The Huttig news. (Huttig, Ark.) 1907-1955, 1908-05-23

quite true. The reply to this letter
disclosed to him hitherto unknown
Stella.
More than a second time he read IL.
He knew now that he could never de-
ceive her. She would always know his
inmcst heart She might uncomplein-
iagly bear neglect after marriage,
coldness; but she would never for
give him If he married her with less
Inan the whole OF his love.
! The middle of October found Alfred
In Placerville, where had been sent to
purchase for the company a large
amount of fsh-joint iron originally
bought for the Placerville 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
all 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.
Il have a delicate errand here" he
wrote toward the close of long let
ter to Stella, that | may not tell you
of further than to say | am making
as much haste as possible. hope to
be one of the passengers to Virginia
City on the day the Plaeerville Stage
/ company has set to snow under the
Dutch Flat and Bonner Lake State
Companys schedule. If so, l shall
complete my business there and be
with you two days later. I'll telegraph
the day I leave Virginia.
by the way, Cadwallader is here,
ostensibly looking up laborers, which
is about all the company gives him to
do lately. He is very cordial. and
claims to know of 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 mea with him, and l may
look it up.
But here Is the cream OF my letter
for you, dear-for US. l am to have
handsome percentage of any money
that l can save the company in this
enterprise now pending. If the bust
ness goes as 1t promises, the day when
I 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.
T. 90 ct
wrapped about with the fruity fra
GRANGE of autumn, Stella read and re-
| read Alfred's letter, and unused upon
the vague plans for the future that
now occupied her mind. Nothing
definite had come to her; but her
growing determination to improve her
self was augmented by tormenting
vision OF a little woman In blue, light
and dainty. where she herself was
heavy; vivacious 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 sem
sible enough to know that assuming
them would be folly. For underlying
all her vain wishes was a recognition
of something within, dim vision OF
the power of her own soul, that
brought tranquility and courage for
her difficult venture.
The declining sun shot level ray
into her retreat before she realized
the hour and the call of duty. Long
before she reached the hotel, Alvin's
cheerful voice ioated up in one of
his jocund songs.
Stella sighed. In a few days Alvin's
bright face would be out of her life.
He had been promoted from Colfax to
the Sacramento ONCE. and was now
awaiting his successor Yet the sight
of BIN carried her thought swiftly to
the telegram from Gideon he had that
morning brought her.
| The message was brief Gideon was
coming for. her! He had not needed
her negative-laden letters. She had
not disclosed her engagement; she
had been afraid. And there was
reason for fear. The gossip concern
ing Alfred that foated from tongue
! to tongue did not escape her sensitive
ears. 1t was said that he was in love
| with the superintendent niece; again,
that he cared nothing for her, only
for the position he might, as her hus-
band, command. Gideon must hear all
this Stella knew it would confirm his
belief that Alfred had no love for her,
and that she must meet Gideon. tell
him. defy him. It would be battle OF
wills, and Gideon would be defeated;
but at what cost? What cost to him,
to herself, to Alfred? Fear gripped
her at thought OF the time when the
! two men should face each other.
In the parlor she found Sally B.. Al
vim and Viola in an excited. triangular
discussion. Alvin pleading. Sally B.
stern, Viola In tears.
"Oh, Miss Stella" Alvin cried APP
pealingly as she entered, do you think
/ Teller that's all straight but one leg
the Lord himself put crook in ought
to be tipped the cold shoulder for
that?"