The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-04-13

strangers an attitude go exclusive and forbiddng he
~ quito far afeld in suspecting himself to be
the object of exceptional social disfavor In point
= of fact Aguar had nothing against Jason Gilncr;
what would have called his record" was entirely
unknown; 1t merely wished to demonstrate, by means
Of srgid indifference to him, its loyalty to Colonel
= Wggin.
= Colonel Wiggin had, indeed. of his own will re-
: signed charge of the Company's store, but this
circumstance did little to temper his admirers
. lutte aversion for the newcomer The Colonel was
of exceeding popularity and when, after ex.
River country, he announced his design of putting
his fortunes to the test of proof in the new camp,
deep gloom fell on the town which had 80 ungrudg-
ingly paid tribute to his social gifts.
= IT hate the worst kind to leave y'all-but when
mans got stuff in his veins like | got life OF
adventure is just naturally all he's fit fo. said the
Colonel in that rich Southern dialect which, together
with his title he had acquired during years So
! journ in Georgia.
The ColoneTs little pretensions in this sort
quite innocent. being grounded in nothing more
rcprehensible than his childkc admiration for life in
the State of his adoption. But for that twelve month
in the South and the food of romantic tradition with
which it had nurtured the Colonels starved Con-
nectcut fancy, there is telling whether Agular
would have found its idols fascination irresist-
ible. Certainly his recitas must have lacked some
thing had they been shorn OF the rnagnolias and
moonshinc and mint julcps which gave them
much local color And to the elegant proaigacy
and impassioned love episodes furnishing life and
movement to the Coloners stories OF himself, these
things presuppose, it will be seen, a fervor of the
blood most probable in land not only favorable in
point of climate but having time for the cultivation
of fine behavior.
In this Granny of the soorched foothills the Col
oneIs romanticism had been too rare and exquisite
"a thing not to be widely appreciated. When, there
fore, the town realized that it would hear more
of those "darkeyed daughters of the South" who had
Figured so swectly in the Coonels narratives,
) ing featy in burning accents to gentleman whose
paunchy figure and bald head did not TO
have detracted from his fatal charm for women. then
indeed there was nothing for Aguilar to do, except
to stand with pocketed hands and souching chin
refusing any comfort save such as lay IN hostility
toward the intcrloper.
s In this attitude Jason Gilrncr found the scene Of
his abors, and regarding it. seemed unaware OF
anything queer in the moral atmosphere. The per-
ception of queerness indeed appeared shortly to bo
the part of his reluctant neghbors for assuredly
there among them dull-witted as not
to catch at something decidedly odd in the new
clerk.
He was little man, thin and elderly, of whom
nothing was known, except that he had kept coun-
try store somewhere in Kentucky. No glowing hint
Of this State, however, clung to his pale gray per-
sonality. His eyes vague and wide, and there
was in his face strangely impressive vacancy that
was like the ghost OF fear and sorrow f0redone.
He told no tales, sang song, drank drinks, gave
credit. Yet, days went on, though he won
hearts, all the which had been reserved for
him slowly vanished, and those who had most Loyalty
denounced him lowered their accent to a tone OF at
least passive friendness.
) When it became known that Gilmer had wife
and daughter who shortly to join him in Colo
RADIO, the last lingering of in Colonel Wig
gins adherents departed forever. Girls, excepting
heavy Mexican variety, were remarkably scarce
in Aguar if real Kentucky maiden about to
to town, nothing in way of gallant attention
would be withheld from her or her klnsfolk. For
kentucky, though not Immediately contiguous to that
!" South" which Colonel Wiggin had painted them in
large scenic effects, nevertheless removed by
rivers breadth from the absolute and hopeless social
vapidity which he had figured forth as Inevitable to
the North 1t had besides, III certain we'll known de-
tails picturesque and enlivening prc-eninencc,
which, being quito we'll understood by every one,
added not little to the fervor OF excitement prevail
Ing in town on the day announced for the coming Of
= Gilners family.
: An hour before train time iders began to gather
about French Giuscppes place which, commanding
; an unobstructcd view of the station at Lynn, two
miles away by the winding prairie road, had in this
instance tremendous advantage Of its FIVE
pettors. The men stood scanning with vivid
pecaney the seaike stretch of erana, in which like
painted buoy the distant red station seemed to be
anchored. When presently, with the effect OF a YES
sci below the horizon, fluff OF smoke curcd above
: the northern levels, general exclamation burst
forth.
"She's right on the dotr
ITO the secondly Gec.-and road-bed an
ging its tiny woralile length from the edge of the
: way station, and moment later black spcck on the
plains resolved itself into the rapidly approaching
mail wagon. with its two fe7y broncos
~ Kind o queer Gilmer didn't go over to meet the
!. folks remarked iii, there, Ramon! stick
your head in the store and tell Cilncr the folks or
come. Tell him he wants git move on him
: self"
! AT this Mexican boy rushed to the porch of the
8 Company store and projected iron, his bosom an
excited shout scnor! Ohe, senior the family is
: arrive! 1t will reach the bridge even by now
: Senorl Scnor! il is that you shall rustic" and as
= Gilmer came forth, blinking little in the glorine
q light, the boy moderated his tone TO confidential
note, adding: You behold Apodaca's wagon Ell?
:; He will hat two passenger, eh, Look senor
: ssenora of much fat"
81. "Heh Ramon!-ah. that's my good wife She is a
= little feshy, yes Ny good wife, Ramon, who comes
= to make me home in the desert lie rubbed his
thin hands and kind OF tender smile hckered in the
- dimness OF his yisagc.
g e oh the wifcand the other; There viii be
e two passenger, senor;"
nny-dauphter"