Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-08-30

tory and stood in unadministered neg
lect, waiting for Congress to take
some notice of her. Buford told sto-
ries of the vicissitudes of a strolling
players life. He had been in the
Klondike during the first gold rush
and told tales of mining in the North
! to match those Of mining on the
mother lode" Willoughby, thawed
out Of his original shyness, added to
the nights entertainments stories Of
the Australian bush, grim legends Of
the days Of the penal settlements at
Botany Bay. Young Ryan was the
only man Of the group who contribut-
ed nothing to these Sierran Nights
Entertainments. He sat silent In his
chair, apparently listening, and, under
the shadow of the hand arched over
| his eyes, looking at the girl opposite.
But the idyl had to end. Their cap
tivity passed into it's third week, and
signs that release was at hand cheered
them. They could go out. The streets
OF Antelope were beaten into foot
paths, and the prisoners, with the en-
thusiasm Of children liberated from
school, rushed into open-air diversions
and athletic exercise. The first word
from the outside world came by re-
stored telegraphic communication
Consolatory messages poured in from
San Francisco. Mrs, Ryan, the elder.
sent kilograms as long as letters and
Oh vii ~
ar impassioned gratitude on the
camp. Perley had one that he could
not speak Of without growing husky.
Willoughby had one that made him
blush. Dominick had several. None.
however. had come from his wife and
he guessed that none had been sent
her, his remark to Rose to "1et her
alone" having beeY taken as a wish to
spare her anxietyfIt was thought that
the mall would'be in now in day or
two. That would be the end of the
fairy tale. I, They sat about the fire
on these last evenings discussing their
letters, what they expected, and whom
they would be from. No one told any
more stories; the thought of news
from the Outside" was too absorbing.
1t came in the early dusk of an aft
ernoon near the end Of the third week.
Dominick, who was still unable to
walk, was standing by the parlor win
dow. when he saw Rose Cannon run
past outside. She looked In at him
as she ran by, her face full Of e .cy-
GUS excitement. and held up to his
gaze a small white packet A moment
later the hall door banged, her foot
sounded in the passage. and she en-
tered the room with rush of cold air
and a triumphant cry Of:
THE mails come"
He limped forward to meet her
and take from her hand the letter she
held toward him. For the first mo-
ment he looked at her, not at the let
ter, which dwindled to a thing Of no
importance when their eyes met over
it. Her face was nipped by the keen
outside air into bright, beaming rosi-
ness She wore on her head a mans
fur cap which was pulled down, and
pressed wisps Of fair hair against her
forehead and cheeks. A loose fur
lined coat enveloped her to her feet,
and after she had handed him his
letter she pulled off the mittens she
wore and began christening the clasps
of the coat, with fingers that were
purplish and cramped from the cold.
There's only one for you," she said
81 waited till the postmaster looked ali
through them twice. Then made him
give II to me and ran back here with
It. The entire population Of Ante
lope's in the post-office and there's
the greatest excitement"
Her coat was unfastened and she
threw back its long fronts, her figure
outlined against the gray fur lining
She snatched off her cap and tossed
it to an adjacent chair and with a
quick hand brushed away the hair 1t
had pressed down on her forehead
Il got seven," she said, turning to
the fire. "and papa a whole bunch.
and the Judge. quantities. and VIII
loughby. three. But only one for you |
poor. neglected mani"
Spreading her hands wide TO the |
blaze she looked at him over ner |
shoulder. laughing teasingly. He. had |
the letter in his hands still unopened. !
Why" she cried. what an extraor-
binary sight! You haven't opened it,"
No." he answered. turning 1t over.
Il haven't"
I've always heard that curiosity
was a feminine weakness but never
knew TIL now" she. said. please 20