The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1908-05-21

tutor for Viola hHrnnrd, daughter ~
CIRCLES gS epenies ~ ths cestrai PSe.ae
railroad and learns their secrets.
CHAPTER vn@continUed.
Sally b. saw his disappointment.
and came quickly 70 his rescue. Go
with my Viola here: she'll show ye.
You can make the house across the
gulch In is minutes Mr. sacket was
killed BY a blast the other day. YOU
know, ar Steila's ben with the wilder
sence. But YIN stay with her. an
yon'a Stella can talk a heap IN a half
hour. Walk this way an slow an
yen Stir have e quarter-hour fur yer
dinner fore the stage leaves. Billy
Dodge pulls out to-day. he'll give sc
an extra minute or two
Alfred flushed az Sally BIS loud
plans. He had found instant favor ga
her eyes His obvious superiority
10 the men that swarmed m.
welcome. about Stella at every on.
%portunity. decided Sally b 70 aid him
with Stella The sooner they settled
thinss the better Il would be for her.
nut she had no conception OF the
complexities OF Alfred's nature and
rearing She could not have comnre.
hcnded had he explained d. his senu.
meut Tor Stella. did not dream of the
cause az bis flush o. a-nnoyance az he
LEFT her-an annoyance that lasted
and made him q silent companion IN
the quick walk
Viola. CHANGING shyig a. his angry
eyes, rcgiatcred against him q con
ciualon he might have needed 10
reckon with had not the vision of stol.
IA Ia the doorway banishcd gloom and
evoked a smile that the child was
quite Old enough 20 read and glory IN.
Breathless Viola explained her com.
iue With such bald candor that Stella
went forth dumb with embarrassment.
She bad lived hard the past few
weeks. Alfred realized d al once. But
o she was ~tongue-ucd The con.
straint born OF separation was upon
her. Intuition read 80 her a little Of
the record uf Alfred's experiences: Of
his different AID expressing cares
Also. the impact 81 lives aud ex.
periencoa surrounding her had created
an lncomprchensible atmosphere
through which she saw Alfred as
through a veil. a different Alfred.
lie felt her dimdcnce and construed
Il IS kind indifference She did not
love him she wished him to recognize
the absurd situation Viola had thrust
upon them. set sho was too semitic 10
hurt him With speech
Aud thus the fleet minutas wanei
while these two dumbly sought each
other like lovers AZ a bal masque
olasplng hands yet sundered by q
domino.
They came down the path 10 town
and mounted the high. uneven side
walk, Uncle Bnly had juat dashed
up 10 the express omce che curyotting
SIX under the spur Of his mysterious
SKIN sin showing "a proudly 10 the
admirlug bystanders. Gideon vas Ia
the barroom doorway. his gloWorlng
eyes axcd on the approaching pair
Alfred dlsoerued the hate Ia Gideon's
aurly greeting. saw the loutlrh leers
and nudges OF the ioungega. stelia'e
burning checks; uo even miatook the
satisfaction tn Uncle bluys hearty
urging
Got outside Of yo' dlnneh AZ a two
forty gait Vincent The Overland
CANT wait and Uncle Btly calnt miss
80 company. ssbeg
AZ ihe dininE room door Stella
paused and held out her hand
No; It's not good-hye." Alfred said
though be took her hand "a shall stay
over. shall see sou 60 night-and-r
Hello. Nincenti You're the very
man J wanted 10 see Had your din
nerY" superintendent Croker hroeHed
out % tho dining room. bis eyes giving
sincere admiration 20 Stella. bis voice
a hearty welcome 20 Aifro1.
No, sir Alfred answered hesitat
ingly. l-
Eat quick then. Billy D0dgo don't
wait Cor passengers. important or 9th
erwise. The greatest luck this ex.
pected a dull trip over-alugys "a.
cepunE The driver. He waved al
smiling apolosy 90 unclc Billy aud
climbed % tho seat beside him.
Alfred felt his body grow loadcu;
and b. startled Stella with bis strained
voice.
Very well Mr Crocker; IN b. With
you IN q minute
ne turned 10 Stella rhere was
somcthing 10 her ~uuEnarded laco that
set hia every serve aunsie. mas