Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-04-11
YOUNG ATHERLEY'S LUCK.
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CO HE morning sun lay warm and
clear after the rain of the night
before, and young Atherley, as
l'is horse loped easily along the wide
range, sang aloud for very joy of
Iigltheartedness. Out here, away
from cites 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 q car near the middle of the train
stood a girl, her fair hair blowing i'll
the wind, her hands full of pink roses,
her eyes gazing straight into his For
ii 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 a preliminary
snort, the conductor yelled 'All
aboard" but Atherley still stood mo-
tlonless, his eyes fixed on 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, III
most at Atherley's feet, fell a pink
rose. To spring forward seize the
flower, then swing aboard the last car
as it passed was to Atherley but the
work OF another moment. Before lie
had fairly realized it he was on the
train and speeding eastward as fast
as steam could carry him.
Practical thought forced way, and
his first act was to take account of
stock
''Jim will take the horse back" he
reasoned. IT'S all right Luckily,
have just about enough for my ticket
10 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 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
fl 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
err, 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,
land for no other reason than that
you wanted to see the worldf7 Ather-
ley laughed rather shamefacedly.
That's what l told those fellows
But don't mind telling you the truth
1t vast vas on account of a girl"
he said, haltlngly The older mans
lips twitched.
Il girl. How 500"
II saw her on the car STEP" con
tossed Atherley. "And-and 1 liked
her," he ended lamely, not even to him
self did he care to mention the rose
i wonder If you have seen herr" he
added, eagerly. "She had on some kim
kind of blue skirt, with a white
waist. and carried some roses They
called her Marion f."
The older man started.
Marion he exclaimed, "why, that's
my daughter" unthinklngly. Then he
stopped. rather annoyed. A young
rancltman. no matter how charming
and gentlemanly, was hardly a person
20 be presented to the carefully guard
ed Marion. But Atherley was too alb
sorbed to notice the hesitation.
"Your daughter he cried Really
your daughter, oh, ! say, what luck!
That will save me an awfai lot of
time and trouble. ] expected the
deuce of job in locating her. Though
knew that / should do 1t IN the end"
he added confidently. do you mind
telling me your name?'
MY nameg" divided between ludig-
nation and mirth, i am James Ar
buthnot," he declared rather pompous-
~. But Atherley was clearly unim-
pressed.
Better AMI better" he cried. Il
always was lucky DEVIL" joyously
The older man leaned back and stared
at him.
MY dear young man." began he in
his most 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
ali right" easily. I've heard dad
speak OF You hundreds of times I'm
Piny Atherley. and I've just been out
hooking up some properties in the
West"
The older mans brow cleared some
how.
Not William H. Atherley's SOM
Stherley nodded. n
The same So now won't you In
froduce me 10 your daughter" wist-
fully. 1T would save such lot of
time
Arbuthnot. his gray eyes twinkling
looked at the young fellow quIzzically.
.lf you are much like your father.
and l think you are. sou would be
hardly apt TO wait long for my sery
ices he remarked jocosely. Come
along, then. All ask OF you i please
90 get ms-A>d before We reach New