The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1908-04-09


ceive her. She would always know his
lnmost heart She might uncomplain-
inely bear neglect after marriage,
coldness; but she would never for
give him if he married her with less
than the whole of his love.
The middle OF October found Alfred
in placerville, whore had been sent to
purchase for the company 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
Washue, 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
81 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 PlaceVille stage
company has set 60 snow under the
Dutch Flat and Donner Lake state
Companys schedule. II so, | shall
complete my business there and be
with you two days later I'll telegraph
the day | 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 a secret big deal;
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 ! may
look it up.
But here is the cream of my letter
for you, dear-for us. | am to have
handsome percentage of any money
that can save the company in this
enterprise now pending. If the busi-
ness goes as it promises the day when
] may say Come will be long leap
nearer"
Closing words were penned from a
flood 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 fruity fra
GRANGE of autumn, Stella read and re-
read Alfreds letter. and mused 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 a 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 sen
.ible enough to know that assuming
them would be folly. For underlying
all her vain wishes was a recognition
of something within a dim vision of
the power of her own 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, Alvin
cheerful voice foated 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 office, and was now
awaiting his successor. Yet the sight
of him 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 floated from tongue
to tongue did not escape her sensitive
ears 1t was said that he was in love
with the superintendents 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
belitf that Alfred had no love for her,
and that she must meet Gideon, tell
him, defy him. 1t would be a 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 paror 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 ap-
pealingly as she entered, do you think
feller that's all straight but one leg
the Lord himself put crook in ought
TO be tipped the cold shoulder for
that"
Boy! Tain't that" Sally B said
sharply before Stella could speak IF
you had a home, an money an could
give vi some place in the world"
You bet Iii never ask you to give
her up, ma'am, till 1 have a home for
her" Alvin broke in impetuously; "a
number one home, tool"
"But, Al, that's turrible fur OFF, How
in thunder kin You do it?'
Sally BIS heart warmed to the
pluck of him in spite of her deter
mination.