Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-02
BOB HAMPTON OF PLACER.
BY RANDALL PARRISH
WILDERNESS KING
(Copyrgh A
BY RANDALL PARRISH,

perfectly delightful. Don't you Howard
Now Lieut.. Brant and Nadia can stand up
with US. You will won't you. lieutenant"
That must be left entirely with Miss
Nadia for decision" he replied. soberly.
However. with my memory of your popu-
larity | should suppose you would have no
lack Of men seeking such honor. For in
stance. one of your od-time friends Mr.
William Mcneil
The lady laughed noisily. regardless of
Mr.. Wynkoops look OF annoyance. "Oh. 1t
Is so perfectly ridiculous! And didn't you
know? haven't you heard?"
Nothing. I assure you
Why he-he actually married the Widow
Guffy. She's twice his age and has a
grown-up son. And To think that I sup
posed he was so nice! He did write beau
such a man to throw himself away like
that
1T would seem So But there was an
other whose name | recall-JaCk MOffat
Why not have him.
Miss Spencer glanced uneasily at her
chosen companion. her checks reddening.
But that gentleman remained provOkingly
silent, and she was compelled to reply.
We've never mention him any more.
He was very bad man"
indeed"
Yes; It seems he had a wife and four
children he had run away from. back In
Iowa Perhaps that was why his eyes al
ways looked so sad. She actually adver-
tsed for him In one OF the Omaha papers.
1t was a terrible shock to all of us l was
so grateful to Howard that he succeeded In
opening my eyes in time
Mr. Wynkoop placed his hand gently upon
her shoulder. Never mind. dearie," he
said. cheerfully The west was all so
strange to you. and It seemed very wonder
full at first. But that is all safely over with
now. and, as my wife. you will forget the
unpleasant memories
And Miss Spencer totally oblvious to
imnulSiVply nd
kissed him.
There was a rustic at the inner door. and
Nadia stood there. Their eyes met. and the
color mounted swiftly to the girls cheeks
Then he stepped resoluteiy forward forget
full of all other presence. and clasped her
hand in both his own. Neither spoke a
word, yet each understood something of
what was in the heart of the other.
VIII you walk outside with me?" he
asked, at last. Il have much to say which
l am you would rather hear alone"
She bent her head. and with brief word
of explanation to the others. the Young
officer conducted her forth into the bright
July sunshine. They walked in silence side
by side along the bank of the little stream
Brant glanced fuEtively toward the sweet
sirlish face There was a pallor on her
countenance. a shadow In her eyes vet she
walked with the same easy grace her head
firmly poised above her white throat The
very sadness marking her features seemed
10 him added beauty
He realized where they were going now
where memory had brought them without
conscious volittOn. As he led her across
the rivuet she glanced up into his face with
a smile as though a happy recollection had
burst upon her Yet not a word was
spoken until the barrier OF underbrush had
been completely penetrated. and they stood
face TO face under the trees. Then Brant
spoke.
Mazda. he said. sravely. II have come
back. as | said | would. and surely / read
welcome in your eyeS?''
Yes"
And | have come to say that there is
no longer any shadow of the dead between
us.
She looked up quickly. her hands clasped
her cheeks flushing. Are YOU sure? Per-
haps you misunderstanding perhaps you mis-
take my meaning.
Il know it ALL" he answered, soberly,
from the lips of Hampton"
You have seen him? Oh. Lieut.. Brant
please tell me the whole truth. | have
missed him much. and since the day he
rode away TO Cheyenne not word to
explain his absence has come back to me-
You cannot understand what this means
how much he has become to me through
years of Kindness