The Washington herald., 1906-11-11


and then he announced that he would
stay with them for long while These
are my mountains" he said. "and I'll
have TO show you the way through
them
king" Plummer. although inclined to
be masterfuI, was admitted at once into
the full membership OF the party, and
he entered upon what he called his first
/ long vacation He showed the keenest
enjoyment in the speeches. the crowds,
the enthusiasm, the travelling, and the
quick-shifting scenes. He was a boy with
the boys. but the watchful Mrs. Grayson
noticed a shade Of difference between
Sylvia with the King present and
Sylvia with the King absent With
him present there was a little restraint,
a slight effort on her part TO watch her
/ self; but with him away there was great
spontaneity and freedom, especially with
the younger members like Harley and
Z Hobart, and even Churchill. who reluct-
antly admitted that Miss Morgan was a
/ fine girl, though rather Western, you
/ know"
Mrs. Grayson began to take thought
with herself again, and the thought was
taken with great seriousness. Had she
/ been right IN bringing King" Plummer
on so soon, although he did not even
know that he was brought? She reso-
lutely asked herself, too, how much OF
her action had been due TO the knowI-
edge that the King" was a very i'm
pOrtant man TO her husband, controlling.
| as he probably could the vote Of several
4 mountain States. This question. which
/ she could not answer, troubled her. and
/ so Gid the conduct Of Sylvia. who, usual
/ ~ so frank and straightforward. seemed
/ TO be suffering from Il strange attack of
! perverseness. For years she had obeyed
/ KIM" Plummer as her protector and as
Z the one who had rightful control. but
row she began TO give him orders and
/ 20 criticise many things that he did, TO
l the unlimited establishment of the King" :"
who had never expected anything OF the
/ kind.
What is the matter with Sylvia d?
/ never knew her to act in such a way
I before" he said to Mrs Grayson.
"As she is TO be your wife, and not a
| sort OF ward, she is merely giving you a
/ preliminary training" replied the candi-
dates wife, dryly
King" Plummer looked at her in
doubt. but he pondered the question deep
ly. and was remarkably meek the next
time Sylvia scolded him. Whereat she
showed less pleasure than ever. King
Plummer was still In a maze and did not
know what 10 say. The very next day
nc found himself deeper IN the tangIe,
being scolded by Mrs. Grayson herself
They were waiting al a small station
for some carriages which were 10 take
them across the prairie, and, the air be
Ing clear and bracing, they stood out
side, where Miss Morgan, as usual, held
an involuntary court 4 cloud Of dust
herd Of cattle, driven with much shout
ing and galloping OF horses by a half
dozen cowboys. The herd was passing 20
the south a few hundred yards from the
station, but Sylvia, thoroughly used 10
such sights. was not interested. Not so
with some Of the others who went out 20
see and among them was King" Plum
mer. who began at once to calculate the
number Of cattle. their value. and how
far they had come all Of which he did
with great shrewdness.
The Kings" absorption in this con-
genial occupation was increased when ne
recognized the leader Of the cowboys Is
an old friend and former associate IN
Idaho and Montana, with whom ne could
exchange much interesting news. BOr-
rowing a horse from one OF the men, he
rode on with them for a mile or two
meT leave the group about Sylvia, and
she marked 1t with a disapproving eye.
She would have spoken 10 him then, but
she had no chance, and she watched him
until he borrowed the horse and rode on
with the cowboys. Then she looked the
other way and saw two figures walk
ing up and down the station platform.
They we're Sylvia and Harley, engrossed
in talk and caring not at all for the pas
sage Of the herd. The two brown heads
were not far apart, and Mrs. Grayson
was near enough 70 see Sylvia's color
was beautiful.
The candidates wife was annoyed, and
ike any other good woman, she was
ready to vent her annoyance on some
body She walked out a little from the
station. and presently she met King
Plummer coming back. He dismOunted.
returned the horse TO its owner. and ap-
preached her, the sparkle OF enthusiasm
in his eyes lighting up his brown face
That was a pleasant surprise, Mrs.
Grayson." -" he exclaimed. The leader of
those boys was Bill AscOtt. whom I've
known twenty years. an he's brought
those cattle SO cleveTly all the way from
Montana that they are in as good con-
dition now as they were the day they
started And I had a fine gallOp with
them. too"
He had more to say. but he stopped
when he noticed her deeply frowning
face.
What is wrong. Mrs. Grayson?" he
asked. in apprehension.
"Oh. you had fine gallop, did you
she said. In a tone of biting irony. Il
am glad Of It. Mr.. William Plummer
ought 20 have his gaIlop, under any
circumstances
He stared at her in increasing amaze
nent
Il don't know that I'm counted dull
man, but you've got me now. Mrs Gray
She pointed TO the station platform.
where the two brown heads were still
not far apart.
that you are going to marry to look at q
lot of cattle.
why, Sylvia is only q child, an we've
been used to each other for years. She
understands"
Yes. she will understand, or she isn't
a woman said Mrs. Grayson, and II
possible the biting irony Of her tone
increased. You will see, Mr.. William
Plummer that one man at least did not
neglect her for the sake Of some dusty
cattle
Mr. Plummer stared again at the pair
or the platform. and a mingled look Of
pain and apprehension came into his
eyes.
You surely can't mean anything Of that
kind, Why little Sylvia has promised"
All things are possible. Mr.. Plummer.
Ny husband is a lawyer, and l have heard
him quote often a maxim Of the law
which runs something like this. He must
keep who can
She turned away and would not have
another word to say 10 him then. leaving
Nj Plummer in much perplexity and