Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1908-04-30
CHAPTER XIX.
Alfred Pays the Fiddler

tIarIElnS Daylight had not broy7eff
Alfred An easy conscience the morn.
Ing after the banquet The sneT1 r,
the fair sprite he had held in his arms
the Right before had been broken with
the setting Of the Icp-sfded MOOT. And
Stella, standing On the railroad lat
form, wise in staying away from him
I'LL that morning. strong in her r.
solve which he could feel but not de-
Hne-it needed but this attitude to re-
call the sr1o- Of his love for her. mora
lns1steTt as she grew more remote.
Alfred wrote at great length TO Stel-
Ia making a bad matter worse bv his
Eoo ardent defense of AmabeL and bv
sefeondemnation that did not ring
quite true The reply to this letter
disclosed to him a hitherto unknown
Stella
More than a second time he read t.
He knew now that he could never de-
ceive her. She would always know his
iunost heart She might uncomplain-
1ngly bear neglect after marriage,
Goodness; but she would never for
give him il he married her with less
than the whole of his love
The middle OF October found Alfred
In Piacerville, where had been sent to
purchase for the company a large
amount Of fsh-joint iron originally
bought for the Placervi1le road. When
the river end Of this road, the Sacra-
mento Valley road, fell into Central
Pacific hands, iron was no longer use
full to the defunct San Francisco and
Washoe, which was to have taken over
al track to Placerville. Yet, Any
thing to beat the Central Pacific" was
still the cry; and Alfred had need OF
all his discretion; for the opposition
would never knowingly sell rails to the
Central Pacific company.
I have a delicate errand here" he
wrote toward the close Of long let
ter to Stella, that I may not tell you
of further than to say I am making
as much haste as possible. hope to
be one OF the passengers to Virginia
City On the day the PIacervi1le Stage
company has set to snow under the
Dutch Flat and Bonner Lake State
Conpanys schedule If SO, I shall
complete my business there and be
with you two days later. I'll telegraph
the day I leave Virginia
BY the way, Cadvallader is here,
ostensibly looking up Isborers. which
is about all the company gives him to
do lately. He is very cordial, and
claims to know of a secret big deal;'
a mine in Nevada, that he wishes me
to join him in exploiting I'm sus-
picious Of his schemes; yet he has
some good men with him, and I may
look it up.
But here is the cream Of my letter
for you, dear-for US I am to have
a handsome percentage Of any money
that l can save the company in this
enterprise now pending. Il the bust
ress goes as it promises, the day when
/ may say Come will be long leap
nearer"
Closing words were penned from a
food Of tenderness that carried over
mountain and vale, and were still
warm On the page when they met
Stella's eye
In her favorIte hillside nook,
wrapped about with the fruty fra
GRANGE of autumn, Stella read and re-
read Alfred's letter, and unused upon
the vague plans for the future that
row occupied her mind Nothing
definite had come to her; but her |
growing determination to improve her |
self was augmented by a tormenting |
vision Of a little woman in blue, light |
and dainty, where she herself was |
heavy; vivaeious and quick, where |
she was slow; charming, where she
was dull Stella wished she were |
small, delicate, timid-a hundred |
things she was not; yet she was sen
sible enough to know that assuming !,
them would be folly For underlying |
al her ~ain wishes was a recosnitioo |
of something within, a dim vision of |
the power of her OWL soul, that /
brought tranquility and courage for
her difficult venture
The declining sun shot a level ray
into her retreat before she realized
the hour and the call OF duty. Long
before she reached the hotel, AIvin's
cheerful voice hoated up in one OF
his jocund songs.
Stella sighed In few days AIvins
bright face would be out Of her life
He had been promoted from Colfa1 to
the Sacramento ONCE, and was now
waiting his successor. Yet the sight
Of him carried her thought swiftly to
the telegram from Gideon he had that
brought her. Fl
The message was hrief Gideon was +,
coming for her. He had not needed
her neg1tive-Iaden letters She had [
lot disclosed her engagement; she |
lad been afraid And there was
'eason for fear. The gossip concern
NJ Alfred that foated from tongue | !
o tongue did not escape her sensitive
an Il Was said that he was in lore
Vith the Superintendent's niece; again !
hat he cared nothing Tor her, only {
Or the position he NIGH. Is her hus- i