Page:The Prairie Flower; Or, Adventures In the Far West.djvu/47



ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST

you and we have both made fools of our selves indeed?"

"Exactly; so give me your hand on it, my old chum!"

Instantly my hand was locked in that of my friend, and then such another shout of merriment as we both set up, at the ridicu lousness of the whole affair, I venture to say was never heard in that part of the country before nor since.

"So, then," resumed I, "the secret is out, and we have both acknowledged to being deeply in love. Really, dear Char- t-y. I feel under great obligations to you for that meditated sacrifice more especial- y, as the lady in question is thousands of miles away, is entirely unknown to us, and will probably never be seen again by either Charles Huutly or Francis Leighton."

"Tut, tut, tut, Frank! ' No more of that,? n' thou lovest me/ " returned my friend, good humoredly. " I admit that I have acted the simpleton; but, at the same time (and he gave me a comical look), I feel proud to say I have had most excellent company Eh! my dear fellow?"

"I acknowledge the corn."

"But touching my sister, Frank."

"Well, what of her?" I cried quickly, while I felt the blood rush to my face in a warm current.

"Did you not act hastily too hastily in that matter, my friend?"

"I fear I did, and I have bitterly repent ed since. But I loved her so, Charley; Knd you knew my passionate nature could not brook a rival."

"A rival, Frank! I never knew you had a rival."

"What! not know the elegant Mr. VVharton?"

"Pah! you did not take him for a rival, I hope."

"Indeed I did. Does he not visit your house frequently?"

"Yes, and so do fifty others; but I as sure you dear Lilian will not marry them all."

' But but I thought Wharton a a

"A fashionable gallant. So he is." "No a a special suitor to your sis- ttr's hand," 1 stammered, concluding the entence ray friend had interrupted.

"Pshaw! Frank. Why Lilian would

not look at him other than to treat him respectfully, as she would any visitor much less marry him."

"Then you think she does not lore him?"

"Love him!" echoed Huntly, with a smile of contempt, and an expressive shrug of his shoulders. "No! Lilian Huntly loves but one."

"And who is he?"

"One certain hot-headed youth, ycleped Frank Leighton."

"Are you sure of this, Charles?" and 1 caught the hand of my friend, and fastened my eye steadily upon his.

"I will stake my life on it; and had you been possessed of your usual good sense that night you must have seen it."

I released the hand I had clasped in mine, and staggered back as if struck a violent blow. My brain grew dizzy, my hands trembled, and it was with difficulty I could keep myself upon my feet. In stantly the arm of my friend encircled my waist, and he said, hurriedly :

"Good heavens! what have I done! Frank, Frank, take this not so hard it will all be right in the end. Lilian and you were made for each other, I see; and this separation will only serve to knit more closely the tie of affection between you when again you meet."

I replied not; I could not; but I struck my head with my fist, and gave vent to a groan that seemed to issue from my very soul.

"Is it there ye is, your honors? " said the voice of Teddy, at this moment. "Faith, now, I've bin lookin for yees wid my two eyes and ears this long while, to ax ye, would ye have your breakfast cooked, or be afther takin it raw?"

"Cooked, you fool!" cried Huntly, angrily.

"Thin all I have to say is, it's waitin, your honors, and done beauthifully, by the chief cook and buthler, Teddy O'Lagherty, barring that he's no cook at all, at all, worth mintion, and divil a bit o' a buthler is in him now. And what's more, I'm to till ye that the Misther Trapphers is jist gitting ready to lave the whereabouts, and they sez be ye going wid them, they'll b axing yees to travel."

"Sure, enough," said Huntl