The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-02-02

exquisite figure whose every curve was
delineated BY the Partisan toilet donned
to- night 10 all its first freshness. IL was
small wonder that. ut the improbability
Of the latter, On incredulous smile touch
ed the red lips.
1t still rested there when Mr.. Des-
mond relieved her Of his charge. and
drew her arm within his own.
We have not had much practice To-
gether. Miss Cole" he said. as he led
her to the further end Of the room; "but
l rather think no one will be wiser save
ourselves"
Il should imagine you danced well"
she replied. indiherently; land can
easily give you the figures Mr. Railings
and had decided upon; or l should be
happy to receive instruction In any new
ones at your hands"
"You have not asked mo why have
not been to see you" he said. little
later. IS they kept time to charming
waltz.
His arm was about her slender waist;
her little hand rested on his sleeve; his
eyes for moment met hers, but their
laughter had gone, and In its stead was
. newborn tenderness.
She strovs 10 answer lightly. but tho
words refused to come.
Il dared not come" he whispered.
A little later she could have laughed
at the singular influence the simple Ut
terance had possessed over her. Was
not this man acting q part, and did she
not know itp 1t was she who must hold
sway. not he; but even as she thus de-
citfed she felt that she was toying with
q flame which might scorch all who ap-
preached It, and yet burn on calmly and
undimmed.
Il have q message for you from
Frank" she said when he babe her good
night. ''Will you come tomorrow to
hear itp"
He bowed assent She had put his
coming in such form that refusal was
impossible. The next day he was In
her presence. 1t was but q forerunner
Of the many days to follow. But they
no longer spoke or limited Of danger to
either. They talked of themselves, the
past. the present On the future they
rarely touched. and then with but the
passing hghtness of birds wing.
Three weeks had passed and MI. Des-
mond spoke Of leaving them. On the
evening of the day fixed for his depart
ure he came to bid Sydney good-by.
"You have made me break the first
promise I've ever broken. Miss Cole"
he said to her. Il had promised Frank
to be the best man at his wedding; but
I telegraphed yesterday to have pass.
age taken for me In the steamer which
sails for Europe q fortnight from TO-
day"
:.You arc going to Ruropea' hessid
"For how longr
Until I have conquered myself" he
answered. He sprang to his feet and
said. lightly, .'Good-by. Miss Sydney
God bless you and dear old Frank In
your new life"
She. too. stood up and strOve TO
make reply. Tears were not common
visitors to the deep blue eyes; but now,
now that she would fain drive them buck
they came yelling up from some secret
fountain. falling 50 thick and fast she
could not wipe them away a. they fell,
nor check the sobs which raeksd the
slender frame.
Instinctively he opened his arms and
drew her to his heart. She felt IL mad
ly beat, as in hoarse tones, but In very
fond. endearing accents, he murmured
her name. Suddenly she wrenched her
self away. The tears were checked. She
stood pale and trembling before him,
but with the fixed light Of resolve in her
beautiful eyes.
IL heard that no woman had ever
touched your heart" she said Il de-
termined to try-you see the result. For
you Is scored another victory--for me
defeat. wish my humiliation to bs
complete therefore make unnecessary
confession. Now good-by; but do not
add the blessing; do not deserve that
-ah, nor
you tried to touch my hearth" he
answered. "FOr once, Sydney. let me
speak the truth. The first hour I saw
you 1t passed forever into your keeping.
Honor. loyalty to my absent friend. have
led me to play my poor part Ut disguise;
but you have wrung my pitifully kept
secret. Sydney. il is our fault that we
have thus learned loves less0ne Ny
darling, my love, what Is all the world
If il debars US from each otber?"
ut is not OF the world we have to
think" she said. ut Is Of Frank
Shall he be made the sacrifice upon our
altare No. no. Jack! Let us be true to
him, and so true to ourselves. We will
utter NO sophistries. The way Is clear.
Life will never be quite dark. dear. now
I know that You. too. have loved and
lost. But Frank shall not be the one to
suffer from sgiri's wanton experiment.
This swear"
On the girls pale face - she spoke
was something Of the expression which
the ancient martyrs might have worn.
''Go" she added. Il am not very
strong. Leave me my faith In myself,
and In that in you that wooed and won
me. Should you stay, you would not DO
the man to whom gave my hesrt, but
another. base and ignoble. from whom
would withdraw IL. Hush! do not speak
single word! Leave me my dreamr
she entreated.
A shudder shook his fame; he stoop-
ed from his great height and let his lips
q moment touch her uplifted brow.
The next minute she WAS al0De-aloDe
heuceforth. through The long. weary
time to cornerstone even rs, three
months later. on the eve preceding her
wedding. she sat by her lovers side aad
listened while he told her Of the morrow
and the bright future Of which 1t was to
be the threshold.
"roo bad JACK disappointed me-" he
added. presently. ''DO you know, I fan
cied you and he did not quite hit It to-
gether? You wrote me something about
an interesting experiment, but you for
got to tell me the result"
1T Is not worth the telling" she an
swerod with little laugh. which sound.
ed strangely to the mans keen ear. as
though it held In Il the ring OF unshed
tears. ''Or-perhsps ! was worsted 10
the fray. VIII you promise to heal my
broken heart, Frank. dear?"
He thought she jested, as he bent and
hushed tho red lips to silence with hts
kisses; but she knew that the Jest was
sorry earnest and that In It's answer lay
the happiness Of the life she had 90 near.
ly wrecked, the experiment tho future
only might solve.
DR.. Dosem, M Austin physician. was
called on to attend old Uncle Nose,
who drives q dray. lyon have been