The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-05-26

nand, ana nelQ IL Out 70 paul. The
sleeve was cut away from her wrist
as by jagged knife with blaekened
edge. The flesh was like fame.
Paul's teeth shut quick and tight to-
gether. Something sprang into his
eyes--not tears alone.
Then Vesey began to tremble; and
conscious at last, Of the cruel paif,
that bit and tore her hand, she sobb-
ed like q hurt child.
Don't mind" she tried to say.
"Don't look at me. It's only--only
-" The sebs swept all her words
away.
Paul bathed her hand. She re-
membered afterwards how tendsrer
than any woman's had been his
touch.
"Let her cry" said the doctor, in
o voice that must have been given by
mistake to the grim face. "And now
she'd better go home" He rose
from the bed. He took the unharn,-
ed hand in his. "She's brave girl. !"
He looked away from her TO Paul, but
still he held her hand tight in his.
"God bless you, child. Now 20
home and go TO bed"
Paul lifted her into the sleigh and
wrapped the robes about her.
shall I go with your"
"If l can take You home"
"Oh, no; must go in here again"
"Then you need not"
It seemed suddenly as If they had
known each other a lifetime-she and
Pdui; as if they never could be stran-
gers to each other again.
She held out her hand. It was
the one he had bound up. He took
it tenderly in both his own. "The
brave strong handI he said. bend
ing over it in the darkness-'th
hand that saved life tonight
".
There was to bo q bazaar TO raise
m oney for the poor. It opened the
next evening. The winter had been
hard and cruel. and charity-some-
what exhausted-needed q spur.
Vesey had promised to tend
booth.
"You must not think of going,"
her father exclaimed. Darrel--too,
who foresaw quiet hour with her
alone, if she remained at home. He
had something to tell-something to
ask for. and ring to give. Alas for
him! He had kept his words too
long. A year ago they would have
been mamma to her heart.
''But I am quite well, she pleaded,
Except my hand; and that has ceased
to pain me-" Indeed her face was
radiant.
So she dressed herself with quaint
simplicity in something soft and gray
that wrapped her like a cloud. with
only the braids of her heavy hair for
ornament; only her shining eyes for
for gems. Then she went and took
her place.
The maidens from the Chinese pa :
godas were all there. Before them,
in their gay attire, the Queen of She
ba, and even Solomon the magnifi-
cent, would have shrunk away abash-
ed-their glory dimmed.
Vesey's nun-like dress was worse
than diamonds in their envious eyes.
More gay gallants than one paused to
stare-to buy.
1T cools your eyes. You see, and
rests you," some would say by way
of explanation.
The evening was half over. OAR
rel had been her shadow. She Was
tired, tired of his eyes that followed
her whichever way she turned; tired
of his fattering words; tired of him.
He moved away at last. Then, and
not until then, she saw Paul. All
the maidens plumed their gay feath-
ers as he walked down the hall. But
he came straight to her.
"Are you well enough to be here:''
without a word Of greeting, as though
they had not parted. You frightened
me with your white face just now."
az was tired, wanted to go home. /"
"Wili you go now?' he asked, quick
ly. "Are You strong enough to walk7"
ooh, yes"
"Then GOMEZ
1t was strangely pleasant to be bid
den, to follow meekly.
They had reached the stairs descend.
Ing to the street, when they met Darrell
Winslow.
'Vesey! where are you goingw He
scowled and nodded at Paul.
"Home."
"But it is beginning to rain, you have
no cloak. Go back and I'll get the carri.
age" He laid his hand upon the wrap
over Paul,s arm. Paul looked at Yes.
ey. What did he read in her face?
''Iet Miss Welles decide,n he said,
in o hard strange voice. He was try
ing to be calm-to keep his hands from
this man who had suddenly come be-
tween them. He turned to Vesey
again. His face was very pale; his
eyes were full of pleading. think q
moment. Will you ride with him, Or
will you walk with me?"
She did not speak. She only smiled
and laid her hand within his arm.
He would have been more than hu.
man to have kept back the triumph In
his eyes.
Darrel stared; then wheeled and lef,
them with an oath upon lips.
"But think moment" Paups
voice grew moro gentle now. ut will
be q long, long road-a road that has
no turn.u
But still she smiled.s
"a rough way perhaps, and your
feet are tender.n
~ will walk with you,n she said
lScribncr's Monthly.
A Southern paper 6nds it necessary