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It wm a Joyful return to the Meeqnlto
valley ranch. Difficult Indeed would
It k to exaggerate tho enthusiastic wol
comoof tho impnlslvo Kntoj tho over
joyed though restrained greeting of tho
wore conservative Edith, for in tho brief
Interval of his nbsenco Miss Stafford had
passed some very lonoly hours and had
found Unto to reallzo how much tho
prosonco of Bruco had grown to bo to
her, If sho had reflected with bitterness
npon tho change of his attitudo toward
her, if sho had found tho contrast tc
tweon Miss Dallas and herself so over
whelming that sho almost pitied Ilruco
for tho blindness of his own vision, Micro
was nothing strange or unfeminino in all
Indeed, considering tho tender regard
the lady entertained for tho ranchman,
It was quito natural that sho should lw
convinced that sho was tho ono person
la the wide world to mako him happy.
Quite m natural was it that sho should
Me nothing but misery for him in in
dulging this unoiplatnahlo regard for
Mies Dallas, that she should lwllove
Bruce to Ira tho victim of some species of
enchantment, and that tho prestlgo of hor
own birth and position should inspire
her with littlo but aversion and con
tempt for her rival.
Actuated by these feelings, tho fair
Edith during tho first hours of his re
turn laid aaldo the plane that sho had
shown of late and displayed an arch and
Slayful manner that Bruce had onco
rand irresistible. It was tho old Edith,
whose nameless grace and charm had
once well nigh betrayed him into a dec
laration. For a time he appeared liko
one fascinated by a memory of tho past,
and Edith waa about to congratulate her
self npon the return of her influence
when one morning she beheld him saddlo
his hone and ride away without taking
leave of her aa of old. It was three days
before he again appeared at the Mesqulte
valley ranch.
Mlaa Stafford needed no prompting hs
to the nature of his journey. Tho direc
tion in which his horse had been headed
settled that But she was grieved and
Indignant. Without stopping to trace
tho steps by which she arrived at tl.itt
conclusion, sho felt herself terribly out
raged and wronged. Sho was vindictive
in consequence. Ilowbeit, sho resolved
to make ono more determined effort tc
regain her ascendency. Sho would if
possible remove Bruco from thoinfluenco
of this rural siren who was fast teach
ing him to forget tho requirements of his
rank of life. If in tho interval Cynthia,
flndinglieraelf abandoned, should decldo
to crown tho hopes of one so sultablo as
the Rlooiny Mr, Jerrold, Miss Stafford
would renew her childish belief that "all
marriages were made in heaven."
In this strait she appealed to Kerno
ehan to fulfill a promise, given long be
fore, to take them on a fortnight's trip
to Aastln, the capital of the state. She
reminded Mm .'that her visit waa draw
ing to a close, and that the time was
abort in which to keep his word. Her
indulgent host readily acquiesced.
Wheu this trip had been decided upon,
Phil Kemoohan proposed that tho four
should rido over to San Marcus on borne
back, it being necessary that ho and his
partner should arrange some business
matters before their departure. The
proposal was received with favor.
Before setting out Miss Stafford ro-
S aired to her room, where she arrayed
creelf in tho faultless riding dress with
which she liad onco electrified Miss Dal
las, As she peered into her toilet mirror
there was n grim resolve about the lines
of her mouth from which her qnick
witted sex might liave argued no quarter
to a rival. And it waa noticeable that
the fvw additional hairpins with which
the lady found it necessary to secure her
raven tressea were placed in position al
most fiercely very much aa Mist Edith
might have used a harpoon npon some
oraatara that had excited her resentment
,Wh her, toilet was completed, she
swveysd herself from head to foot crit
ically, lmt with evident approval, after
which she opened a small jewel casket
and taHajrrrom sa taaer rseeas a nas
shssUapedit hurriedly apost the third
flaa of her left hand. It was a solitaire
diamond, large and brilliant, and ahe
passed her small handkerchief across it
once or twice, catching the morning sun
light oa the flashing Jewel aad noting
bow it graced her dimpled hand. But
there waa sa expression in the lady'a
dark eyes that waa hardly assuring.
The ring waa a mere memory with
Edith a souvenir of an attachment
from which the sentiment had long
since faded a rello of an almost forgot
ten past. Howbeit, although she usually
wore no rings, she permitted it to re
main upon her finger that morning, and
drawing her riding glovo quickly over
the gem sue joined tho mounted party
at the ranch gate, where the impatient
- Phil was calling loudly upon the ladies
to harry.
After dinner that afternoon, when
Kemoohan aad Bruce had left them to
transact the inevitable business, and
Kate, weary with the morning's ride, had
insisted on taking a siesta in spite of the
taffy atmosphere of the San Marcus
hotel, Edith waa dominated by a sudden
energy. ' She leaned against a window of
the dreary parlor and gaaed down the
goaty road toward the green foliage of
ate river. How cool it looked tberel
Aa4 what a short distance away t What
was" to prevent her going there if aha
would? She answered this question by
ordering the sleepy proprietor to have
her pony saddled and brought to the
boat gallery at once.
Haviag succeeded in gaining the sad
dle naassUted, with ewe and dash
that left that 'worthy 'speechless afld
staring, Miss Stafford rode quietly oat
allow. When she reached the river, ahe
lid not' atop, but guiding her mustang
.skjttfalljriaoross tho shallow ford sue
- varaf aa m mh as w kvm apui.tM
? MMstts haak. taking the dtrecOoa of
aaaHas WmwtMW NVW W nMawWI
IW ff v yl i
Mr no naa Marias aalLi
did not think tho dlttnuco great. Hardly
had sho taken tho trail road when sho
encountered Duck Jerrold, riding along
listless and dejected upon tho gaunt
Buckshot.
Tho man ral-d his cerions face and
saluted hor gravely, Edith drow rein
Just now this meeting was most opKr
tune. Did Mr. Jerrold know tho dis
tance to tho Dallas ranch, and would ho
direct her to it? Duck stared, gavo tho
information in tlio usual blind southern
fashion, but did not volunteer any jwr
sonal guidance Edith, moreover, did
not request it. But was Miss Cynthia at
home? Mr. Jerrold stared again and
reckoned nhowas. Miss Stafford thanked
him and dashed away in tho direction
indicated, leaving tho cowman gaciug
solemnly after her. But as sho rodo
Edith reflected upon hU gloomy bearing
and was not without feeling that sho
was acting very gonorously toward him
in tho utterly selflsh purpose sho had in
mind.
Cynthia was in her bower, whither of
lato sho had been much given to repair
ing. She was lying in her hammock,
swinging listlessly to and fro, her half
closed eyes dreamily regarding tho over
swaying curtain of green nbovo her
head.
Sho was happy happier than sho hod
sver felt or known buforo. Ho was safe.
Ho had returned. She was content.
And yet In tho restful quiet of tho littlo
wood Cynthia could not but foci n pang
of pity for tin? man who had just left
her with no hope in his eyes, to wIioho
generous conduct much of tho present
joy sho felt was duo.
Tlioro was tho sound of a footstep
without, and tho girl sprang to her feet
with a sudden flush. Sho put both hands
to Iter head as if to effaco any disorder
of hor tresses duo to her previous atti
tude. A broad shaft of sunlight slipping
through tho branches overhead steeped
in glowing warmth her picturesquo fnco
and figure
A moment of expectation, and Miss
Stafford, cool, erect and fastidious, hold
ing her immocnlato skirts in tho gloved
fingers of her right hand, stepped within.
As sho did so sho toyed carelessly with
tho riding whip held in her left and
gazed curiously about her. Their eyes'
mot. Miss Stafford bent her head coldly
and permitted Cynthia tho slightest in
clination of her arched eyebrows. Tho
recognition of Miss Dallas was equally
cordial.
An embarrassing pause followed these
civilities. Edith wus tho first to break It.
"I supposo yon nro surprised to seo mo
hero," sho began, with morn embarrass
ment of manner than sho had deemed
possible. Sho glanced down ut tho whip
sho hold lightly Iwtwocn her gloved fin
gers. Cynthia remained qulut.
"Tho fact in, Misa Dallas," Edith re
commenced, tho hesitation of her iiiun
ucr lending an apparent sincerity to her
words, "tho fact is, I am goiug away
very soon, but I felt I could not do so
without thanking you for your kindness
to mo in being so good to Mr. Bruco."
Cynthia raised her eyebrows and
stared blankly at Edith, turning hor
head a little ono sido, very much na a
binl will when doubtful if it has heard
aright. Sho grow n slmdo paler, but ro-'
plied that sho was grntified if anything
sho had done had found favor with Miss
StniTord. If look and manner, however,
counted for anything, it was quito evi
dent that t'.:o tumiiornturo of Cynthln'a
gratification was indefinitely below zero.
"I mean by your rldiug over to his as
sistance in tho reckless fashion you did,"
Miss Statiord continued. "It was really
quite romantic and kind of you, you
know quite what one rends about, and
I wanted to to thank you. I told Mr.
Bruco so. I know ho feels much as I do."
Thero waa a very perceptible cliango
in Cynthia's uiuuuer while listening to
this ingenuous statement. Apparently
she grew several inches taller under Miss
Stafford's patronage. Her lip curled per
ceptibly, and her eyes flashed as sho im
plied very decidedly that sho was quite
aware what Mr. Bruce thought about it.
"Very possibly," Miss Stafford assent
ed quietly, "but I was only telling yon
what he said to me. I am going away,
you know-we are both going away."
Miss Stafford emphasized tho "both."
I thought yon ought to know how we
felt in tho matter."
The ominous plural fell like a knell
npon Cynthia. She felt her breath grow
quick and short, and a sudden fuintness
seised her. But she did not chango her
attitude. 8he remained gazing stead
fastly up into the beautiful face before
her. There was disdain in tho brown
eyes, and she felt it.
"And so you tumed yourself into
Henry Brnco's errand boy to let mo
know," sho replied calmly. "Well, now,
thet's kind of you, I'm suro; you reck
oned I was just untch'allylyin uwuko
nights to get your approval, and you
couldn't rest until you took this way of
showin it. P'raps you'll bo willin to
say, Miss Stafford, how long you've lcen
carryin his messages und runnin his er
rands? '
Sho throw liack her head and laughed
merrily as sho suld this u laugh so mu
sical and clear that it seemed to ripple
upward from the very heart of joy.
Miss Stafford blushed crimson beneath
her merriment. It steeled her to adhere
to her original purpose. With a sudden
gesture she stripped off tho glovo upon
her left hand. The glittering facets of the
diamond she wore flashed in tho broad
shaft of sunbeams that cleft the bower.
"Do you see that ring?" aho demrnded
coldly, snfferlng the fascinated eyes of
the girl to rest a moment upon tho spar
kling gem. 'Perhaps that will explain
my interest in tho welfare of Mr. Bruce."
She turned quickly, flashed ono brief
glance of triumph npon Cynthia from
beneath' her suiiercilious lashes und
swept haughtily out of the bower. Cyn
thia wus alone with the agony of the
sudden revelation.
She put one baud to her head in a half
dased way, as if she felt a sudden pain
mere, i lie ground seemed slipping away
beneath her feet; the horizon whirled
wound her. She felt in one brief instant
is If tho snulight had gone from the
larth, tho vivid bias from tho sky, and
iho next sho was lyJag proas npon tho
at hor ft, w righed down by tho
gray, despairing monotono that seamed
suddenly to possets ail things. She
pressed hor hands over her eyes, burying
her fnco deep down in the soft lichens
sa If to shut out of sight the dreadful
reality which suddenly confronted her.
Then a quick tremor shook her, and she
was crying as if her heart would break.
And so ho was really engaged to Mi?
Stafford. That was tho end then. Thl
man whom sho hud so trusted and be
lieved had boon playing a donblo part
with her and had called her out of the
ignorant content of hor early lifo, only
to crush her with tho new joy ho hod
awakened. Oh, the pity of itl And she
had shown she loved him sol Overcome
by tho bitterness of this reflection, she
sank down again and lay thero palo and
wretched, twining her fingers listlessly
in tho soft mosses, her eyes fixed on va
cancy and oblivious of nil else save this
one mortifying, agonizing fact.
Tho moments went slowly by. Tho
shadows shifted on tho plno strownfloor.
High overhead a squirrel that had
marked her grief dropped a cone down
upon hor ns if in protest. A motionless
red lizard, that at first seemed to'sym
pathlzo with her, leered at her from an
adjacent stone and was growing visibly
hysterical. And then this irony of na
ture was dispelled by a footstep that
camo quickly into the bower. Tho
squirrel flashed suddenly around a limb,
and tho lizard rustled off into the thick
et. Cynthia raised her eyes. Henry
Bruco was standing over her, regarding
hor with n curious, questioning glance.
She gavo him no word or sign of recog
nition. Tho ono brivf glanco with which
sho swept his face had in it the scorn
and contempt of tho injured woman.
Sho sprang to her feet, dashing away
from her with n passlonato gesture tho
hand ho had extended to her aid. Turn
ing her bnck upon him, she sought the
farthest corner of tho lxwer.
Bruco was astounded at this reception.
Ho took a step or two toward her and
attempted to tako her hands in his. She
whipiwd them indignantly behind her
and faced him with flashing eyes. In
his ignorance of what had passed tho
young ranchman cast about him for
somo act of his that could have caused
this sudden anger.
"Cynthia," ho said, breaking tho si
lence, "what is tho meaning of this? I
am goiug away on n brief trip to Austin.
I Imvo como to bid you goodby. Have
you no word to say to ineV"
Bruce took a step nearer to her.
Sho waved him away with an imperi
ous gesture.
"Thero is no need of it," sho wild. "I
havo received your goodbya already from
her!"
Bruco stared. He gave a surprised
glanco about him. Lying at his feet
among tho plno needles was a dainty
glovo of undressed kid. He recognized
it Instantly as belonging to Edith. In
voluntarily he stooicd and picked up the
perfumed trifle. It wus redolent of its
owner. Ho turned with a look of in
quiry to Cynthia.
"Has Miss StnDml been here?" he
asked almost stonily. Ho was hardly
prepared for the icy brevity of her reply.
"Yes."
"And she told you I was going uwayf
"She said yon wero both going," said
Cynthia simply. The words seemed to
' choke her, but she recovered herself with
I an effort. "She showed me tho riiis- that
yon gavo her and said she wished to
thank me for my kindness to yon."
In spite of herself the tears started to
the girl's beautiful eyes. An angry flush
came suddenly over the face of Bruce.
"It is strango that ns ono personally
interested I learn of this now for the
first," he said dryly. "Am I to under
stand that Miss Stafford told you I gave
her a ring?"
"Sho gavo mo to understand that she
wus engaged to you," said Cjaithia
quickly, looking him straight in the
eyes.
Bruco took a step nearer to her.
"It is false!" ho said, with whito lips.
A sudden revulsion of feeling crimson
ed Cvnthia'8 face and neck. Sho regard-
ed him earnestly.
I "False?" sho whispered.
I Bruco took tho littlo brown hands in
his and looked down into her face.
1 "Falser ho said. "Don't you know,
darling, there is but ono Ktrl in tho wide
world I would be willing to mako my
wife?" Sho looked up at him shyly
through tho tears of a moment before.
"Who is thet?" she said.
"Cynthia Dallasi"
THE END.
A It Wm In ISSS.
"So yon rajoyed your European trip, did
youf" Inquired the simple old gentleman.
"I haven't been over since IBM, but my rec
ollections are still vivid. I remember once
staudltiK upon Mont Blano watching th
sun sink to rest behind the blue waters of
the Mediterranean, while to my right the
noble Ithlno rushed onward to the Uluck
sea, and the Pyrenees, atlll holdlui tht
snows of winter, were on my left. I re
meiulter while standing there"
"Hut, Mr. Gray," feebly interrupted bin
listener, "I whhou Mont Hlano myself, and
really, you'll excuse me, but you really
must be mistaken In your geography."
"It" returned the old man lightly. "Mot
a bit of It, but I forxet, Its different now
You kuow, my dear boy, that sines my day
the entire nmp of Europe has been changed
by these awful wan, and so of count you
can't appreciate, what It was la IttM."
Harpcr's Mmoalue..
OUR COUNTRY'S FLAG
WHY
THE UNITED 8TATES ENSIGN
HAS THIRTEEN STRIPES.
Oner nnJ 14, 1771. Flrat PMiiullh
law Detlximtlng th Color uf the Na
tional Km III eta and the Arrangement uf
the Stars Mil Htrlne.
Beginning about fivo or six years ago
public schools in tho old Bay Stnto insti
tuted what Is rapidly growing into the
custom of honoring the birthday of the
starry ensign. Tho day, the recurring
anniversary of tho historic 14th of Juno
1777, tho date of tho adoption of the
"star spangled banner," was celebrated
with patriotic declamations and recita
tions and songs. From Massachusetts
tho innovation, commended for the pa
triotism it aroused among tho coming
citizens of the country, spread rapidly
through New England, boards of educa
tion in some of the states officially rocog
niaing the occasion and aiding in its
celebration. It is also journeying on its
way southward and westward and I ds
fair to become the red letter day of .tie
year in our public schools. Of the It).
129,000 school children about one-fifth
already pay tribute in some form to the
occasion.
As observance of tho anniversary gains
in ago and popularity knowledge of our
country s ensign will Increaso both
among our youngsters and their parents,
tho "children of n larger growth." Few
symbolisms should bo moro cherished by
all good Americans than should be our
flag. And yet Is it duo to lack of patri
otism or to our national hurry? the av
erago American, tho schoolboy always
barred, stutters and stammers when you
ask him tho simple, primary question.
"How many stars nro there in the United
States flag?" After a minute of hard
thought ho is apt to reply with any num
ber from 88 to 43. Even the third class
in history would have Answered imme
diately with one voice, "Forty-four!
Thero is much moro of romanco in the
history of the adoption of Uticle Sam's
colors and moro of symbolism in the
choice of their dotnlls than is commonly
thought. Captain Preblo devoted sev
eral chnptersof his 00.000 word "History
of tho American Flag" to explain these
matters. Hero is tho Btory in short:
In tho opening dnys of Juno, 1777,
when tho colonial troops had for moro
than two years been combating under
any local flags that captured their fancy,
congress, bitting at Philadelphia, ap
pointed a committee to deviso a common
flag. Tho names of tho members of this
committeo have been lost in tho ancient
dust of congressional history, but it la
known that John Adams was mainly In
strumental in guiding it to its decisions.
On Juno 14 congress unnnimously adopt
ed its report, urging that "tho Hag of
tho 13 United States bo 'A strips, nltor
tiato red and whito; that the Union be
13 stnrs, whito in a bluo field, represent
ing n new constellation."
A sample flag of silk, mndo by a good
Quaker matron, was disnluyed in con
gress, having its union square and the
stars forming tho rim of a circle.
Red, whito and blue were chosen,
firstly, because orango, whito nnd bluo
wero tho colors of tho only other republic
of modern, times, tho old Dutch republic
of tho preceding century, and, secondly,
becnudo they wero tho colors of tho Now
York regiments. An easy change turned
orango Into red. Stripes wero choseu
because they wero n symbolism of both
the Now York and tho old Dutch flags.
Stars aro supposed to havo been selected
liecauso 13 figures being required for the
union, they wero tho most appropriate
for that number of devices for a blue
field.
Though this flag was unanimously
adopted and was shown to a goodly num
ber of the . inhabitants of tho Quaker
City during the summer following, it
was not officially announced until Sept.
3. Paul Jones, the noted naval hero, im
patiently waiting for the equipment of
his fast brig, the Ranger, at Portsmouth,
N. H., was thi first one outside of the
Quaker town to display the ensign. He
run it up to the masthead of bis stanch
little man-o'-war and put to sea at once
to disclose to the winds of the mid-Atlantic
a banner as free aa themselves
and to gain the honor off the Scotch
coast of being the first tq introduce the
star sprent flag to European eyes.
Oil laud, outside of Philadelphia, the
flag wus first flown during the buttle of
the Braudywifle, floating above Lafay
ette wheu that SO-yeur-old major gen
eral was wounded. A month later it
flaunted at tho headquarters of Gates,
when he received the surrendering army
of Burgoyno.
Undo Sam's first flag remained un
changed for 18 years, though in tho
meuntimo tho government was formally
orgauized under a. constitution, and two
new states wero added. In 1705 by the
exertions of Senator Bradley of tho new
state of Vermont tho number of sturs
aud that of stripes were each Increased
to 16. tho additions representing the
Oreen Mountain State aud Kentucky.
This amended flag was the one boruo"by
Harrison und Jackson on land aud by
Hull and Perry at sou In tho war of 1812.
In 1818 stripes wore reduced to 111, und
the present law of adding a new star for
each new state admitted to me union
waa passed. Daniel D. Bidwell in New
York Ledger.
Tb Uuacn of th Antilles.
Jamaica has perhups made greater
strides in tho way of progress than miy
of England's smaller colonies during the
past 23 years nnd has some right now to
call herself "the (jueen of the Antilles '
Among the evidences of imp'roveumtii
may be cited the hotels which have
sprung up in the Island, for the building
of one of which 34,000 was expended
Then the Americans are laying linp h ol
railway through the best part of the ik
Und. and the fruit cultivation is now in
productive as that of sugar, while tin
price of land has risen enormously Cur
lyle's shade would be astonished to bear
that ths ones thrift!- blacks have mau
aged to pat by aearly 500.000 in their
saving basks. London World
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