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

till the diamond next the plain gold
,circlet cut the white flesh cruelty.
Then, as horrible suspicion leaped
10 life in her brain, with low moan
she slipped from her chair and crouched
shivering against the great shaggy
oyercoat I uTTIJggFfFF1
F. Her fears took tangibleshape. What
if he had gone to meet this woman For
the first time he ha | .eyaded answering
her questions. G 81
And how guilty and hurried he had
seemed-so horribly happy and light
hearted, too! 4 thousand words and
giances, before almost .unnoticod, now
flashed upon her. She snatched up the
note again and looked at it.
II was dated the evening of that day.
@0h. Dickt Dick ~ She cried Wild
ly, show could you? And-I loved
you sol" ,..
Then, with a sudden storm oc sobs,
she broke down altogethar, and, ln.rving
her face in the crumpled oyercost. wept
as if l,er Very heart was breaking, the
graceful little figure shaken and con
vulsed.
The fire burned low i'll the CRATE I'M
der coating of gray ashes. {.
Eleven Now she did not pa,ise to
listen to the silver music.
Footsteps came along the sidewalk, up
the steps; latch-key turned cautiously
in the door. She neither heard nor
stirred. in the hall Dick pausei, o
curious smile on his lips.
DOLLS asleep, as sure a. fnte!' 30
He dv1sted himself of hit and over
coat, aud, humming popular air,
turned the handle of tho plrlor:
And listen while tell you OF the ba---"
"Goodness! Dolly, what, the mat
ter?"
His song came to an untimely end as
he caught sight of the sobbing, shaking
little figure on the hearthrug.
He took one stride toward her, but at
the sound of his voice she had sprurg
to her feet with crimson cheeks and
dangerously sparkling eyes.
STAND off, sir! Don't dare to touch
me-"
"Great heaven! Dolly" in direct
bewildorment. ..E s4.'|s .~fg
Don't Dolly met" facing him like a
diminutive tigress-"don't dare to!"
Dolly"
"Don't mention my name SO soon
after hers-this Edith to whom you
are Dick darlingr" -..~-,--..-....-
Dolly"
"Can you find no other word with
which to defend or vindicate yourself
except the repetition of my name?' this
last with unnatural calmness.
The temperature had waited around
from the torrid to the frigid zone.
"Have you gone--mad9' slowly.
"H have, find the cause--there!" !"
Scornfully she flung him the crum-
pied sheet.
He snatched it eagerly and read ev-
cry word. Ea&
where did you get this, Dolly?"
! "There!"
"There!n in blank astonishment.
She pointed dramatically at the tum-
bled overcoat.
He glanced from the note to the coat,
from the coat to the note, and back
again to Dolly.
She was longing desperately to steady
| her voice and still her heart sufficiently
to ask him how he liked Gerster, just
to exhibit piece of stinging sarcasm
but she could not to save her life.
There was blank silence moment,
then Dick walked over and picked up
the overcoat. Gh.&
Harkl what was that? Not laugh,
surely!
Yes. a laugh! The maddest, merriest,
widest peal that ever rang from human
lips.
There on the hearth-rug stood Dick,
the coat fallen loosely on the floor, his
hands on both hips, and laughing
we'll, he was.
sD;ckr. in faltering amazement.
"Yesln howled Dick. "Oh, Dolly, it's
the best joke of the season. Oh-h--"
And then he roared like circus-mad
sclool-boy again.
"Dick-tell mew
Then, seeing her white, anxious face,
he grew suddenly grave.
Dolly, did you look at the enyelopeT'
II saw one"
He showed her the slip that had Hut
tered unnoticed under the table.
She read the address,
RICHARD HARVEY, ESQ,
p 10! South - st, City.
Dolly, did You particularly notice
the overcoat?'
A tremendous "No"
aLook! See that velvet collar, those
buttons; this pocket bookl Is this my
oeercoat? ?"
aOh, Dick, my dearest, forgive mel
No, no, no!'
She was sobbing in his arms now.