Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-06-05
The Old Love and the New.

'In two years, Alice, 1 am coming
back with my fortune made to claim
you"
These had been John -Maxwell's last
words; and there had been fire in bis
eve, and certain lines of determination
about his mouth, which argued that he
would make them good. But the two
years had passed, and for the last six
months Alice Tower had heard nothing.
Sitting under the trees one warm May
afternoon, she idly wondered whether
his silence gave her pain or pleasure.
When John had hidden her good bye
the thought of his return had been the
sustaining power in the moment of de-
parture. Though she had shed bitter
tears over the story of his many failures;
though she had received with gladness
the knowledge OF his first successes;
though she had waited with impotence
for letters that did not come, she now
felt it to be almost relief.
All! Alice would not whisper to her
own thoughts that there had been an
other teacher; that not SO easy would
have been the lesson Of forgetfulness
had not another lesson been conned in
its stead. 1t was all bewildering
maze in the little head under the masses
of rich brown hair, with just CLINT of
red among them in farewell kiss.
But brighter red stole into her cheek
as a well known step drew nearer, aud a
shadow for which the trees were not re-
sponsible was thrown beside hers.
"Gocd evening, Miss Alice,'' said a
CHEEKY voice. Il thought that I should
find you here. The evening is too
lovely for indoor life."
eyes," she answered; cit is very
lovely"
"As it should be-" he added, in lower,
more impressive tones, ''to grace your
presence. Alice" he continued throw
ing himself on the ground beside her,
''shall 1 tell you why am glad to find
you here? Because to me it seems the
most fitting place to tell you something
else, which, though you must already
know, it is fit that 1 should put into
words, darling. 1 am not versed in elo-
quAnce; and we're I, here eloquence
might stammer. But they are words
old as tine world ITSELF love YOU I
have but one hope in life, and that is,
that you will share it. 1t is not much
that 1 can offer you, dear. Perhaps 1
should say wait, before take you from
your comfortable home. But yet, why
should L? If you love me, you will stand
bravely by my side, and We will stand
whatever storms life may have in store
for us, as we share its sunshine Alice,
what is your answer. Will you be my
wite?"
All, it had come at last! Once the
! girl had tried to check the torrent of his
words. He had but caught the little,
OBTAINING hand in his own strong palm
and held it tightly. The small head had
dropped lower. A short gasping sound
was in her throat, letting no word find
its way there. What was she to do?
Two years ago she had given another
promise; two yeals of toll and home
sickness had been endured for his sake;
but for six months she had heard moth
ing. Perhaps John had forgotten her
as-ah, as she had almost added, ''as she
had forgotten him." But of John, Dent
Dexter knew nothing, and Dent Dexter
she loved. So it was, that when, half
wondering at her long silence, he again
repeated his question, she simply raised
to him the fair face. and content with
what he read there, he stopped and press
ed his first kiss on the young red lips.
Somebody has said it was bad luck for
a bride to don her wedding dress before
the wedding day. It was all nonsense,
Alice thought, as, six weeks later, she
stood before her mirror and saw reflected
there her own form clad in its white
.silken robes.
Dent had been so impatient for their
marriage before the July roses faded on
thu outside walls of the pretty little cot
tage he had prepared for her home-nest,
that she had been forced to yield to his
wishes, and now but few short days
would intervene before she would cross
its threshold as his wife.
In all these weeks she had told him
nothing OF John. Somehow she could
not gather courage to frame the words.
And John had forgotten her. He would
never know. 1t was better that he
should not. Love is ever jealous, and he
might upbraid her, or think even while
he had won her that she might prove in
constant to him as to her first lover.
Some day when she was his wife, his
very own, she would whisper the story
into his ear, and they would bury poor
John together.
Poor John! She wished she had not
thought of him, as she stood in her we'd
ding-dress. The air was very heavy to-
night. It was this which oppressed her
90.
"Come in" she called, to the knock at
the door.
The little maid entered.
.tOh. Miss Alice! law, miss, how beau
tiful you do look! The gentleman is
downstairs, and wants to see you i'm
mediate, miss" j.
The gentleman! or course she meant
Dent. She had great mind to run
down Just as she was, to hear II he
would echo the little maids verdict. and
say that he, too, thought her beauti-
ful.
The impulse of vanity was not to be
resisted, and gathering up her silken
skirts, she ran lightly down stairs.
. The room was in shadow, the large,
old-fashioned lamp on the table burning
dimly; but sitting in a corner OF the sofa