The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-04-24


lect, waiting for Congress to take
some notice Of her. Buford told sto-
ries of the vicissitudes Of 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 its 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
showered them with the prodigality Of
an 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 "let her
alone" having been taken as a wish to
spare her anxiety. 1t was thought that
the mail would be in now in a day or
two. That would be the end Of the
fairy tale. 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 a Joy
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 a rush Of cold all
and a triumphant cry Of:
"The malls come"
He limped forward to meet hel
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 thing of nc
Importance when their eyes met ovel
1t. Her face was nipped by the keer
outside air into bright, beaming rosi
ness. She wore on her head mans
fur cap which was pulled down, anG
pressed wisps of fair hair against hel
forehead and cheeks. A loose fur
| lined coat enveloped her to her feet
and after she had handed him hii
letter she pulled off the mittens she
wore and began unfastening the clasps
of the coat, with fingers that wert
purplish and cramped from the cold.
There's only one for you." she said
II waited till the postmaster looked al
through them twice. Then made hin
give it to me and ran back here will
1t. The entire population Of Ante
lope's in the post-office and therei
the greatest excitement"
Her coat was unfastened and sh'
threw back its long fronts, her tlgur'
outlined against the gray fur lining
She snatched of her cap and tosse'
it to an adjacent chair and with
quick hand brushed away the hair !
had pressed down on her forehead.
II got seven," she said, turning t
the fire, "and papa a whole bunch
and the Judge, quantities. and WI
loughby, three. But only one for yo
poor. neglected mani"
Spreading her hands wide to tn
blaze she looked at him over he
shoulder, laughing teasingly. He ha
the letter in his hands still unopened
why" she cried, what an extraol
: binary sight! You haven't opened It!
"No," he answered. turning 1t owe
, "T haven't"
'I've always heard that curiosit
was 9, feminine weakness but neve
u knew till now" she said. please 6