The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1919-10-16


could be expected from any man in
the very proper East from which she
hailed, and no one could have been
more polite in his treatment Of her.
Occasionally an "ain't" crept into his
conversation, but that was not an I'M
pardonable sin.
She had heard it before she came
West. Frank Richards was little
rough in his way, but he was not I'M
couth, she finally decided. He was a
cavalier of the mountains, and his
heart was pure gold, even though his
pick and shovel failed to unearth the
precious metal. Still he was just
prospector.
All this passed through Delia's mind
while she was reading the biography
of Abraham Lincoln to her pupils. She
heard one class after she had read as
far as time permitted, and the children
were dismissed to lay plans for spend
ing the holiday.
But Delia's work was not through.
Written tests had been held the pre-
vious day and she had to stay until
late hour at night correcting the pa
pers. Finally the last of these was
examined and the percentage of errors
marked in a corner of the first page.
Then Della leaned back in her chair
and realized that darkness was de-
scending over Cedar Gulch. Through
the window she could see an OCCASION
al light flicker into the gloom and cast
reflection after reflection on the snow
paved streets Of the settlement.
From a drawer Of her desk the
teacher took letter. The size Of the
envelope and the style Of penmanship
in the address made it appear that the
author was a woman. A faint OdOr of
roses lingering about the letter was
another Indication that a feminine
hand had penned the missive.
But appearances counted for naught
in this instance. Opening the letter,
Della read it for the fourth time since
her receipt of it at the general store
and post office that morning. One
passage from it was:
"And so, Della, I am again asking
you to give up that life in the wilds
and come back to the civilized East
and settle down with me in the old
family mansion. 1t is true as you nave
said that l have no worthwhile occu-
patton, but the interest on the estate
left by my father will suffice to satisfy
your slightest wish. I shall expect an
answer soon-One such as l deserve
after such long and faithful court
ship as mine has BEEN" The letter
was signed 'Reginald Pooverton."
Della shifted at the scented en-
velope.
"Reggy is a good sort of chap"
she soliloquized, land he could give
me everything / desired-that is,
everything of a material nature. Only
he does persist in this abominable
perfume-;lnd he smokes those hOr-
rid cigarettes l don't mind cigarette
smoker. but when a man fairly lives
on them, and when they are per-
fumed-"
She did not finish the sentence. In
stead she put on her jacket and nat.
placed the perfumed letter in pocket,
straightened up her desk, locked the
school-for she was the only teacher
end of the gulch, where stood the
boarding and rooming house OF Mrs.
Patrick Maloney which Della called
home.
Her route led past Uncle Franks"
log cabin, situated close to the road,
near Il cunp Of trees. AS she was
about to pass, a CLEAN of yellow light
shot from the window. She paused
and could not refrain from looking in
to the cabin.
She saw the prOspectOr bending
over crude table. reading by the
light Of a candle which evidently he
had just lighted, for the tiny blaze
was unsteady. Before him was a pom
derous book. the identity Of which she
could not determine; but it looked sus-
piciously like the one that helped to
make one Webster famous.
Della watched him turn page after
page.
Must be reading the dictionary
through" she decided, and then
watched while he left the table. He
returned in a moment and resumed his
peruSal of the volume, putting dense
clouds of smoke from cOrncob pipe
which now extended from between his
lips.
Della took the perfumed letter from
her pocket and tore 1t into minute
pieces, which the night wind proceed
ed to scatter promiScuously over snow
clad Cedar Gulch.