Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-07-22

watching Miss Grey floating about the
ballroom principally with Bradford.
He stalks out on the piazza, brilliant
with lanterns, and then saunters TO the
other end, where it is comparatively
quiet.
Polly sits there, and Bradford Brad
ford lis bending above her, he even
has her hand and now he goes in and
leaves her.
Coniston is Il mailman rs he rushes
into the other mans place, and leans
trembling oyer her chair. She is quite
silent.
1T is H. he whispers, bTokenly.
Il know she replies, softly.
'Oh, child = cries he, you must lis.
ten to me | am q good nothing
sort of a fellow | have had no relig-
ion, not anything, until have known
you, and now you are my shrine. 1t
seems to me at your feet l should lay
rare spices, perfumes, flowers, jewels
and all dare lay there tonight is a
human heart-a human life, Polly he
says, lowly STOPPING his blonde head
to hers. will you have me p
lie sees her face as she upturns it in
the flare of the last lantern /; it is as lie
has never seen it pale, stricken, awful,
calm.
We'll = she says, at last, with that
clear, bright voice of hers, a triae hard,
trle matter-of fact.
'Oh, love you, my soul my queen!
love you and need you, cries he, o.
Yer come hy the sight of her pallor.
Il know she answers quietly, Il ap :
preciate, valae your love | would not
have it otherwise | should have been
disappointed always if you had not
loved me. All p burying her white
face il her hands, Il reyel in it y
And he had once thought this wo-
man cold, superficial, unlikable.
My darling y Coniston says, reach
ing out his hand for hers.
But whispers the girl, drawing a.
way in her silken wrap, liam en-
gagged to be married to Eugene Rrad-
ford. haye been for two years y
Sir Campbell Frazer had arrived
from the West. The Arizona was to
sail Tuesday, and both he AID the Earl
of Coniston were booked on her pass
enger list.
1t was Monday night-'midsummer
come again. people said, lounging a.
bout the piazzas of the big hotel
warm, snltry, with reat banks of blue
black clouds lowering above the golden
rim of the west.
Bradford was up in town, detained
by business, as Coniston had discover
ed. Miss Grey was sitting at the cor
ner of the piazza. lie went up TO her
for the first time since the night of the
ball.
May l sit down p
She looked assentingly.
Il am going tomorrow in the Ari-
zona.'
L know she answers, whitening.
He wonders why, and, Heaven help
him he gets up and goes away, when
he would rather far have taken the
frail, yivacious, alert little woman to
his heart.
Presently he saunters back.
Would you take ride with me to.
night ! You know we shall never on
earth see each other again. Would
you p
Her eyes flash, her lips culver she
turns the ring on her finger back and
forth.
Yes she says, quietly, Il will. l
will get on my habit and be down pres
entity
They ride off-off into the green and
silent country lanes, where the dew
damps the air, and where the scent Of
the homestead flower gardens mingles
with the breath of the sea as it comes
to them.
They do not talk very much, nor yet
ride fast. The twilight is gathering
and the horses have their way.
Suddenly it grows dark-the blue
bl~ck clouds have crept over all the
brightness of the heaYens and hidden
the harvest moon from sight.
4 flash-an instantaneous report, and
Polly sees her lover stagger in his seat;
his left arms falls powerless struck for
ever useless at his side.
She had her horse beside him in an
instant she comes close to his side,
while the great rain drops fall splash
ing down upon them. She takes up
the stl licken arm in her soft hands, and
presses her young lips upon it.
Polly y cries Coniston wildly, do
you love Bradford p
'Oh, no y she says.
will you marry me p
Yes she whispers.
sNow-to- ght-this very hour p