Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-01-16

left the house. He barred his head 70 IL
and walked away IN feverish haste. The
house was sitting and go dreadfully still!
He came to the edge Of the CHI Here,
where Lydia and he had sat and talked
SO often; here, where Lydia had SO loved
to think, he melt down and looked earn
estly at the dark waters, the peaceful
dark waters!
sPoor Lyddy! poor Lyddyw he muir
INJURED, covering his face with his rough
hands, while tears, breaking through, one
by one, fell to the ground. Once in
while, above the splashing of the falls,
there came moaning sound, the even
ing cry Of some bird, perhaps, oh, SO sad
and lonely, so much like a cry from his
own heart. He leaned far over and lis
tened.
aIt's the womanr' he whispered.
'sShe's comm out tonight, n she's calm
for me. see her face, but it's on the
rocks'n-''
"Lyddy! Lyddyr he shouted in
agony.
he started up, looked around, and ran
wildly to the old ford half way back to
the house. Then, springing over the
rocks and slipping over wet stones, he
rushed down the canyon, splashing the
water right and left. "Lyddy! Lyddyv'
I'm comin'r' he shouted again and
again. Nearer and nearer came his call,
and at last, hot and painting, Joe threw
himself by her side. He took her in his
arms.
Don't, don't, Joe!' she cried in
pain. "Don't move mel" And he laid
her down again, away from the rocks, on
clear place in the sand.
II think" she whispered ST think it's
almost over"
"Oh, Lyddy, don't say thatl I'll git
help'n-" but she whispered to him
more family, and he had to keep still and
listen.
"It's no use: I feel it. Stay by me-"
He took off his coat and rolling it into
a pillow, placed it under her head. As
he did so he laid his hot cheek, wet with
tears, on hers. She looked up with
pleading eyes.
II was going to jump into the pool;
but I didn't fell''
Joe covered his eyes with his hands.
His throat seemed closed.
"Joey"-weakly Howard told you
all and you cannot forgive me. You do
not love me now"
''God! do you s'pose 1 could step
lovin' you Lyddy?"
A faint flush came into her cheeks.
"He told you all, and you still love
me? Oh! put my arms about you,
Joey!'
He tenderly took her arms and drew
them around his neck. A great sob
shook his frame.
"And you did not love me all along,
Lyddy?"
With the little strength that was left
in her arms, perhaps the very weight of
them, she drew his head to her and held
him close.
'Joey," she murmured, ''next to the
great God above, that perhaps I'll meet,
next to Him, Joey, I love your
And with her face close to his she
whispered:
'That night-that you first said-you
loved me-Howard wanted-me to get
your money! wouldn't he-he
beat mep'
Joe raised his head She opened her
eyes and looked at him.
"Oh Joey-Tm so glad didn't fall
into-the pool -drownv'
Her arms fell from his neck. He took
one poor hand, white and limp, and
pressed it to his wet cheek. For mo-
ment their lips met, and then her eyes,
tender and moist with last happiness,
were fixed on the blue sky above.
And the little falls in soft FLASHES
whispered to the passing breeze, and the
passing breeze caught up futtering
soul and bore it away. And away off
above the clouds-where you and have
no judgment, my friend it was decided
whether this soul was SO very, very black.