Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-03-25
YOUNG ATHERLEY'S LUCK.
~N~~~~~o~<

GO HE morning sun lay warm and
clear after the rain OF the night
before, and young Atherley, as
his horse loped easily along the wide
range, sang aloud for very JOY of
light-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 ear near the middle of the train
stood a girl, her fair hair blowing in
the wind, her hands full of pink roses,
her eyes gazing straight into his. For
a second neither moved. Then, as a
voice from within called Marion" the
girl, with quick flush turned up the
steps, and Atherley, stricken with the
consciousness of his dusty chaps
hinge spurs and sombrero, slipped
back. He had quite forgotten his let
ter. The engine gave a preliminary
snort, the conductor yelled "All
aboard but Atherley still stood mo-
tionless, his eyes fixed on the car
wherein she had disappeared. AS tho
slow length of train began to move
the girl slipped back to the platform
for a moment, and on the ground, al
most at 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 he
had fairly realized it 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 OPP
timism.
At the next stop lie sneaked FOR
ward to the smoking car and sat down
to think things over. She was GER
tainly a mighty pretty girl, Atherlay,
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
IN the car, the younger ones chatting
together, and another rather older,
reading In a 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
er. and soon held the group enthralled
With his breezy frankness.
$50 you really just jumped on the
train and came" asked the older man
at length, when Billy had grown
aweary OF his talk and moved away.
and for no other reason than that
You wanted to see the world?" Ather-
ley laughed rather shamefacedly.
THAT'S what | told those fellows.
But don't mind telling you the truth.
1t vast was on account Of n girl, &"
he said, haltingly The older mans
lips twitched.
"A girl! How so?'
Il saw her on the car step" CON
ftssed Atherley "And-and I liked
her" he ended lamely, not even to him
self did he care to mention the rose.
Il wonder If you have seen her?" 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, no matter how charming
and gentlemanly, was hardly a person
to be presented to the carefully guard.
ed Marion. But Atherley was too ab-
sorbed to notice the hesitation.
Your daughter he cried. Really
your daughter, oh, l say, what luck!
That Will save me an awful lot Of
time and trouble, expected the
deuce of job in locating her. Though
| knew that J should do it in the end. 4"
he added confidently do you mind
telling me your manner"
My name?" divided between lndig-
Latiou and mirth, Il am James Ar
buthnot," he declared rather pompous-
~. But Atherley was clearly unlm-
pressed.
Better and better" he cried. al
always was Il lucky devil" joyously