The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-05-08

white establishment.
II heard ma telling Mrs. Grove
this morning. continued Johnny.
"She didn't say married. she said
welded but its means the same.
don't it 2
Eyes, dear, it means the same
And she turned with quivering lips
and heaving bosom and walked rapid
ly away, past the wild roses that
seemed to look after her. grieved and
surprised at her neglect-past the
mild eyed sheep that stared at her
with gentle reproach-psst black birds
and skylarks singing in field and
hedge-past all the bright things of
nature and that now appeared but
dreary mockery, and fell upon a
messy bank with a deep. hesrt break
ing sob
This, then, was the end-the end
of her first true love, and all the Wis
ions it had created! Some how LEILA
never so much as questioned whether
little ten-year-old Johnny was II
worthy messenger of such news.
What right had she to expect a'y-
thing different Had she any claims
on Ivan. on any assurance that he had
not forgotten her entirely? What
more natural than for him TO marry?
If Leila, when she had turned from
the road. bad looked far ahead, she
would have perceived just around the
bend, a form whose manly stride she
would have recognized at a glance.
It was Ivan Kirke, and he quick
ened his already rapid pace rs he
caught glimpse of her as she passed
i'm among the trees.
Her eyes were still moist, but she
had passed her first cOnvulsive
sobbing when she heard his step, and
before she could flee he stood before
her.
Leila" he exclaimed, as be came
forward with a glad smile, Il thought
I saw my little forest maiden turning
into the woods What! you must
have been crying"
Leila made one heroic effort to self
control. Whatever might happen,
Ivan should never know Of her hope
less love. Gulping down the rising
sob, and rapidly winking Two or three
times, she answered. Il haven't
1t was the first flo, and she went
on to elaborate with astonishing readi-
ness.
Il have been sneezing, oh, so hard {!
just see, my feet are wet :" and she
pointed to two tiny shoes slightly
damp. "But Pm glad to see you,
Ivan. / thought you wasn't coming
until to morrow"
81 thought | would give you a sur
prise. Have you heard the news?'
"Yes; Johnny just told me. II
suppose you are too happy to live,
aren't your Her words were uttered
pleasantly. hut her hands were
clinched till the marks of the lails
were imprinted in the flesh.
mo, Leila; the fact is / don't
feel nearly as happy as l had expected
l should" and he poked the grass
musingly with his cane.
"Not happy and Leila looked at
him in amazement. '"Then you"
Then dent deserve my good
fortune. l know it. I'm whimsical
as child. When 1 left here last fall
1 could think Of nothing else. was
blind fool, and as the time passed
and the momeutous day drew nearer
and nearer, / found that-that my
happiness depended upon something
entirely different" i
LeIia's cheeks again became livid.
Was his marriage q mistake? With
quick intuition she divided his mean
ing. He had married another while
loving her, and already repented
But what right bad he to tell her of
this! v hat right had he to speak
to her in that tender tone now?
'Lelia, l have come back to tell
you that / love you that have
loved you though
With flushing eyes she drew back
the hand he had taken.
"That will do. sir, l will net hear
one more word"
He looked at her in amazement at
her sudden anger and s;orn. He
would have spoken further. but just
then Johnny came racing through the
woods, and flung himself upon Ivan's
neck, with wild EXPLANATIONS Of de-
light.
"Oh. Ivan, did you bring your
wife," was his eager inquiry shortly.
"What do you mean, Johnny !" be
asked
Oh, / know all about it. and so does
Leila. You can't make fools of US