The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1885-10-24
VANITY HARDWARE.
BIZ ALAN MUIR.

ssThere now" she said. softly and sweetly,
admit don't be angry. this quiet, lovely
evening
stopped The white figure drew close tc
the tall, dark figure, and, as w:n as could
see, she laid her head against his shoulder.
He pushed her off with q savage oath, and
saw him stalking back to the house. Do you
know, thought heard sob, which made me
feel queer: for never like to hear a woman
or a child cry; life seems too short for it
In went tire great, strong form, after FOL
lowed Vanity's slow, white figure; bang
went the door, not shut by her hand, will
he positive: and somehow through the crash
1 thought heard cry of pain or fear. And
that was all saw!
You may be sure turned this incident
over in my mind good many times; and
though made nothing out OF 1t, resolved
to tell Willie what had seen. 1t was clear
that at present the old father was not the
only inmate Of Tumbledown Farm; for
though could not discern any feature, the
form Of this stranger was that OF great,
able-bodied man. Was he a visitor onlyl
Why, then. should he charge her with being
late night after nightl And how should
visitor speak to her in so violent q manner:
Was he q brother2 Was he q husband?
Miss AFFORD herself could not have felt more
curious than /, as pondered these questions.
One thing was clear to my mind: Willie did
not know about his sweetheart all that was
necessary to be known by a lover. re-
solved to start him on the track of inquiry;
and it happened, curiously enough, that
soon after lie came to inc to talk over his
love affairs, which had come to crisis.
In his interviews with Vanity he had now
plainly betrayed the lover, in spite Of the
shyness that always hung over him in her
S>,$, ter,
fiippant gayety of her manner with little
xnatches of seriousness, just enough t. en-
courage him in thinking that her heart was
touched. Had her conduct wanted these
polite strokes. the spell by which she hound
him must surely have melted away. For as
she grew more familiar her free and easy
style Of talking became more marked, and
even Willie--lover though, he was-started
sometimes ut her sallies. Vanity seemed
color-blind, SO to speak. IA to ordinary dis
rinctions between propricty and improperly.
He tried to reassure himself by recalling all
he had ever read or heard about pruies being
at heart less virtuous than fil'ts and de-
clared to me that 1.-THE Merry Wives Of
Windsor taught memorable lesson in this
particular. Still. when all had been said,
Vanity's behavior remained a source Of mis-
giving. He was often on the point Of break
ing loose; hut one droop Of her 1ong.lashed
eyes, or q snfter note in her fine metallic
voice, would scatter his doubts to the winds.
and restore his wavering allegiance.
They had arranged new meeting place
a little swinging gate. which you may zee
even now standing at the corner Ut ;hs
plantation. So far they kept up a Eretense
Of accident in these encounters, Tor Willie
thought it indelicate to hint at anything like
an appointment with woman who had not
vet accepted him As q lover Respectable
behavior was horn In that dear boy! But
accidentally, on purpose, they met; and
sunset after sunset found them ut this swing
ing gate, ready to stroll OF different ways,
IL need arose. At last, ono Saturday night,
Willie resolved to speak his mind. Vanity
was leaning upon the gate, swinging herself
to and fro at times, or atting her white fin.
ger tips into the blossoms Of q long stalk OF
foxglove, which she had plucl<etl as she
walked. Apainter might have chosen he,
- a model of temptress. Well she knew
her power over the artless, manly youuA
fellow at her side.
Willie was not inclined to talk; for, with Z
heating heart, he was planning how to opel
his declaration of love. The sunlight, as Il
sunk, tipped the tree-tops with gold, and fal
below a mist was stealing up the grea
valley; the butterflies had vanished lons
ago, and now and then beetle went by q,
whirring wings; the bronlklet ran away from
beside them, and wound and babbled acrUs
the field. Nature and Love had tho SCENE al
To themselves
"Vanityr' said Willie, at last. He ha.
always called her Miss Hardware" unit
now, and felt that this was great stride T.
make in breath. So he said it again, like
man going to burn his bridge, 'Vanityl"
Miss Vanity showed not the least surprise
and gave no sign Of pleasure or displeasure.
''What in it," she asked, studying the pin
thi,nble Of foxglove ON her folefinger wit
the most alluriMg carelessnesS. 'Have yo
any news to tell MeY'
"Wbat white Aandy' cried W lille, fecliu
more himself all of sudden "A pretty
little white-hand!'
t:asping for breath-so he told mo himsel
'sThere are mo- rings to set 1t off," Vanit
said. looking at her hand with pout The
her face rippletl into smile and n laugh.
1.-THE flowers look pretty while they las
don't they She dalliesl with the half-.li
Willie, trembling all over, resolved tucr.,
the bridge and burn it,
'tCover Your hand with diamonds cover
until every finger carries fortune, ~ he erie
land the hand would not look so beautiful
now. or he 40 dear"
Vanity smiled, pleased with his comp
lnent, it seemed, not the least fiustcred: q
used to having her fingers toyed with,
sure Of that!
Willie grew holder; he caught l,sr hand
his.
''Vanity, dear Vanity!'
YES" she said. "What have YEN got
say to Iiunity-tlear Vanifv."
She raisei her eyes, SD that the last l,es
of sunlight touched them and irratiated til,
dangerous brilliancy.