told you"
"Of course he has But why on
earth did he make so much ado about
telling me2 Jack came into my office
with face as long as though he was
going TO be hung instead Of married,
and blurted out that you had promised
to marry him in much the same man
ner as though he had lost near and
dear relative"
Spicer Belle was as much taken
aback as 1t is possible for a self-pos-
sessed young lady to be, and could
only look up with a little amazement
and say:
1--WE thought thought-that is
o, major, and you are not angry at
Jack, after allT
Angry Why. my dear child, l
nearly squeezed bis hand Off congratu-
lahng him. And you can't guess what
| am going to give you two as wed
ding present"
mo, l can't"
well, Congressman Ralph has
promised that | should have the ap-
pointment of the collector and the dep
uty collector for this district"
"And you are going to make Jack
the deputy collector? Why, the salary
will be twice what he is getting now
You are a dearp
mo. | am not going to make Jack
the deputy collector. His appointment
as collector will be announced next
week"
And to think that Jack and | were
afraid-Oh. majori can't thank you
enoughp
you don't have to thank me, my
dear little girl, except by being just AZ
happy as ever you can. But tell US
what Jack and you were afraid Of
that l would think him too young tc
marry?"
Moves, that was It. You dom
think he Is too young, do you7"
"Of course don't Young mer
ought to marry just as soon as they
can support wife. Jack mead have
no fear about that, and then, yor
know, have little bit of money my
self that will go to you when I an
dead. But you can't deceive me as
you are trying to do; tell me what Il
was you were really afraid Off"
Don't ask me, major. can't tel
you. l." and here a great big blush
sped all over her cheek.
In the light of this blush under
standing seemed to come to the major
He gazed for an instant as though un
comprehending, and then he smiled
checking himself with an Unborn feaI
OF being ungallant.
"Of course, l understand, my child
so no one ever told you-Ah 1t Is pos
sible that no one ever knew. not even
sher'
KNEW what? Not even whoT ask,
ed Spicer Belle In breath.
The major had turned, and was
looking out Of the window. The smile
had gone from his face and he looked
very sad for the moment.
AS though impelled by sudden reso
luton he turned again suddenly and
faced her.
He took his watch out of his pocket,
opened tho back and extended 1t to the
girl. She took 1t and saw, let into the
back, an old-fashioned miniature. She
gazed at 1t moment and then lifted
her eyes to the picture of a beautiful
woman which hung ON the wall.
my mother" she questioned. There
were tears In her eyes and In her
voice.
Eyes, your mother" The majors
voice was harsh and dry, and all the
color seemed gone from his face.
"And she never knew"
II cannot say as to that. do not
think she did. l was only a friend
she loved your father"
Closing the watch the girl came clos
er to the major and handed 1t to him.
He replaced 1t In his pocket silently.
Then. without word, the girl,
reaching upon tiptoe, drew the majors
head down and kissed him--with a
kiss of which Jack could not have pos