The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-08-12

her throat, and prfed open the sfIK
catch with his knife blade She bent
Aewn to fasten her locsened shoe,
and when her eyes were upliftsd his
gan was riveted upon the face I'm the
picture.
Mighty pretty. wasn't she?" she
asked. with q sudden girlish interest.
bending forward to look regardless ok
his strained attitude. And she was
prsttier than that, even, the way I
remember her best, with her hair all
hanging down, coming to tuck me into
bed Mt night. Someway that's how I
always seem to see her."
The man drew q deep breath, and
snapped hut the locket. yet still re-
tanned 1t In his hand. "Is-is she
dead?" he questioned. aad his voice
trembled In spite of his steel nerves.
Yes, in st. Louis; dad took me
there with him two years ago, and 4
saw her grave"
Dad? Do you mean old Giris?"
She nodded, beginning dimly to WON
der why he should speak SO fiercely
and stare at her in hat odd way.
He seemed to choke twice before he
>O0 @SA eAO AYAS 4dC6llOA-
did he-old ellis, 1 mean-claim
to be your father. or her husband?"
me, 1 don't reckon he ever did, but
he gave me that picture, and told me
she was my mother. 1 always lived
with him. n called him dad. I reek-
on he liked it, and he was mighty
good to nae. We were at Randolph
= long time, and since then he's been
poSt-trader at Bethune. That's ali I
know about it, for dad never talked
very much, and he used to get mad
whan / asked him questions"
Hampton dropped the lecket from
his grasp and arose t. his feet. For
several minutes he stood with HIS
back toward her, apparently sasaaS
down the valley, his jaw set, his din
mod eyes seeing nothing. Slowly the
color came creeping into his face, and
his hands unclinched. Then he wheel
cd about, and looked down upon her,
completely restored to his old na-
tHre.
b II seems that 1t In just you
and /. Kid, who have got to settle this
little affair" he announced, firmly.
I'll have my say about 1t, AID thea
ysu can uncork you feelings. I rath-
% imagine l haven very much lesal
right In the premises, but I've 20 n
sort OF moral grip on you By reason OF
having pulled o out alive from that
canye yonder. and 1 propose to play
this game to the limit. You say your
mother is dead, and the man who
raised you Is dead, and, so far as eth
er OF US know, there ISN'T q soul any
Uh0Ra I'm Aar ~h> -
claim ever you, or any desire to have.
Thea. naturally, the whole Jackpot I'm
up 10 me, provided I've got the caras.
Now. KID. waving your prejudice aside,
l amt just exactly the best mar In
his world to bring up a girl like you
and max q lady out of her. 1 theughG
yesterday that maybe we might MAJ
age to hitch along together for
awhile. but I've got a different think
coming to-day. There's no use dis
figuring The truth. Ina a SAMPLER.
something of a fighter on the side. and
folks don't say anything toe pleasing
about my peaceful disposition arounA
these settlements; I haven't any bona.
and mighty few friends, and the few
l have got are nothing to boast about
/ reckon there's a cause for IL ali.
So, considering everything, I'm about
h poorest proposition aver was heard
of to start n young ladies' seminary.
The Lord knows, old ellis was bad
enough, but I'm q TANNED sight worsa-
Now, some woman has got to take yox
in hand, and I reckon I've found The
right one"
Coin to get married, Bob?"
MOI this year.; it's hardly become
30 serious rs that; but I'm going to
fnd you a good home here, and Pm
going to put up plenty Of stun, 10 that
they'll take care of you all right ana
proper"
The dark eyes never wavereS n
they looked steadily into The May
ones. but h chin ~quivered slightly.
81 reckon I'd rather tag It a2oaae
she announced stubbornly. Maybe K
might ave stood 1t with you, Bob
Hampton, but n woman in the limit"
81 expect it will go rather hard At
first, Kid" he admitted craftily, but
I think you might try 1t q while just d
sort of please me-"
"Who-who is she ?" doubtfully.
Mrs. Herndon, wife of the super.
intendent Of the Golden Rule mine:"
and he waved his hand toward the Dis
tant houses They tell me she's q
mighty hne woman"
''Oh, they do? Then Somebody
been stirring you up about ne, have
they? l thought that was about the
way Of it. Somebody wants to reform
me. I reckon. Well, maybe 1 won't Be
reformed. Who was 1t, Bob?"
THE Presbyterian missionary" h@
confessed reluctantly, "a nervy little
chap named Wynkoop; he came in to
see me last night while you were
asleep" He faced her open scorn un-
shrinkingly. his mind fully decided.
and ~clinging to one thought with al
tho tenacity Of his nature.
"A preacheri" her voice vibrant with
derision, "a preacher! Well. OF all
things. O Hamptoni You led around
by the nose in that way! Did he want
yea to bring me to Sunday school? 4