The Washington times., 1904-03-08

second what time it was in Arizona. but
heaven forbid that I should interrupt
the sort OF nnusing TIT goes with new
moon and lilac branch Her father
she old Tartar cannot bring myself
10 write decorously of him he IS the
same obstinate. pig-headed. disagree
able curmudgeon. How does Marion
happen to belong to him2 He persists
in MS amiabse determination not 10 have
her at home again until she gives you
up. Idiot As II that were not just
the way TO make you eminentiy de-
siTabie IN her eyes!
of course. we love to have her here.
Mother, being sentmentaIist, permits
her eyes 10 AL with tears Is she speaks
OF her two girls You'd think, By the
way. to hear mother talk, that she was
the only woman with son adventurinE
gayly thousand miles TO the westward
do my duty by her sIrenuously. j ask
her If she isn't aware that Mr.. Wharton
has mother IN the East, and that IT
may be stated as a general fact that
none of the men in the troop spend the
evenings by their own dresides, so to
speak But she's incorTiglble- She only
looks TIE moister and kinder and says,
Does It make you cheerful. Frances. 10
lonely old women in the lande
That's al the sentiment you shah
have in this letter. Tommy boz All the
rest of it shall be about me and my
clothes and my doings and my inten-
tions; that my drive in golf is no longer
disgrace to the family name: that
wore black and yellow frock 70 the
Hintons' dinner party the other night,
and that it wasn't a disgrace 10 the
family name. either. that I am to have
three new pupils this summer TO coach
for college preparatory exams-which
win try my temper. maybe. but which
VIII repIenish my purse
There isn't any other news of i'm
portance indeed, what news could Sed-
ley ever scare no that would seem inn
portant TO a valiant captain who is on
terms OF uneasy intimacy with the IN
dian and the ella monster Sometimes
1 should lee frightened for you. Tom. II
/ didn't remember that there are lots %
you men all together out there. Be-
sides. I can't afford 60 - frightened. for
it's the traditional duty of mere sig
ter 20 be tower OF Strength TO an alb
sent soldiers mother and his svee theart.
And you Just ask mother and Marion
# I'm not, Xet-oh. Tom, Tom, We are
frishtened and trembling beneath every
thing. We think of y0u-such q lsttie
band Of yea In the big. desolate land
that is grim with dangers We are 50
loacsome-and the thought that we may
be lonesome for always stalks IL 10 keep
Us dr5ary company sometimes in the
evenings. Dear ola Tom 1 am crying
here Ike an imbecile. but the tears
aren't Just for as three lonely women
they are FOR al the lonely women and
for all YOU lonely men out there watch
iEs the sun go down. Don't laugh at me,
but dc do be careful
My compliments To the troop. Your
devoted sister FRANCES.
As the last word died away I'm the still
ness of the desert night Thornton folded
the letter and looked toward the men.
Not one had stirred since he began. ana
now they set gazing into the dying Ares,
immovable as craven stone.
a long time they sat SO. and then a
gaunt. tail fellow. one o. the most des-
pcrste daredcVils ia the troop. rcse
SLOWLY. and seeking his saddle unrolled
his blanket and without word.
wrapped II about him and lar down
among the rocks. One by one the men
followed him. until Wharton alone re-
mained. A minute more. and he stood
beside his officer, and held out his hand.
Thornton took IL silently
At midnight the silve-y moon sh6ne
down on The forms OF tWoscore men ~
Ing among the rocks CT Antelope Can
Sop-