Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-11-30
indicating some personal adornment,
ssld: HIS sets yOu nfflB

Steel, But even t1Gre MS strange anger
SO well IS tie equally strange remorse
which had seized him in McKinstry'!
presence, seemed TO evsporste in tn,
clear moonlight AID soft summer air
There was the river bank, with tn,
tremulous river glsrcing through thu
dreamy mis-, IS they had seen 1t from
the window together. He even turned Il
LOOK back on the lighted ballroom, as il
. she might have been looking out too
But he knew he should see ner again to.
, morrow, and he hurriedly put aside 81
reserve, all thought of the future, sll ex
animation Of his conduct, to walk home
enwrapped In the vsguer pleasure OF the
past. Rupert Fiigee, to whom he hat
. nsVer given 3 second thought, nov
peacefully slumbering beside his baby
brother, mad not gone home in more
foolish or more dangerous company.
When he reached the hotel he was sur
prised to find it only IL O'Clock. No one
had returned. The building was des
serted by all but the barkeeper and Q
flirting chsmbeImaid, who regarded him
with sggrieved establishment. He began
to feel very foolish, and half regretted
that he had not stayed to dance with Mrs
Aripp; or, al least, remained as q quiet
onlooker . part from the others. With s
hesty excuse shout returning to write
letters for the mornings post, he took q
candle and slowly remounted the stairs
to his room. But on entering he found
himself 10 pre- pared for that singular lack
CT sympathy with which familiar haunts
always greet our new experiences; he
could hardly believe that he had left that
room only two hours before; 1t seemed
80 uncongentsl and strange to
the sensation that was still possessing
him. Yet there were his table, his books,
his armchair. his bed as he had left them !;
even sticky fragment OF gingerbread
that had fallen from Johnny's pocket.
He had not yet reached that stage OF sb-
sorbing passion where ne vas able to pu.
the Loved one In his own surroundings;
che as yet had no place in this quiet
room; he could scarcely think Of her here,
and he must tnink CT her, il he h2d to go
elsewhere. An e1.rsvagxnt idea Of walk
ing the street until his restless dream was
over seiz9d hiD, but even in his folly the
lsckkdaisical, noonstruck quality ofsucaA
performance was too obvious. The SCHOOL
mouse! He Toald 90 there; 1t was only
g pleasant walk, the night was lovely,and
he could bring tie myrtle sprsy from his
desk. It was too significant now-ii not
too precious-to be kept there. Perhaps
he had not examined 1t closely, nor the
place where it had lair; there might be
an additional sign, word, or token he had
overlooked. The thought thrilled him,
even while he was calmly arguing 10 him
self that it WAS an instinct Of caution.
The air WAS quieter and warmer than
usual, though Still Characteristic or the
locality in its dry, dewless clarity.
The grass wss yet warm from the
day.long sun, snd when he entered
the pines that surrounded the school
house, they had scarcely yet lost their
spicy heat. The moon, riding high, filed
the dark aisles with 8 delicious twilight.
thst lent itself to his waking dreams.
II was not long before tomorrow; he
could easily manage to bring her here in
the grove Of recess and would speak with
her there. It did not occur to him Whist
he should say, or why he should ssy It; It |
did not occur to him that he had no other |
provocation than her eyes, sher conscious |
manner, her eloquent silence, and her I'D |
mission thst she had expected him. II |
did not occur to him that all this was In
consistent with what5he knew OF her sns
tecede1ts, her character and her habits. !
Il was this Inconsistency that charmed |
and convinced him. We are always on
the lockout for these miracles Of passion.
We may doubt the genuineness of an al
fiction that is first hand, but never OF one
that is transferred.
He approached the school house and
unlocking the door closed it behind him,
not go much TO Keep out human in.
trusion as the invasion Of bats and squir-
rels. The nearly vertical moon, while II
perfectly lit the playground and openings
in the pines around the house, left the
Interior in darkness, except the reflection
upon the ceiling from the shining gravel
without. Partly from sense of precau-
ton and partly because he was fam iliar
with the position Of the benches, he did
not strike light, and reached his own
desk unerr!ng!7, drew his chair before it
and unlocked It, CROPPED in its dark re-
less for the myrtle spray, felt it's soft
'ilken binding with an electrical THRILL,
rev IL cut, ard in the security CT the
darkness, raised 1t to his lips.
To make Toom for 1t in his breast
pocket he WAS obliged to take out his
ettefs-Rmong them the well>Worn enc
le had tried to read thst morning. A
nirglirg Of pleasure and remorse came
,ver him IS he felt that It was already OF
he past, and IS he dropped il careleselv
nto the empty desk it fell with q fsint,
follow sound, &c IL 1t were ashes to ashes.
What was tnst?
The noise Of steps upon the gravel,
ight laughter, the moving of two or
hree shadows on the ceiling, the sourd
4 voices-a msn'e, chi;G's and hers!
Could il be possible2 Was not he miss
aiken? Nc! the mans voice WAS Mas. !
er's, the child's Octkvis's, the women's
ey's, {
he remained silen. in the shadow. 7
choolroom was not far from the trail
7here she would have had 10 pass going
ONE from the ball. But why had she {
ome tn IRE? Had they seen him arrive,
nd were mischievously watching him?
mt the sound Of CressY's voice and the {
fling Of the unprotected window near
ne docg Convinced him to the contrary
"There, thatrl do. Now you two can I
tep aside. 'Taye, take him over to yen s
ence, and keep him there till get in.
you, sir-I can assist myself. j
We done it before. It eint the first time c
We been through this window, is 1t, '
rave?" y = G
Ford's heart stopped beating. There t
as moment OF laughing exppstulstion, q
ie sound Of fetre6ting volcesi 5ae sudden Ii
srkeniug OF TAG Window. thS billowy
weep Of skirae saint qSA fash OF IL
tile ankle Aud EasssS Nc KinSy swungtf,
srself lntoSssm and dgsppea ,sigatly tt
0 the door. q (
She advanced eagerly up the moenlit -
ssssge between the two rows of benches.
lddeniY she stopped; the master roFe .
tie same moment with outstretched
aiming hard TO check'the CRY Of terror
, felt sure would rise to her lips. But
, did not Know the lsz7 nerves ct the s!
RI before him. She uttered NO outcIy. Il
I'd sven in the faint dim light he could h,