The story took place somewhere in the eastern part of America and it happened in the 19th century. As a whole, it pictures what happened there at those time, especially to the people. As far as I can see it, the story is about a young lady who by chance met her long gone friend. At first glance, the boy looked like he’s a marshal, an occupation he had apparently never dreaming of.
This story also reveals the style of language and manner of a certain social class where the lady belonged at that time. It also shows how the people of the east felt about the west, which at that time was still a wild adventurous country.
The relationship of the people in this story is rather tricky, though. Was the young man, Mr. Easton, really a marshall as he was trying to make an impression of to Miss Fairchild, the lady ? He said: “I had to do something, money has a way of taking wing. You know it takes money to keep in step with our crowd in Washington.” If we compare his words with what he said just after that: "…. I saw this opening in the west , and …Well, a Marshall isn't quite as high a position as that of an ambassador…". This shows some inconsistency if he were really a Marshall.
However, the man whose hand was handcuffed with " the Marshall" didn’t give a definite explanation either. He said: “…but I see you know the Marshall here. If you'll ask him to speak a word for me when we get to the pen, he'll do it. It'll make things easier for me there. He's taking me to Leavenworth Prison. It's seven years for counterfeiting.”
So who was taken who to the prison ? Even after he said this to miss Fairchild:
“: Don't you worry about them miss, all Marshalls handcuff themselves to their prisoners to keep them from getting away. Mr. Easton know his business”, she should have gotten suspicious. And when she asked whether she will see Mr. Easton in Washington soon and got this answer: “Not soon I think, my carefree days are over, I fear…”, she just said: “I love the West.” with her eyes shining softly.
While the young man’s hand was handcuffed, the young lady’s heart was bondaged to her happy past. And most of all, it was the heart of the real Marshall that really showed kindness as he tried his best not to embarrass his prisoner.