Mower County transcript., 1908-02-19

assisted regularly now with the noon
waiting. She shrank at Phineas' loud,
: familiar greeting, helplessly resenting
the inquiring looks of the other
guests.
Phineas indorsed her fear by dis
charging a bomb that startled more
than Stella. California is sure of her
transmontane railroad now! The San
Francisco and Washoe Railroad COM
pany has been organized with ten mil
lions of capital behind 1t: and ten mil
lions more it will get from the govern
ment, besides whopping big land
grant. The road goes by Placerville.
It has stahed out the backing of the
baby state OF Nevada, and already be-
gun business. Oh, we fellows amt
asleep over Placerville way, you bet
not! Wen make those c. p. slubber-
degullions cough up their bootheels
YETI
His loud words carried to all and
silenced the room for 4 pregnant In
slant. Even the oaa&ter of iron cot
lery was suspended. When 4 subdusl
hum did begin. dlsmay was in eaeh
face and voice. The success OF this
new scheme meant failure for tho Coa.
tTal Pacific company: and In that To-
. cality the Central Pactac railroad was
mother to every sntsrpE1se, bread 70
every mouth. y: %' *.-. ~ Ss'
Al soon % she coxld,. Stella wrote
hastily to Alfred, telling him Of tho
coming Of Phineas and his astounding
news. She asked Sally B. to hand the
letter to the driver ~ special com
mission and set out through the back
door for a walk before lesson time,
hoping to recover tranquility.
She took the little path skirting =
winter rivulet back Of the town, and
came soon to a clump of pines little
way up the sunny. hillside. She was
quite in view from the short street
until hidden by a thicket Of laurel
and holly hugging close about the
taller pines. Though a scant half
mile from the hotel the small nook
was away from all paths and had
proved safe retreat.
: To-day Stel]a's grateful solitude was
short-lived. Quick steps had followed
hers; the twigs parted and Phineas
stood before her.
Stellas intuition was unerring, but
her caution was unframed. She did
not attempt to conceal her opinion of
him. Mr.. Cadwallader!" she cried,
starting up. Il thought you went
away by the stage" IL.
Il didn't, you see. I'm here instead"
He bowed deferentially How could
90 without word with you, the belle
of the village? Won't you sit down
again?" He waved his hand toward
the rock from which she had risen, but
! kept his place near the entrance.
Thank you, Mr.. Cadwallader. Please
excuse me; I must hurry back" She
took i step forward, but he did not
offer to give her esress.
whats your hurry, Miss Stella?
You are lovely dryad here At your
shrine, and pretty girls, to say nothing
Of dryads, are too few in my busy life.
F.! You surely won't be 50 cruel as to
leave me without word?"
. His manner was as respectful as he
could make it. Still, Stella knew he
made conquests merely to brag Of
them. tits time for Miss Viola's les
sons, and must 60" she said with de-
cision. .:
| He did not move. wis lessons don't
| begin till two; Sally B. said 80. It's
lis now; time enough for a little
talk, isn't there? I've something i'm
4; portant to say to you" Phineas gazed
at her boldly, expecting to see a flush
! Of apprehensive color sweep her face.
Her calmness only spurred him the
more.
stella's eyes were fixed on the op-
pcsite hillcrest, and she lifted he:
hand thoughtlessly to her hair while
searching for an excuse to go that
would be effective. The motion freed
handkerchief tucked in her belt, and
it fluttered to the ground unseen by
her. +.
| Phineas furtively reached for it, ex-
amined it, noted the embroidered
''Stella" in the corner and thrust it in
his pocket. Eyes, look to your hair,
J California Berenice; it is quite bril-
liant enough to make stars Of, he said
impressively.
"Mr. Cadwallader, I cannot accept
nor parry your extravagant sompli-
ments as a city girl would. Surely you
can't be interested in the simple
things can say Please let me CO.
Once again she moved as if to pass
him.
"A beautiful woman doesn't need to
say things to be interesting. You
haven't asked what it is / wished to
say" !.
70 y con.'nled.
5.,