The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-02-12


And then she smiled. She had been
beautiful before, but now her beaut,
was bewildering She stretched oul
her hands 10 him.
" Have you never q word of well
come. Brian, Tor your wife?"
he drew long, hard breath. and
passed his hand heavily over his eyes.
lie never once glanced my way. though
] felt he saw me all the while. He an
swefed her slowly:
How Is Il you are not dead. Louise.
For nearly seven years you have al
lowed me 10 believe you We're"
She laughed . mocking little laugh.
Though she did not turn toward me,
knew she had flashed glance At me.
= Have YOU been Z disconsolate
widower all that time. my poor Brianf
i was very wicked Of me, Of course.
But then. you see. always hated pow
erty; and you were 80 very impccuni-
ous at that time. l really thought u
better 10 die on your hands.
Here she turned suddenly to me with
: sweet graciousness OF manner. while
her eyes. alive with hooking spirits,
looked me through and through.
my husband is little remiss at In
Productions. so find must make my
self known 10 you, as see you are one
Of his friends. Every one has q skeleton
in his closet. you know. and present
you to Brian's."
She made playful courtesy As she
spoke.
ssOnly he fancied 1t was laid away
underground" she added. perhaps
be has told you of our runaway match
when he was at college, and how angry
poor mamma was. and hushed the
matter mp. 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
10 Vienna to live. But first died; for
one must die--must not one?---to get
into paradise. Brian would never have
let me 90 there alive. so / sent him .
lock Of my hair and little scrawling
death-bcd note inclosed in letter from
mammals maid. who had helped US to
run away the year before. You re-
member Fifne. Brian? She has come
over with me now. Such 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 widowcrs
aren't 20 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 IL that
were now just what my step-fnther and
] cuarreled shout. After dear mamma
died died last year. with pref
~. plaintive fall in voice and eyelids.
come aud gone as swiftly as . child's
grave look) the was quite set on max
ing match for me; and Of course that
wouldn't do at all. you know. Dear
mamma was content to let - enjoy
life in my own way; but after she was
gone. the step-papa became just a little
difficult. And So Well, Brian.
knew you were no longer . poor man.
and that should not drag you down
now. And so have come back to you,
il you will have me-" She put out her
hands then in the pretticst pleading
way. IL j had been man
But Brian did not soften in the least.
He had pent up his wrath now. and had
il under his control; but his voice was
still hoarse as he said to her:
II shall take pains to learn whether
AL this il truth. Meanwhile we will
not trespass any longer upon Miss
Deane's patience. shall take you
back to my house, and will set ont
within the hour for Vienna. Miss
Deane will PARDON"
There he broke of huskily. He had
not once lifted his eyes 10 me since
first they fell upon her shadow which
the waning sunset cast between us.
But-how l had the strength / do
not know-but 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 .
pretty child? And there are some peo-
pie who never outgrow the charm and
responsibility Of childhood; il 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
turned to him must have had :
vision Of how it would al end; for. she
was wonderfully fair; she had been his
first love; she would be his last. /
turned to him.
II 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,
50 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 / was alone. NY day was
over; twilight darkened in the window,
gray and blank.
And after twilight
Just : paragraph i book havc
been turning over BY my solitary fire.
side tonight has Get me thinking Of All
this. IL says:
There are woman who live all their
lives long in the cold white moonlight
q other peoples reflected JOY. II H.
noe bad kind Of light 10 live In. after
al. Il may leave some dark. ghostlY
corners in Tie heart unwarmed. but,
like other moonlight, Il lets great
deal be seen overhead that sunshine
hidesr Haspsr's Weekly.
= 0jmjnutjvo Printing Press.