Bridgeton pioneer., 1907-02-07
TheOiTl From
the West
By OHIO B. SENCA
Copyright, 1906, by c. H. sutclife


I'm not asking" calmly. I'm sim
ply telling you what l expect of you.
The girl will be here tomorrow. Ny
will is made with these plans in view
If you done fall in with them, you're
disiEherited absolutely; that's ALL"
Alger rose.
Aunt Ruth. you've been more than
a mother to me. and I'd like to do ev.
erything l can to please you, but this
is expecting too much. 1 must reserve
the right to select my own WIFE"
Mrs. Elliott was stubbornly silent
and after moment the young fellow
said earnestly, Aunt Ruth, give the
money to the girl if you want to, but
don't let her come between you and
mer'
Don't talk to me- Paul" impatiently
81 shall give it to you two-together
or not at allr'
"Who is this girl" Alger demanded
with heat, that she should be thrust
upon me in this style?"
''She is the daughter of my husbands
brother. When this girl and my Fred
erick were little children the brothers
promised each other that the children
should marry when they were OLD
enough. Frederick died, and after your
mothers death L adopted you. You
have taken Frederick's place in every.
thing else. You must in this. Promise
Paulr
''It is utterly impossibler' firmly.
Paul" temptingly. "she is very
pretty"
Alger smiled and shook his head.
"And, Paul" playing her trump card
sshe is musical"
Music was Alger's passion.
4'Yes?" indifferently.
"Yes," emphatically "She plays the
violin"
What insufferable presumptionp' i'm
patiently. "A girl from the wild west
brought up on cattle ranch. you said
Doubtless she can ride a broncho OF
lasso a steer, but she shouldn't NEEDLE
with the violin. She probably never
heard of Bach or Mandelssohn and
wouldn't know sonata from a sand.
wich, Aunt, can fancy her bringing
her violin in her arms and playing for
the delectation of the other passengers
in the Pullman. Ughr'
You refuse, them"
"Most decidedly"
every we'll" icily. Il accept your de
cision as fnal'
The next day Alger from his desk in
the library saw the girl as she entered
the adjoining room. where Mrs. Elliott
waited to greet her. She was tall and
graceful. with high bred air of ease
that surprised him. Her voice was
clear and well modulated
Upon my word" he muttered. 81 ex.
-pected her manner Of speech to be
cross between a cowboys yell and an
Indian warwhoop."
He saw the servant come in with O
violin case.
"Will madam have this in the music
room or
"Oh, no; here" And Vera held out
her hands.
"You brought this yourself, vera?"
suggestion of annoyance.
"Iu my arms literally laughed Vera
Alger in his dim corner smiled.
Vera gently placed the case on the
floor and lifted out the instrument as
tenderly as a mother lifts her babe
from its cradle.
'Oh, Aunt Ruth" fervently, when
you see it you will understand-my
beautiful violin"
She clasped it to her bosom with a
gesture of tenderness. The beauty OF
the girl, the unaffected grace of her
pose and her evident artistic apprecia
ton stirred Alger to instant admira
ton.
He met the girl at dinner. She gave
him one long, earnest look that he felt
at once an inquiry and a challenge,
and then she directed her conversation
to Mrs. Elliott.
Alger was piqued. He was accus
toned to more attention from young
women. She related some Of the Incl
dents Of her trip.
"We had a concert each evening.
There were three girls in our Pullman
coming to Boston to study music. They
sang we'll"
"And you played, suppose, Miss
Elliott?" Alger could not forbear the
question.
She turned her glance upon him
briefly. "Oh. l scraped my little best"
coolly.
Alger felt the rebuff, but he shot a
triumphant glance at his aunt.
AS the evening progressed Alger be
gan to wish that he could win some
pleasant loo, or word from the girl
and to deeply resent his inability to do
So
"Will you play for us. Miss Elliott?'
he asked, more humbly than was his
habit
She was about to decline, but Mrs.
Elliott added quickly: For me, Vera,
dear. I am so anxious to hear you.''
The instrument with which Vera re-
turned to the room caught Alger's dis
eliminating eye at once.
"Where did you get this, Miss Eli