Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-02-11
She made a playful courtesy as she

She made playful courtesy as she
spoke.
..Only he fancied it was laid away
underground" she added. Perhaps
he has told you of our runaway match
when he was at college, and how angry
poor mamma was, and hushed the
matter up, and carried me away to
Europe to finish my school days there.
And there it was that mamma made
her brilliant second marriages. real,
true German baron; and we went away
to Vienna to live. But first died; for
one m,U die-must not one?-to get
into paradise. Brian would never have
let me 60 there alive, so sent him a
lock of my hair and a little scrawling
death-bed note inclOsed in letter from
mammals maid, who had helped US to
run away the year before. You re-
member Fi6ne, Brian? She has come
over with me now. Such a clever soul!
can't tell how should ever, without
her, have managed to keep myself in
formed of your movements, and of
course had to do that, for all widowers
aren't so constant. and you might have
married, you know"
He interrupted her, hoarse with pas
sion: ''And how do know that you"
"Oh, Brian, how can you! AS if that
| were now Just what my step-father and
l quarreled about! After dear mamma
| died-she died last year. with pref
ty, plaintive fall in voice and eyelids,
come and gone as swiftly as child's
grave look -''he was quite set on max
ing a match for me; and of course that
wouldn't do at all, you know. Dear
mamma was content to let me enjoy
life in my own way; but after she was
gone, the step-papa became just little
difficult. And so Well, Brian, l
knew you were no longer poor man,
and that should not drag you down
how. And so have come back to you,
if you will have me- She put out her
hands then in the prettiest pleading
| way. If had been man
But Brian did not soften in the least.
He had pent up his wrath now. and had
it under his control; but his voice was
still hoarse as he said to her:
Il shall take pains to learn whether
all this is truth. Meanwhile we will
not trespass any longer upon Miss
Deane's patience. / shall take you
back to my house, and will set out
within the hour for Vienna. Miss
Deane will pardon
There he broke off huskily. He had
not once lifted his eyes to me since
first they fell upon her shadow which
the waning sunset cast between us.
But-how l had the strength I do
not know-but l went straight up to
her and took her hand, and kissed her
on the pretty smooth white brow as
she lifted up her face to mine. Is there
woman born who can keep anger for a
pretty childp And there are some peo-
pie who never outgrow the charm and
responsibility of childhood; if they
pluck at ones heart-strings with their
careless fingers until one could be
stung into giving them blow or
shake, one must kiss and be
friends afterward. And then l
turned to him-I must have had
vision of how it would all end; for she
was wonderfully fair; she had been his
first love; she would be his last. l
turned to him.
Il am sure you will find all as she
has said, and that YOU will forgive her.
/ don't think | shall be here still when
you come back from your long journey,
SO you must let me give you my best
wishes now"
Our hands met for one instant-not
our eyes; we neither of us could bear
that. Then our hands fell apart, and
presently l was alone. My day was
over; twilight darkened in the window,
gray and blank.
And after twilight?
just a paragraph in book have
been turning over by my solitary fire.
side tonight has set me thinking of all
this. 1t says:
'There are women who live all their
lives long in the cold white moonlight
of other peoples reflected joy. 1t is
not bad kind of light to live in, after
all. 1t may leave some dark, ghostly
corners in the heart unwarmed, but,
like other moonlight, it lets a great
deal be seen overhead that sunshine
hides. "-Raaper' Weekly.