Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-04-05
YOUNG ATHERLEY'S LUCK.

GD HE morning sun lay warm and
clear after the rain of the night
before. and young Atherley, as
luis horse loped easily along the wide
range. sang aloud for very JOY of
hGht-heartedness. Out here, away
from cities and crowds, how good life
was.
The train was in, and Atherley hur.
ried around the corner. then halted
suddenly, dazzled by the vision which
confronted him. On the lower steps
of car near the middle of the train
stood girl. her fair hair blowing i'll
the wind, her hands full of pink roses,
her eyes gazing straight into his. For
second neither moved. Then, as a
voice from within called Marion" the
girl, with quick flush, turned up the
steps, and Atherley, stricken with tine
consciousness OF his dusty ..chaps,,
huge spurs and sombrero, slipped
back. He had quite forgotten his let
ter. The engine gave preliminary
snort, the conductor yelled "All
aboard" but Atherley still stood mo
tionless. his eyes fixed OH the car
wherein she had disappeared. AS the
slow length of train began to move
the girl slipped back to the platform
for moment. and on the ground. al
most Mt Atherley's feet, fell pink
rose. To spring forward, seize the
flower, then swing aboard the last car
as 1t passed was to Atherley but the
work of another moment Before lie
had fairly realized 1t he was on the
train and speeding eastward as fast
as steam could carry him.
Practical thought forced a way, and
his first act was to take account Of
stock.
Jim will take the horse back" he
reasoned. Its all right. Luckily,
have just about enough for my ticket
to New York" Somehow he had de-
cided that she lived in New York.
And as for meals. Well, who knows
what may turn up?" with cheerful op-
timism.
At the next stop he sneaked for
ward to the smoking car and sat down
to think things over. She was GER
tainly mighty pretty girl! Atherley.
feeling for the rose hidden in his
breast pocket, concluded that he would
probably not regret his action.
But I've got to get busy on the.
food question"
There were three or four other men
III the car. the younger ones chatting
together. and another rather older,
reading in corner. All eyed him
curiously, and Atherley had an inspira-
ton. If he worked them right. amused
them, told them queer experiences,
they might supply him with food and
drink, and as for cigars. well. he must
husband those he had carefully. In
pursuance of this Idea he moved near
err, and soon held the group enthralled
with his breezy franliness.
80 you really just jumped on the
train and came" asked the older man
at length. when Billy had grown
aweary of his talk aud moved away.
land for no :5ther reason than that
you wanted to see the world:" Ather-
ley laughed rather shamefacedly.
That's what I told those fellows.
But don't mind telling you the truth
1t vast was on account Of a girl"
he said, haltingly. The older mans
lips twitchcd.
"a girl! How so?'
II saw her on the car step" con-
fessed Atherley. "And-and | liked
her." he ended lameIy. not even to him
self did he care to mention the rose
II wonder IL you have seen herr" he
added, eagerly. "She had on some Kind
kind of blue skirt with white
waist. and carried some roses. They
called her Marion.
The older man started.
"Marion.' he exclaimed, why, that's
my daughter" unthinkingly. Then he
stopped. rather annoyed. A young
ranchman. 10 matter how charming
and gentlemanly. was hardly a person
to be presented to the carefully guard.
ed Marion. But Atherley was too NIB.
sorbed to notice the hesitation.
'Your daughter.' lie cried. Really
your daughter, OH. l say. what luck!
That will save me an awful lot of
time and trouble. expected the
deuce Of n jon in locating her. Though
l knew that | should do 1t in the end"
he added confidently. do you mind
telling me your nance"
"Nly name" divided between lndIg
nation and mirth, II am James Ar
buthnot," he declared rather pompous-
ly. But Atherley was clearly unim-
pressed.
Better anil better" he cried. ~
always was a lucky devil" joyously.
The older man leaned back and stared
at him.
my dear young man." began he III
his mort formal manner. II think we
must understand each other. l GER
tainly fail to see where the luck comes
In Atherley. starting In his turn, be-
came suddenly enlightened.
"Of course. You mean that YOU
don't know me-" he cried. "Oh, that's
all right" easily. 1--WE heard dad
speak OF you hundreds of times. Pm
Billy Atherley, and I've just been out
looking up some properties in the
West"
The older mans brow cleared some
how.
Not William H. Atherley's SOM"
Atherley nodded.
THE same. So now won't YOU In.
troduce me to your daughter?" visit
+ f,,1iv tsIt would coya e,ob n la -
time"
Arbuthnot, his gray eyes twlnkling.
looked at the young fellow qulzzlcally.
III you are much like your father,
and l think You are, you would be
hardly apt to wait long for my serv-
ices" he remarked loosely. Come
along, then. All ! ask of you is please
to get married before we reach New