The Red Cloud chief., 1888-04-20

snare of love, and even while she PRAYED
smiles came and went upon her face so like
q beating heart was happiness within her
solicitudc.
fOor child OF the mountains, the sorrow
and dross and dullncss of something like
savagery had always snOthered her spirit;
how they had rolled back from her like a
folding curtain. and u light, sweeter a thou
sand times b the sunshine of early spring,
the midsummer sparkle of half-shaded
streams. or the cool fire down-dropping from
the mil'.y surge Of stars, burned mcltingly
through all her being.
She rose up and made herself as fine as
her mcagc- wardrobe would permit, and
stood G moment smiling at her image in the
glass: then. as from the thought that her
lew poor trinkets would be as nothing to
him.. laid them aside and clothed herself in
q simple dress of white muslin and went
down, looking like a goddess of the dawn.
Elchard was pacing to and fro along the
path before the porch, his head erect. his
checks touched with q tiny flame. When
she came out he was almost startled, SO
much had gladness changed her. With a
quick step he was by her. .'Trcanr' but
she lifted her finger with q pretty sign of
warning, her face flushed with happiness,
and he OILY stood a moment by her side
holding her haad tightly where it hung be-
tween them. and booking where the broken
mist rolled up the mountains and caught
here and there on spur and pine in mighty
melting tufts until. far in heaven, at last It
formed in floating isles of fleece.
II am going to meeting sOon,' she muir
INJURED, ''please don't 60 with me-"
He looked at her. ''Why, darling!, he
felt her tremble with that endearing name.
at might not be safew
"What a religiOnr ~ he exclaimed, with
sudden revulslon.
"Yes," and her eyes were on the ground.
10. Trean! do you believe it,"
Itmight be true. and bad men make it seem
untrue" He was surprised at the musical
distinstness of her speech. Love seemed 20
reused her from her squalid use of
words.
"Yes, that is possible. perhaps, but I do
not think it is so with this. Trean. The sys-
tenn seems bad the invention of bad men. |
Yesterday l c down the street, there |
beyond the trees. and saw u woman of mid |
die age knocking angrIly at the door of q
little house. Presently a young woman
opened the door, when the one who came |
her in the face with a sharp rock, |
and fellcd and beat her there upon the
\ b~ystaader who parted them
old me they were the wives Of one man. 1t
was shocking"
"Yes, it was frightful." she said. thickly.
drawing the back Of her hand across her
with q helpless air, ''but l don't
know any other way: l never heard-I
never was shown a better way"
'LOve will show You, Trean; but let il. and
love will teach you the way" His voice
was tenderness itself.
Il have been learning q little since you
came" she said, looking up with smiling,
swimming eyes. With il murmur of glad
ness he caught her to him and held her close
[Or q moment there among the lilacs. Then
steps sounded on the walk and they went
pack together to the porch with their Eases
Deaming. Trean's father was coming round
he house, and 4 look of astonishment
spread over his sallow, haggard face. The
shrunk back an instant. then
proud and erect before him holding
% Richards hand. What q fine picture they
made!
Mr.. Hartman said the young man. re-
;pectfully. ''your daughter has honorcd me
With her love. 1t gives me great happiness.
Will YOU not permit her to take mine IL re-
u.-tuC UCSt Kit i uuNC.
The old mans hands began to shake and
lis eyes filed. Il seed it q comm. l seed
a comm from the first !''hc said. .'ButIv VIC
liked We, an believed in We. an l know yo'r
worthy of 'er, but it's a great trial. 1t amt ;;
ccOrdin' to our religion, an it's hard to ,
,iv' 'cr up, it's hard to Civ 'er up" For q
moment he seemed unable to go on, then he
But won trouble yc, l won't
mr. ut,v,;N ,o fa~ chosS %hn 6o.% o1:IJ
rod ever Civ me, an has never had no one
o love but me, an now when l amt got
much longer to stay I can't take her away !
rom n like yO'; only leave 'cr a little
here; l shan't be long i'm the wayr"
The two happy young hearts e-etouched; i
tender dew sprang into the bright eyes, I
the old man reached out his trembling S
ands and took in each q moist, warm palm
stood a moment, crying silently. 1t
ecmed q typc of life: sorrow and happiness =
and in hand, age waiting for death, and !.
outh eager to take the path that leads to .
&c. y
After . long pressure Of the warm hands o
hat lay in his, the gray and broken man =:
them and turned away. He seemed L
, totter as he went in. and something of 1.-THE I
cal gravity Of love and existence seemed to 5
upon the two whose young eyes ;
,llowed him. o
Standing under the blooming vines their j..
ps met ~rcverently, even so soon had dIty <
upon their passion, making it q q
hing more rational and holy. {
''YOu will stay with him, darling, till o
II
'.Yes, l can't leave him now. I never q
Id any one else to love un;il-you came, II
ut him: he's good, Y weak. and feeble, !;
I'D needs me even more than-you." e.
''Yes, but l shall not be far away" and IL
: smiled into her sober eyes md kissed G
n, and they went in. .
The girls father was standing neal the ~
door with his eyes fixed upon the Is
,or. Elchard laid q hand gently upon his u
m. ''Don't feel badly about this, sir" he u
nd, cheeringly; Il am quite sure it will Il
owe q blessing to us all. You will find OF
G a good son, l am almost certain. You 81
we been very kline to me, and l shall try IS
be as kin as / may in return" u
20, it amt that, SIR he cried, hoarsely. i"
know yO'r good, an l like yc, but my dar- ~
RS lost in dom this! she's lost for turnin' a.
lin counsel and revelation! You kent a v " ~
Yo'r too fine an proud to be bad, but ~
II Of this poor worl', an in the end h y
ust go whar yo' do! q, sir. n wanted er =
at could a lifted 'er up hereafter! could ~