Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1880-04-17
the table, behind which she had en-.
trenched herself, and rested his hand on


trenched herself, and rested his hand on
it.
81 can mott will not, he answered,
masterfully; "not till you hear me,
Lutte. You need not explain. l know
what sent you fluttering out into the
world, my precious, little dove. See
ing that She had spoiled all my life for
me, my poor mother confessed the
wrong she had done me. For months,
l have been trying to trace you. You saw
my mother. Her desire for my worldly
welfare, her anxiety to see me marry a
fortune, caused her to seek to separate
US. l have no wife, Lutte, and shall
never have one, unless can get you"
Only Lutie's sobs answered him.
"My mother" he went on, awaits
to receive you, with open arms. Come
back to me, Lutte, poor, tired, Storm
worn little dove, come back to your
shelter. Precious, pretty, labOr-worn
little hands," and knew he was kiss
ing them, ''your toll is all ended. Lutte,
Lutte, have you no word of welcome for
me? Look up, dear. Oh! l have
searched for you everywhere, and at
last, the dear, old shawl, that l used to
like so to see you wear, was my iclew to
your hiding place. / knew the queer
spots, and the brilliant colors, the in
slant caught sight of those baskets.
l was sure; an odd sort of feel
ing convinced me that l wasn't
mistaken. And it was so. l have
found you at last. Lutte, look up, and
speak to me. Tell me that you have
cared for me just little, through all
the dreary months of our separation"
81 have cared for you always" an
swered Lutte, softly, and at that mo-
ment realized what shocking thing 1
was doing in listening.
| was at work on an unfinished basket
that we had had left over from the
bazar. l had found out, at church, that
Mr.. Egerton, the young minister, had
been very anxious to obtain one, but
was too late, all of them having been
sold, so l determined to finish that one
and send it to him as present that
evening.
Catching it up, and scattering the
cone-shells in every direction, l rushed
headlong through the low window, and
almost into the arms of MIR. Egerton
himself.
sob, pray excuse mel" gasped out,
and down went my poor basket.
He picked it up, looking at it admir-
ingly.
al wanted one like this particularly"
he said, "but was too late"
al am finishing this one for you, If
you'll accept of it," blurted out, and
then stood tingling, to my very finger
tips, with shame and embarrassmen
/" You were finishing it for me? How
very kind of you," he said, his grave
eyes kindling. al shall prize it very
highly. "But," he added, after mo-
mentary pause, ''there is something
should prize infinitely more than this
pretty basket, if l might venture to ask
for it. Something, Bessie, have
wished for long time.'
My heart gave a great jump, and my
cheeks famed. l stammered, in con-
fusion,
"COme in and see mammal
= "Not Just yet" he replied, with 3
smile, that was half mischievous. 81
must have your consent firss.''
Conscious of the blunder had made,
unwittingly, l tried to escape; but he
held me fast, and we strolled down the
sunny lane, under the bare, wintry
trees.
scarcely know, even to this day,
what was said, or how it alrwas settled.
But do know that the one dim, UNI
acknowledged hope of my life was real
ized.-Peterson's Magazine.