The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-10-08


OF dreams that ever in dreams expire.
Far from me. spring with thy radiant dove
OF lilies and roses gay!-
ClOse-shut eyes-what need have they
OF aught but sleeps sentinel flower?
-Tinsley's Magazine.
HIS INNOCENCE PROVED.
A naughty, stern. dark-faced man
the master of Meredith Grange; q fair
haired, blue.eyed girl. with a face o
rare loveliness. his daughter, Idelle.
The girl was leaning against th'
window, her eyes fixed on the beauti
full scene that lay before her, but q
the sound of her fathers voice sh,
turned her head towards him. her eye!
meeting his.
"Idelle," he said.
Eyes, papa?" she said, but her voice
was questioning.
Can you give your answer to-day,
Idelle? l have waited patiently; your
lover has been patience itself, but W.
want your answer now"
my lover!'' the girl repeated.
king Emerson is not that. father"
He is your lover-at least he loves
you. The question is, Will you marry
King Emerson or not?'
'You give me a choice" with faint
smile; ''then l will not Oh, father"'
with q swift break of passion, Il can
not marry him; do not love him, and
do love-"
"Do not dare to repeat that, Idelle
Meredith, in nv presence again! have
given you my opinion, and more than
mine Of Ralph Greeley, who is neither
more nor less than fortune-hunter;
and his wife, with my consent, you will
never be-"
He was silent for a moment, and
Ideile let her eyes wander out of the
window again.
Suddenly her father rose and went
to her, and caught her by the arm.
"Look here, girl" he said, his face
darkening, Il have fooled long enough
with you. You will marry King EN-
erson."
Il have promised my love to Ralph
Greeley"
The clasp on her arm tightened.
Il tell you," her father said, ''that
Ralph Greeley is rascal. Ask Esther
Haven has he right to marry you"
Il will not believe that story" Idelle
said, though her face grew pale; ''he
is the soul of honor"
Her father laughed.
'Girl, I saw them together" he
said. Il saw her pleading with him.
Everyone links their names together,
and insinuates she ought to be his
wife,
Idelle's face grew still paler.
If l knew that were true," she
said quietly, my heart would change
at least | would turn from him, and
and"
"Marry King Emerson?" her father
interposed.
"And marry King Emerson" she
said.
Il will hold you to that promise,
Idelle," her father said; mo Meredith
ever broke his word, whatever their
other failings."
The smile on the girls face wavered.
All, if she were too sure of her lovers
innocence,
Il spoke thoughtlcssly," she said,
"but if Ralph Greeley is what you have
limited. my careless words will hold
good"
Il am satisfied" her father said
quietly.
A little later Idelle left the house
and wandered down by sunny dell,
her thoughts filled with her fathers
words as we'll us her own.
at was foolish speech of mine,"
she said: seven if Ralph had been un-
worthy, that would be no reason why
should marry King Emerson. whom
almost shrink from, without really
why"
At this instant a tall, fine-lookine
man crossed the meadow man dis
tinguished looking rs we'll as hand
some. It was King Emerson going to
Meredith Grange, where in few min
ltes he would hear Idelle's decision
rom her father.
King Emerson and Ralph Greeley
we're cousins, but King was the master
II broad lands and sunny wales, while
Ralph was little more than penniless;
'ut Idelle-well. Idelle loved him.
He was we'll worthy, as far as out
ward appearances went, of any wo-
mans love, and Idelle refused to be-
ieve that otherwise he was not wor-
by as well.
As King Emerson passed, she drew
nto the shadow lest he should see her.
He is very handsome" she said.
Ter eyes following him after he had
passed. ''almost as handsome as
salph."
Her lovers face rose before her,
heery and bright. as it usually was,
Vith its frank eyes and pleasant smile,
nd tender glow came into her eyes.
my darling. she murmured, "they
annot make me believe ill of you.'
She had said that King Emerson was
lmost as handsome as her lover, but
he truth was he was the handsomer
aan of the two, but lacked the magnet
charm of Ralph's CHEEKY face.
Both men were tall and finely fea-
ured, but Kings face was more regu-
ar in outline, his eyes deeper and
arker, his mustachc more silky and
weeping. his manner more distin-
ulshed; but there WAS i subtle charm
4 the other that made him the favor
q OF old and young-a charm in the
onest eyes and kindly smile that went
long way with women in general,
nd with Idellc Meredith in particular.
Idelle walked on till she came to a
rassy nook. and then she sat down to
est a few minutes. but she was scarce
7 sitting a moment ere she rose to her
.et again, for woman's voice, low
nd pleading, fell on her ears-the
Dice of Esther Haven.
Scarcely conscious of what she did,
lelle peeped through the tangle of
riarwood, and her face grew strangely
ale. Esther's companion was her
'ver, Ralph Greeley.
Almost breathless she stood, while
ear and distinct Esther's voice fell on
Or ears.
''For Gods sake. Ralph. give me the
,rtificate. You will not do this. Oh,
ather in Heaven. what shall do! Oh,
alph, give it to me! would sooner
e than face"
That was all Idelle heard. as. white
I'd trembling, she sank back on her
at. All she had heard-but enough.
er father had spoken the truth.
She sat there stunned and dazed for
ore than a quarter of an hour, then
lddenly the voices fell upon her ear
,ain-at least, her lovers musical
lice.
"YOu will meet me on the BRIDGE"
said. 'sat nine o'clock. and then I'll