Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-10-18
A HiSTY CONCLUSION.

"By-by, Dolly. Don't sit up for me.
] mayn't be home till late"
And handsome Dick Everett, seal,
capped and overcoated, bent to kiss his
little wife.
Must you really go, Dick?" implor-
ingly. #f..
Must really go?" he repeated.
"What dreadful solemn face! Yes,
you ridiculous darling, l really must.
"Why?" persistently.
"Oh, because of an--an engagement
II cannot break, DEAR trifle guilt
ily
with whom?"
"Good gracious! what an inquisitive
little mortal il is, to be sure! Don't
trouble your pretty head with business
engagements; and, once more my pet,
q good-by. And-oh, | say, Dolly"
turning back and putting furry head
ins de the door, IF you're in search OF
a job, just wish you'd mend my over
coat noticed big tear on the ears
its an ugly tear. VIII you?'
And t. this rather discontented
speech Mrs. Dick nodded, aud smiled a
bright acguiescence.
The door slammed behind Dick, and
bhe glanced around the coy, home
ike r1om. . s.
"If only Dick had not been Obliged
10 go out--and such cold night, too"
The gas burned brightly; the CHEEKY
Ere in the CRATE was bed of golden
coa's: the French clock on the mantel
licked music lily. Toward the crimson
covered table, ON which lay n pile OF
Unopened magazines, looked two visit
ful blue eyes. But the bride of six
months shook her dainty bronze.brown
head with rcsolutc determination: and
the rosy lips repeated the hackncycd
formula, Duty first, pleasure after
SO, accordingly, the little white
hands laboriously luggea and hauled
lJIth oNtiNoht iiNp NhN iNDhis
turned it over. and commenced their
occupations. She smiled softly to her.
self, for her thoughts were pleasant
ones, rs she sat and sewed; a rarely
pretty pi ture in the parlors firelit
glowth childish figure in the soft,
dark dress aud snowy muslin apron,
the busy hands flying briskly through
their task. ~
"To-mo~rov will he my birthd,y, and
Dick has forgotten it, | know. How
sorry he will be when l tell him to
morrow"
And as she broke merrily into "Com
in Thro' the Rye" the dainty French
conccit on the low marble mantle sill
very struck 10.
She paused, smilingly, with needle
suspended, 10 hear the mad, mcrr,
wal'z that tinkled ont from the little
bronze crpids. "
Her task fini he'd, she turned the Goa
over to see if il needed other repairs
and as she did so small square shee'
OF paper fluttered from an inside pocke
and fell upon the crimson carpet.
She bent forward and picked it NJ
with low laugh.
which of Dicks friends is sntii
GENTLY foppish to perfume his letters
wonder?"
Tn. n she turned it right side up ant
looked at it. Aud then she saw-what
Nothing very terrifying, certainly
Gniy thick sheet OF embossed paper
stamped with q monogram. in azure ant
Bold, incomprehensible as monogram
sually are.
A woman's letter, decidedly-writter
pretty, scrawling, irregular hand
pmistnkab'y woman's.
The bird-like song died on Dolly Ev
ett's lips; the soft, bright color faded
bwIy out OF her face; the blue eye
lew wider and startled, as deliberately
ough almost involuutarily, she rea
e few words on the page before hel
he noe ran:
Dick DARLING--I have missed you dreao
lilly of late. Comet Exercise dipiomac
might aud slip away hate her for keeI
hg YOU from me. Beside. Gerster .is
bwn- Is the hint too sbroadg' In spite
", Dick, ever your EDITH
This was all, but itwas enough. Fo
few moments Dolly's eyes, blazing
err fed, stared straight at the fa'efu
Meet as though they would shrivei
up with their blue fire.