La Junta tribune., 1907-06-29
TheGnl From
the West
By OHIO B. sENcA
Copyright. 1900. by C. II. su,elia.

Copyright. 1900, by C. n. sutcli6e
C>s~-~~~~~~-->~>~~~
Paul Alger looked firmly into Mrs
ElliOtt'x fSce.
You don't realize what you're ask
Ing. Aunt Ruth" irritatedly.
I'm not asking" calmly. I'm sim.
ply telling you what I expect OF you
The girl will be here tomorrow. My
will ls made with these plans in view
disinherited absolutely: That's all"
AlGer rose.
Aunt Ruth, you've been more than
a mother TO me. and Id like TO do ev.
erythIng can to please you. but this
10 expecting too much. ! 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 II you want to. but
don't let her come between you and
met
Don't talk to me. Paul" impatiently.
or not at all.'
who ls this girl" Alger demanded
with heat. that she should he thrust
upon me In this stylei'
"She Is the daughter OF my husbands d
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,
Paul!'
1t Is utterly impossible" firmly.
Paul" temptingly. "she IL very
pretty"
Alger smiled and shook his head.
"And. Paul." playing her trump card,
''she Is musical"
Music was Ayers passion.
"Yes:" Indifrercntly.
Yes" emphatlcally "She plays the
violin"
'What insufferable presumptionr' im.
patiently. "A girl from the wild west,
brought up on n cattle ranch. you snid.
Doubtless she can ride n broncho or
lasso n steer but she shouldn't mcddle
with the violin. She probably never
heard OF Bach or Mendelssohn and
wouldn't know sonata from n sand.
wich. Aunt. ! can fancy her bringing
her violin In her arms and playing for
( the delectation Of the other passengers
In the Pullman. Ugh!'
You refuse. then?'
Most decidedly"
Z t. ..T xp.,
cision ms final"
+ The next day .Algcr from his desk In
I the library saw the girl ns she entered
( the adjoining room, where Mrs. Elliott
\ waited to greet her. She was tail and
graceful. with n high bred mir Of ease
/ that surprised him. Her voice was
clear and well modulated.
I Upon my word" he rnuttered. II ex-
pected her manner OF speech to be a
Indian warwhoop"
/ He saw the servant come In with n
/ violin case.
"Will madam have this in the music
! room or
"Oh. no: here" Aud Vera held out
her hands.
You brought this yourself. VeraT"
Mrs. EIliotts tone held the slightest
suggestion OF annoyance.
"In my arms literally" laughed Vera.
| Alger in his dim corner smiled.
! Vera gently placed the case on the
| door and lifted out the instrument as
tenderly as mother lifts her babe
from its cradle.
"Oh. Aunt Ruth" fervently. when
/ you see it yon will understanding
beautiful violin!"
She clasped it to her bosom with a
gesture of tenderness. The beauty of
pose and her evident artistic apprecia-
tion stirred Alger TO instant admira-
tion.
! He met the girl at dinner. She gave
him one long, earnest look that he felt
ut once nh inquiry and 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.
I'VE had 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. ! scraped my little best"
coolly.
Alger felt the rebuff. but he shot n
triumphant glance at his aunt.
| AS the evening progressed Aiger be-
gan to wish that he could win some
pleasant look or word from the girl
and to deeply resent his inability to do