The Red Cloud chief., 1876-01-27

still q lingering tenderness IOl fSichalo-
son2 He feared she might have. He
had seen her kiss q picture which he felt
morally sure was his. Would he like
his wife to kiss Leigh Richardson's pic
ture? Would he like to think she had
ever kissed it, Then he remembered
how she blushed sometimes when he
looked at her, and took courage. 1t
might be that the old dream could be
forgotten in the new At any rate he
would know before he slept, he said.
with sudden resolution, and after break
fast he went down town for a walk. He
knew a few of the fellows belonging to
the Franklin Club, and for the want of
something better to do, he sauntered
into their room.
There were only W. or three present,
smoking their cigars and idling over the
papers. Their business hours had not
commenced yet. a. he entered he
caught the name of Annie Uuntley.
Fred. Orme, a reckless, young dare
devil, was telling a story. E heredge
REDEEMED on hearing her Drme from
Orme's lips, and was about s.ridiDg for
ward and calling him to account for it,
when Orme's next words arrested him
and forced him to listen.
You see Leigh Richardson was dead
in love with her. Never saw a fellow
any harder. Well, she is a charming
girl-dresses exquisitlely. Never saw a
better fitting glove and boot than she
gets on. Leigh is smart, but l never
liked him since he o that silver cup
at the boat race. l meant to have had
that myself. Too COMPOUNDED bad I didn't
get it."
$50 it was" drawled Ed. Harrison;
show you sweat, didn't you Fredf"
at was hotter than the tropics, and
Leigh is one of the cool blooded ones.
l said that l meant to be even with him,
and 1 have kept my word. Don't mind
telling you the story, fellows, since it is
such an old affair. Pass that lemonade,
Etheredge-youll be interested in it,
because I've heard it said that you're
rather sweet in that quarter. Matters
were going on swimmingly. two years
ago, between Leigh and Annie. They'd
have been married before now, if nobody
had .interfered. But Dennis and I-you
know Dennis!- tiptop fellowl got up a
little plan between us, and it worked
%splendidly. Didn't We raise the deuce?
l gained possession of some of Leigh's
handwriting, and practiced writing like
il. 1 am an expert at that business, I
flstter myself; and in a few days l could
fairly beat Richardson with his own
weapons. So I wrote a letter to an
imaginary chum of his-giving a des-
cription of Miss Annie, calling Der a
soft little thing, telling him how shs
adOred the subscriber, and how the sub
scriber cared nothing at all for her, but
was enjoying a glorious filtration. of
curse the subscriber was Leigh Richard
son. This note, which was a most in
sulting one to any wo2an, We contrived
TO have dropped where Miss Annie
would find it, and the result was even
more jolly than l had anticipated. She
mittened Richardson the next day, and
refused to listen to any explanation he
could make, Hs! ha! q good joke
wasn't itG Paid him for getting that
cup. Always intended to Fay him off
some way. He felt dresdfully about it'll
My sister Lucy boarded him at the time,
and there was no sleep in the house for
his trsmping up and down his chamber
all night. A little more lemonade, Ed,
and l don't care if there is a drop OF
champagne III it. It's chilly this morn
ing"
Etheredge waited to hear no more. In
his present frame of mind he felt IS if
he could not bear 1t. He went home
and shut himself up in his chamber.
After all, Richardson had been true.
How bitterly he had been wronged!
Annie would re pent, and love him more
than ever, if she knew the injustice she
had done him. That WINS q woman's
nature. She atones for wrong BY giving
love. And what if an eesaireissement
should be brought about? Etheredge
felt faint and sick. The future shut
down dark and blank. Ard only an
hour before he had dared indulge such
glowing visions. He saw his duty
clearly caough, bur it is not always easy
to do ones duty. The was q little
struggle between his heart and his con-
science. Ahundred times the tempta.
ton beset him to keep his knowledge to
himself, and win Annie for his o WI
She would never know that Richardson
was blame!ess, and his great love might
make her SO happy! At last, he knelt
down and prayed over it. He always
prayed over those things which were
too hard fol. him. After that, be rose
and sat down by the window--felt the
west wind on his forehead-ssw the
pale wlntry sunshine gid the lorg
rows of buildings opposite. For him
there Was nc more hesitation. Ii heycould
make Annie happy, what matter to him
how il was accomplished! He wen
down to the sitting. room abou. sunset.
He knew he should ind Annie there.