The Red Cloud chief., 1884-01-25

sordid. cOquetry-had it not been FOL
the one element on his side, Of nasslon.
ate earnestness. of loyal good faith. and
pure-hearted. single-minded adoraA ION.
This was what gave its tragic elemA1'
to the affair. Philip worshiPed his god
dess most reverently. thinking her high
above himself and every other creature:
being perfectly willing to forsake faith
er and mother, brother and sister, and
cleave forever to her only-while she,
Poor little Mabelle's bitter signs were
not without Just cause and foundation.
"A town life must always be q sacri-
flee, l suppose, after our beautiful home
at Nensioe, but -"
''But do you think it could ever be
tolerable 70 you?"
There might be conditions under
which-oh. MI. Massey"
A long and pensive glance was only
half over when Philip interrupted it by
taking her hand.
"Miss Fairfax-Angela!' he began,
and alter a .pause he went on, as she
had intended he should, with the story
of his love, his alterations: his utter un-
wOrthiness and presumption. and all
the rest of it.; but the speech ended. rs
all such speeches do end, with a fervent
prayer that she would overlook the I'M
worthiness and try to love him ever so
little-in ever so long a time, and there
by make him happy from that moment
for all time. 4
sIi Oh, you astonish mel" said she,
and did not blush as her eyes met his
while she spoke.
Perhaps l startled you-spOke too
soon -you were unprepared,' he STAN
mered.
1.-THE idea of anything he could say
startling me-" thought Angela. with
supreme disdain
'.But, oh, if you could only say that
l am not utterly Indifferent to you"
IL can not deny it," said she, with a
long look, and a smile that faded almost
before it began.
"And may l."
stop! l can not tell you that Ilove
you, but"
II never expected. never thought, or
hoped such a thing. But may l hope,
Angela: that some time"
flush. Do not be so excited, Philip.
Yes, l can not tell you not to hope. l
Il will think of it."
"You are an angel" was all that
Philip could say, kissing her hand. with
a fervent look of devotion that had
something of reverence in ia look in
which a nobler woman might have
nobly rejoiced, but which caused An
gela to think how very desperately he
was.in love with her, as she answered
with a smile.
A smile was her only reply to almost
every form OF address, question. avow-
al--every shape of praise, blame. re-
proach. Unkind and enviOus fellow.
women, like Grace Massey and Thekla
Berghaus, have been known to say that
this form of answer, constantly re.
peated, waXed mOnotonOuS: but how
can such a smile wax mOnOtOnOus,
floating over a lovely face, and seeming
to be caused by unknown depths oil
feeling, family lighting a pair of di-
vine eyes.
The story goes that a certain ''Matel
Purissima,' one of the most celebrated
pictures of a celebrated old master, haC
for model one of the most corrupt
women of her age. 1t is a story which,
whether true or not. inevitably sets one
thinking when one hears it. and think.
ing sadly. too. of the many counter.
parts Of it which may be found il
thess latter years of grace in the nine
teenth century. in which we have eman-
cipa.ed ourselves from so mu.h which
we have discovered to be superst:tiOus.
and set up instead each an idol fash
Toned by his OWE hands-our mater
purissi7nd.
FRO BE CONTINUED.