JA rR 2] : | Ee ES CHAPTER XXil—Continued. pail | “Be so kind as to explain. I under- stand that you were ordered to Alas- ka.” “Were you not told of my return far as the butte?” “Then your orders to Marie as were the leave evaded question. His eves darkened, and his { tracted as if from a twinge of pain. But he replied with quiet “That is of no consequence. ask if you consider my word g “Yes.” The answer was given with-! out an instant's hesitation. He smiled gravely. “Yi think I eame back to win the mine for myself. You have my word that I will assign it to you as soon as I h the legal right.” “Tome? But why?” The ( of the girl showed her rpris and astonishment. “Why? There, that last night .at the agency, you showed that you despised me.” “Never that,” he disclaimed. “TI was bitter—harsh. But the suddenness the discovery that you and he— us not talk of that. It is past. would not have come back to trouble you, only—" . Again he stopped. “I had. to come back and do this thing. It was necessary that you should be- come owner of the mine—sole owner, It is to be yours, not his. that you will never give him any share in it. That is all I ask.” “I will not promi me your reason for unless you tell me doing what you hav 100 C0ON- steadiness: May 1 good? a Hlating eves iiating e) | utter su: e of Let romise me se unless Hardy whitened. It is simply he will wish to mat “If I— Buthea The girl hesit: black ey “1 the contrary, that hin CDrows do not seek ou give n a silence she 1 prom- | ise.” | “That is all,” he said. *I mn be going.” } st now not i 1 i i i i : “You Shall Not!” told this.” “Is it necessary 7" he replied. “Please | do not fancy is because I am at all unselfish. You have promised your- gelf to him. Knowing that I no longer had a fighting chance, I have merely sought to make sure that he— that you should have at least a fair op- | portunity to be happy. That is all” | He lingered a moment for a last look at her beautiful face, upon which had | fallen the inscrutable stolidity of the Indian in her nature. No other ex- pression could have so completely con- firmed him in his belief that he had | lost his fighting chzuce to win her. He faced about to return up the mountain the way he had come. | Marie stood as he left her, silent | and immobile, following his ascent up the path to the mine shaft with a wide-eyed gaze that perceived the objective image, yet at the same time seemed to be looking Inward, A purpling that shaded the blue-black- ness of her eyes to violet-black alone betrayed the intensity of her emotion. The receding figure had along the spur to the foot of the steep ascent up the mountain before the girl became aware that Vandervyn wns close beside her, He started to puss behind, to where Hardy had dropped the rifle and revolver. In a flash of swift movement she sprang ahead of him and set her foot upon the rifle barrel. “You shall not.” Her volce was low. and seemingly tranquil, her race as stolid ns before, | but the look in her eyes made him | hesitate. He glanced about at Dupont, | The trader had turned his back on | Hardy, nnd was staring fixedly into | the valley at a party of Indians that | had come down the far side nnd were pitebine their camp In the meadow, It me why—why you have done it even passed was evident that he did not to be a witness to anything vyn might do. “Mon pere,” He shot a hesitated, and Vandervyn's Vander- quietly ealled Marie, startled glance at her, came over to them. were upturned to the figure on the mountaihside in a look of hate that was not pleasant to Dupont followed the menacing and then glanced away as if in the guilty act. Fast y whs scaling the ascent, within rifle and to be for several minutes, eyes See, stare, caugh Ha still is » Wis eusy shot would continue Vandervyn moistened his dry tered hoarsely : “Take her She-—won't let me— coughea, 1d] lips, into do it.” a cabin, and ind spoke in olce, “Come into the "* ghe replied. " “yr 0 “But he urged. won't never know, and we won't looking. We can lay it on the Indian what 8 tried to git him There's lot of ‘em Don't listen, girl, puck twice a'ready. Foy a come into the valiey— look I that way. The dir yk our mine away from it by a trick, cutting Van can't afford id him don't git the mine.” “What if I should itr with no her inscrutable calm. Vandervyn whirled upon her, face eonvulsed with jealous fury. that's it! You've sold yourself him! You—" He stopped, silenced by her look. After a pause she quietly remark “He gives the mir He is gob I do not know where, Instend I am to be the ] Do you wish to at me a snenk hi ty us—he done Mr. nie FOSS afoot. to n ou If arry J get asked shade of girl, change “Qo me ie, owner CHAPTER XXIII, A Wedding Postponed. Vandervyn's face darker i } “wre If 1 A “He g vou aot m tht 1t9 iD IL The young man's jaw « could not even pret or Hardy’ his racted tatement down, Fn ror t sere wnt took the news mn “By Gar!” he exulted. you the it? By square of a-thinking back at It ‘ap. Why, it's nearly 1 had give it to me!” “He named only one condition” narked Marie. Yandervyn started, and looked up She met him with of nner. to give mine? of ighty 0 Gar! Cap. he dor sure is the re me ie us. white of same nt a level glance what she was thinking. “One i she repeated. was my promise not to give you any share in the mine.” “Me? queried Dupont. “No.” “I see,” threatened Vandervyn. “Ile © thing to do with me, “On the contrary, he seemed to thir it would—not prevent our marrying. Vandervyn stared in bewilderment, Hardy's action seemed in Then he thought he perceived the planation, and rallied from his ple ity. His frown gave place cynical smile, credible, ox- per- to a “O-ho, my lady! I see. You worked with the soft pedal—the saphead! The easy mark! He's just the kind of duffer to fall for the wail of a pretty girl with a tear in her eye and a qua- er in her throat, Good for you, sweet- heart! You beat him at He tried a bluff, thinking you'd be silly to throw for him. You called him, and he had to make The fool thi you'd be hin his own game, ne over «1 0) 1 in the what Just he made a to galleries with his offer! n easymark !™ “Is that exactly the right calinly inquired the girl. “None better!” exulted Vandervyn. “He made you promise not to give me a share in the mine. Mining property is real estate. An agreement in regard to real estate is not binding unless In writing.” Marie's tranquil face took on an ex- pression of artless really? Then his promise to give me the mine Is not binding.” “Don't worry,” reassured Vandervyn. “He will keep his word, You are sure of the mine” “But, of course, If I take back my promise, it will be no more than fair to give him the chance take back his,” she innocently remarked. “Not at all, sweetheart,” he replied. ‘You ean do as you please, A wom- an's promises are not considered bind- ing~in business matters. Legally, In most of the states, she is rated as a minor,” because play Oh, term?” concern. to " ‘ "w our state,” interjected Dupont remindin She “Thank you for me, Pere,” sald his daughter, ooked at Vandervyn with nalve seriousness “So you see I must keep my promise.” “Oh, I say now, don't be a—" He detected something behind her look of childlike artlessness, and ha concede the point. “But of you feel that way about it! t have to break your promise after The law will then make your property that is settled, Now comes the main quest] shall we be married?” The girl quivered at the word. close, and looked Into his own glowing golden with ar She dropped her gaze, and drew o> » 1 i tened to if You will Course no mine. So sweetheart. stepped Y ©8, dor. } suddennd “] 58 of his proposal, must think,” she murmured has gi “Not will the have his ven me mine? when you do it. Anyway, harm in naming the day. word th there's Come, he no 4 tm § 4% an early one! The girl's rich color deepened wi a blush, “Not she replied, to recover her composure, m v Perhaps. tomorrow-—but now [—" She glanced around as if looking for a way of promise of succor ln her f placent grin. Her gaze darted down { into the valley; it rested upon the er Indians, “Look.” mur “That is Thunderbolt's teg ing down to see him. He should told that he may be prosecuted if h It is © now!" “You escape, nping she Hoe In BO hunts here now, 0 “There’ ervs 8 no need, sweethean n. "1 will » , @ nterferes with rt.” sal gee to It s chief that no the ad all down and tell hi do not come frowned es 4 any 1 OK ir rie airens Was ints iin venerable ared in the He di later three and figure of apps tepee, iment women tepee, thant She the f The chief was seated at the fa | of the ‘hed bilan ne el low tepee near form in outstret In There was no o wer He beckoned Marie te come #8 to him. As that the hair before him was braided after the the over and thi she appre pproached, she of the still figure ¥ ! fer 4 fas She y+ : ion of maidens of the tribe, bent ns 80 ie lnoked into face that ft did not recognize it. The large, sunken id looked up at her wigh startled gaz ©" she she and “Yon are exclnimed, knelt down beside the girl, i IL" { HN ee wretched her w Go 'wn girl. A Row She please ™ flush reddened to to be alone, face, sought “I want ‘shamed 0 ‘way Marie looked up Ti-owa-konza He the pity her eyes, and spoke softly in Lakotah: who art flower of the is gnawing. The Pluck out the worm, fade and go from me.” He stood up and wrapped his blan- ket about him and went out. An hour passed, Through vas wall of the tent those heard a low murmuring and at times the sound of sobbing. At last Marie raised the edge of the tepee and spoke to a group of women, of them hastened to fetch from the fire a bowl of hot broth. 8he went into the tepee, and at once came out again without the bowl. There followed another long walt, | But no more crying could be heard, and gradually the sound of the low voices within the tepee died away to silence. Tlowa-konza eame back to {the entrance, listenod awhile, and | nolselessly slipped Inside, Oinna lay with her head on Marie's breast, Her eyes were She had fallen into the peaceful, healing i slumber of childhood, A smile hov- { cred on her half-parted lips, The bowl | beside her was empty. : Yery gently Marie Inid the sleeping girl's head upon a blanket roll, and rose to come ueross to the silent grand { father. They talked for several min- tutes in Lakotah., When she stepped | pnst him and left the tepee, his face | was still set In the stoleal calm of i the Indian warrior of his geperation, | but his proud old eyes were glistening | with gratitude and stern joy. The sun had set, and the twilight | was nlrendy fading. By the time Ma- van from the turn visitor. I am please.” at saw in st red, a worm > asi f lose waite the golden | 1 4 in golden 1H ¥ y else she 4 us the can- outside {ne closed. RH were dusky with the shadow of ap- proaching nightfall. Within the cabin Dupont had lit one of the mine candles, The candlestick was bottle, an empty whisky Another bottle, not yet empty, the two men, ns Marie paused In the open doorway. He sprang up to come around the table to her. “I've been languishing for you all afternoon. Would've the hill, only your dad sal on your ear if I did.” “Yes,” quietly replied the girl, chased down you'd get She from the candle, as if the light dazzled her, As spoke, stepped in and along the side of the table oppo- him, apparently not “Yes, I would not have vou. I was nursing down in the camp.” she she site seeing him. cared to of the Hee Biri one Vandervyn stopped short, “It wa anything infectious, I hope.” “No. I shall not suffer from same trouble, But I am very tired. ar’ sn't I “l Want to Be Alone. | Am Shamed.” see you Pere You have eaten, cepted su love and uncertain He fetch walted the ! reopen tl until Dupon horses hefore 3 be ti he “Yen ught to ha she the “You will name an early date! exclaimed, assured ness of her look. Her smile faded, it over” * he coy sweet. and she dropped ty that had never before seen her pride do it what is wonld be no! I must ink what no, faust like by you. h Vandervyn winced, rallied, 3 with ardor: “Let what they please, so 1 my wife! “That is most gallant and she murmured. *“But-—there Pere.” Vandervyn oined them on as ar you “ you!" is also bit his lip. come along? Marie looked up, her eyes full of ten- der reproach. “I did not think that of you, Reggie. How can I leave him here alone? You have never scemed realize that I came back from Ottawa I wished to be with him. Even before I went to convent I the to because saw traits thing more—the that he have been” “Don’t Imagine I'm asking ¥ou to give him up,” Vandervyn hastened to disclaim, “All I suggest is that we take our honeymoon trip alone.” “And leave Pere with no one to cook for him--leave him here! Can't you guess what would happen? Within a week--n fortnight at the utmost--he would marry the youngest and best cook within reach, a breed girl by pref- erence—most likely Charlie's sister.” Vandervyn winced as if cut across the face with a whiplash. “No--not her!" he “Thut—it would be impossible! would be— I tell you, I will stand for it—I cannot!” “Of courge that could not be mitted,” sweetly agreed Marie, 1 would not eare to come back and find I had acquired a stepmother as young or younger than myself--no, not even if she were ns clean and as good a girl as {8s Oinna Redbear.” “Then «- you ~= think ~-*" Vandervyn, “Listen, I have thought and thought, and now I have it all planned out, I must, do what Is just by you, yet, man stammered, She not per- hesitated as you see, I cannot leave Pere here, little about the English people 1 knew in Ottawa. When 1 saw that you He had then started east, too intent hints, 1 really was intimate with Lady than you will find it easy Her son and daughters already married. She fl to When 1 was to come home, she invited me visit her in England. 1 had told her all about myself and Pere, We correspond regularly. newed her The lust time she { should without | and bring Pere with me, “She di« except in Verlalne to belleve, were took me, to has more than insisted that 1 further delay, She re invitation Onee, { come " an Vandervyn. not all three of us exclaimed | “Then | ge | Marie drooped again in her a { of meek humility. | “You | willl go to- ‘ther? tt ! But a Pere make such a better . with Pere to England, and then perhaps for a little the of my convent, travel with you there 2 to to N, NO: : is rifice, Seno) allow | shall alone o ro mother h 40 the Pere { Paris with glster { superior of | never forgotten dialect, and I have nto fairly good French, mont} Paris may his smooth down our rough- for er his been tin A fn iu correct accent, us to venture ov hington without putting reat shame before your fr ¥ all that 1 In. utiy to “Two months! plained Vanderv) “Indeed, no. It wered the girl, mere » much longer, fans annot ya if Pere it his cattle b agency girl. wish I me the mi sides, does 0 us iness, from quanti y and of time not reach or Ie ive or six to Duy n. Washington before to put it o " embe Wer months! Aren't you willl from a hast from Vande “Of won yyn: fearfully CHAPTER XXIV. Tilting at Windmills, arly winter 8 ngton wa activities of « « i and heiress, Miss th ye nt known in Parisi: tall, olive-tinted maid, who ug sald to be of Spanish or Hindu and a male relative, Monsieur Dupont French i th French-Canadian idioms and Eng- { lish with a quaint sprinkling of rn Americ him before wrivilege w origin ; ques who spoke west anisms. By those who saw and he x said to be quite " But her, they usually agreed with verdict that he decidedly amusing and “picturesque.” Letters to the wives of three or four they had the pleasure sting Miss Dupont, “ of mee impossible, after meeting the WAS general | ambassadors opened to the heiress the of the exclusive official | society, and her wonderful beauty and charm carried all before her by storm. Men raved over her eyes: her French gowns, { suite of devoted admirers mg whom, | doors most women over had a and suitors, despite his engagement {to the daughter of his eminent uncle, Mr. Reginald Vandervyn was one of the most ardent, All this had come to Hardy through society reports in the newspapers and from the chance remarks of acquaint. ances, The remarks very seldom were made by persons fortunate enough to She soon am presence of Miss Dupont. Hardy's neatly kept clothes were somewhat out of style, and his lodgings, in an old warren down on M street, were cheap and shabby. There were still better reasons for the worldly wise to shun the company of the officer so Iatgly distinguished for his services in the Philippines. It wns whispered thai the interests for which he had been diligently lobbying since midsummer were opposed to the interests of the proadministration group of which the eminent Clemmer was the leader, ore openly the fact was bruited about was to be subjected to trial by court martial on grave charges, For he was still in the service, Upon his return from the hard-won {race for the mine, he had filed his | claim with the commissioners, and {journeyed on as soon as possible to {the rallrond. There he had sold his mare at a low price, but with the op ficer had the tomary leave of granted CTs the and of absence his immediate resignn Great had been the day ding pen acceptance of neonditional tion. his consternation when of his arrival in Wash- vr war departinent, absence been action on his re i ed: he had been pos ted How and on ever, his record on the huste of the had brou intervention by members of weral staff to cause several months’ slay In the of his er ush him. Aetion on the charges d against him by the Indian hand, at tack suffi {f the indecent f the other, ght about «cient rit we i“ plan com rs and by his command] : ng officer had been postponed from month to month. | Meantime he had been of « he District free to pur had contest laced under to umbia, he nominal arrest the limits of t l wet ch left h which he 184 Come been claim. On the found himself the i against his mineral he had entitled con. s00n le- to duly west Marie's note of ac- the writer mine ly drawn an 4 1 bad started stated of the in HER 4 { } 2 opventional of and His progress toward the acc his second purpose : een he ie not t n of t new treat) then K had x] contract. It non obtain f the India: notified to 11 trial i rian oertl 1 5 rrr Jarra conduc A uver Vanco the head {0 repo sr ’ wv xd mine of trial brought natters erate pass with him, He must set quickiy. It was the night of the first ball at the White House. As usual, there vas a great crush. Hardy, in conventional | [he nearness to des i { The Fact Was Bruited About That He Was $5 Be Court-Martialed. evening dress-—~not in official costume, jus the regulations required-—mennged | in some mysterious manner to obtain | entrance. The secret-service men had {no instructions with regard to him, {ond considerable time passed before | anyone inimical to him heeded his uns | obtrusive presence, (TO BE CONTINUED.) Remarkable Strength of Fly, By harnessing a fly to a tiny wagon an English scientist found it could {draw 170 times its own weight over smooth surfaces, Daily Thought. There is a best way to do every. thing, even if It be but to ball an egg. ~merson. | i i |
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers