Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-08-24
Two Fools and
A Woman
BY r. B. w Ri0HT
Copyright, 1904, by T. c. Mcclure

1.-THE firemens ball is going to b.
next week, and want you to take me.
Thus spoke Gloriana Moray with &
dewy tenderness in the depths of hel
dark eyes.
Coventry had intended leaving Vel
low River at the weeks end, but he
hesitated.
"All the boys from the ranches are
comm in to 1t and the firemen off the
road" said Glory persuasively. 9TH
be a mighty swell fandango." She
sighed and glanced at Coventry. I'D
sure like to dance with you onct-just
to remember" she added with visit
full ring In her voice.
1t would only be few days longer,
Coventry said to his conscience, and,
besides, it would make good material
for sketch-this cowboy ball. AS for
Glory, shell forget me In month or
So" thought he. Meanwhile where's
the harm In it of a bit of Irritation
with my western rOse?'
1t was to a jack rose that Coventry
compared her on the night Of the
dance. The excitement and the swift
motion had sent Il warm, rich flush to
her cheeks The black masses of her
hair were charmingly disordered and
her eyes flashed and sparkled with
pleasure. She was good dancer, too.
Coventry discovered, and even the
clumsy, heavy footed cowboys who
were at intervals her partners could
not spoil the easy grace Of her move
ments.
| There had not been many Of them
On the tawdry little dance card the
initials "B. c." occurred very frequent
ly after the numbers. Not all Of them
Coventry had danced. Some he had
''sat out" on the upper porch of the
hotel, with the moonlight silvering the
sagebrush and softening the harsh
contours of the distant buttes and in
clining the heart of man to tender
sentiment.
Glory never had enjoyed any dance
as she had this, she told Coventry
frankly, and her eyes more than said
the same thing as she swayed and
swung to his guiding beneath the hot
lamps of the hotel dining room.
1t was all rather interesting, Coyen- /
try thought in one of the intervals /
when his partner was dancing with |
some one else, but on the whole he /
was rather glad he was going to leave /
the next day. lie had not told Glory /
he was going. There was no need of
spelling her fun. 1t was best for her
that he went. Perhaps he had paid
her too much attention; she did not
realize the gulf between them, and
besides she had been rather too de-
monstrative this night. That was one
of the difficulties of an affair with
woman of such simple, unsophisti-
Gated nature.
He looked at her critically as she
swirled by. and she returned the look
with dazzling smile and sOftening
Of the eyes that Coventry could not
any one else. he feared.
bDlt 40 al W vi I'LL uul- |
mai type, Of course, but
Coventry's thoughts were interrupted
here. Some one had touched him on
the shoulder
1t was tall, fresh faced, brown
haired young fellow, one of the outfit
from the Three Forks ranch, as Gov
entry knew by name.
I'D like to speak with you, If so
you don't mind:' said the man. There
was just the suggestion Of frown
between his keen gray eyes.
Certainly" replied Coventry "Sit
1own."
"NOt hyer. It's a little too promis-
,Ous hyer for what I've got to say.
Maybe you wouldn't mind takin' lit !
lie paseur outsider"
Coventry rose and followed the man,
md together they strolled down to the
'lyer's edge. There was a fallen log :
lere, on which Coventry seated him {
elf Fire away" he SAID lighting a
,igar. He offered one to his compan-
on, but ii was declined. Z
The man hesitated for moment, as
t he found II hard to commence. Y
"My name is Hackett." he said
'ravcly. Mort IIackett. Maybe
ou'vc heard it," c
Coventry bowed cOurteously.
II hear tell" Mort continued, that
cure lowing 10 90 back east to- U
morrow. Is that a fact|
"Yes." answered Coventry. want [
nc 20 do something for you back a
lere?'' n
mo. | reckon not It's sOmethin'
yer want you to do. It's to answer
question. What are You goin' to do
bout Glory" e.
"About Glory? What should l do o
bout Glory? What do you mean" tt
you know right well what | mean W
re YOU going to marry the gall"
"And may ask. Mr.. Hackett, In my e
i'm. what affair 1t Is Of yours what
intend to do or not do?" said COven- p
y coolly. Are you Miss McRay's
Maybe | be-" returned the other te
uletly. IL reckon you've the right to
now before you answer" III
He put foot on the log and looked IL
OWN at the moon fecked river. al
"You see. love her" said he simply, 81
an SO I've got to know. I've been IN
win her this long time. since she W
lst come hyer young gal. I'm a al
ght awkward sort Of Il cuss, without
anncrs, but | reckOned to ask her RI
me day when got fixed SOS | could
We her home. And then-then you
'me hyer with your good looks an
,ur city ways an your easy way of pr
kim an turned her head. amt 1t
.afin' about that-it's fair flghtin' II tr
'h're playin' a square game, but are 10
,uY st
Coventry laughed pleasantly. my NJ