Mower County transcript., 1908-04-22

Exclamations in concert were shot
ut Alvin from several tables.
Eyes, the steamer Chrysopolis left
the San Francisco wharf at four
o'clock; and she's streaking it up the
bay like lightning!"
= II hope she'll keep up her gait plumb
to Sacramento" Uncle Billy said at
the first break in the hubbub.
'You bet she WON'T" some one re-
piled. "She'll have breakdown after
she gets the mail and passengers off at
Freeport for the Placerville Stage peo-
ple."
Don't you go into partnership with
any worry" Alvin said, pausing at the
door. Il amt giving away the clicker,
but let me tell you the c. P.'s amt
fools.'
.,'I got to have hot lunch ready tor
them passengers to eat on the fly"
Sally B. said brusquely. Uncle Billy,
what time do you reckon they'll be
here?' "
Some time neah about fo' o'clock
in the mawnin', figger. You can tell
into five minutes when we heah what
time the train leaves Sacramento
Sally B. sped away to the kitchen.
Stella detained Uncle Billy second in
the hall, her hand on his coat lapel.
She had intended to speak with him
about schools, where to go, how to set
about the new life; but these ques-
tions must wait. His trip and its sue
cess were the only things that mat,
tered now.
Aren't you going to rest?" she
asked. There are plenty others to
work. Go to bed early, won't you,
Uncle Billy?'
He crossed his warm, strong hand
over hers with fond pressure. It was
sweet to have her woman1y solicitude,
to feel her near him, her soft hand
pulsing under his own. "Afteh the
fight is time enough to rest, little girl.
must see that my wagon and stock
are all right for the first hard drive.
I'll have to trust to luck afteh that, or
to the hostlehs-that's about the same
thing"
well, rest as much as you can,
then. I'll have luck flower for your
button-hole when you start She
smiled into his eyes, her own shining
with excitement. you'll win, Uncle
Billy! know it,"
She watched him down the street to
the stage barn, where she knew no
item of preparation would escape his
vigilant eye. Yet there was time to
spare. Would he take advantage of
it? Perhaps not. She knew he was
master of that perfect relaxation that
prepares for stress as we'll as sleep
does.
Alvin had dropped his study, Viola
was fighting her trouble alone and
Sally B. was in the kitchen. Stella,
left with no pressing duty, wandered
into the dark parlor. Lighting it was
Viola's task, but she had forgotten to.
night, to Stella's satisfaction.
She drew chair to the window that
faced the dim mountain across the
gorge, closed her senses to the little
world about her and was quickly of
with the sprites of the might to keep
her hearts tryst with Alfred. Not
quite alone did they two meet this
night in fancy's fair halls. Viola, AL
vim, even Sally BIS uncompromising
black eyes interrupted Stella's dreams.
Minutes licked by unheeded. Hur.
rying feet came and went; calls, cries
hasty commands, odors of unusual
cooking foated past inadequate doors;
but Stella was oblivious till q draught
of air struck her cheek sharply and
; Gideon's voice called her.
She started to her feet. Gideon!
Whereyou said Tomorrow in your
message! Who told you'll was here?'
mo one. can always find you,
Stella. Something tells me. The in
stant opened the door knew you
were here. A kind Of fragrance
could tell it, 1..#.
Don't, Gideon she INTERRUPTED
She was looking for matches, but his
alert sense caught the aversion IN tone
and movement. 81
Your father once told me that q
Pima princess was my great-grand
mother. I cannot escape my heritage
from her." He took the match she had
struck and lighted the hanginr lamp
The. fame shOne full on his unturned
face. and Stella gazed at him fas.
cinated, while he adjusted wick and