Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-10-25

has but Knocked him; and hearts
VIXEN they ache most sorely, may be
nearest the rebound.
Clyde crossed the ocean, found all
as represented, sent for his mother
and Elaine, and remained for three
years in England. Then wishing for
q sight of his native land, found him.
self on board a steamer bound for
America.
If he thought of Inez Lake at all,
as he stood alone Oh deck, the first
night after they had lost sight OF
land, it was with half smile. And
| yet when he turned his eyes from the
water, and saw her crossing the deck
toward him, with the olden grace in
her every movement, the olden smile
on her red lips, his face lost color,
and for an instant it seemed as if he
thought within his heart the love he
had deemed lifeless stirred.
at is pleasant to meet again,
Clyde" she said, extending soft
jeweled hand. "We are both return
ing to America after absence"
IL did not know you had left it,
hesaid, coldly.
"Oh, yes, when married Mr.. Vane
l coaxed him to take me abroad and
he did so. We Travelled for q year,
and then-you know he died in
Naples eleven months ago."
Clyde looked down upon her with
eyes as cold and hard as steel:
She had married Royal Vane; he
had idolized her; and she told of his
death, in foreign land, as even of
voice, ascalm OF face, as though she
spoke of the fading of a flower.
And such cold creaturee could
break the hearts and mar the lives of
men!
Nay, it was memory, not love, that
had stirred in his breast. His love
his tender, precious love-was sitting
beside his mother surrounded by
men-as she had been wherever her
dark face had been seen, since she
went with him across the sea-and
he knew that no beat of her heart no
smile OF her lips. was for any of them;
she was, his loving and true, as in the
old days she had been, when he had
passed her for the siren at his side.
II did not know" he said at last.
81 thought you did not" she an
swered, softly, ''for you sent me no
word. l have heard of you, Clyde,
and | know that you are still free.
also, am free tonight. We are no
longer poor"
Ii love was not utterly dead for her
in his heart, would it not have the
dart of death in it then-then. when
she came to him with the wealth of
unmourned dead in her hands. with
which she fain would gild it's thorn
pierced forehead?
"They told you was still free?" he
said slowly, his whole manly soul
revolving from the task before him.
"They did not tell you truly, then,
tor l am bound, by love so strong
and tender that all past fancies
blanch to nothing beside it. When
my hands were empty, l was richer
than | knew-rich in life's best riches
When fortune came to me, | began
to realize that it was not the love nv
wealth could purchase that | wanted,
but the love that would be mine were
beggar in the streets. IT'S mine
tonight, Mrs. Vane, and yonder is
the girl who has given it to me.
who has my whole heart in her keep
ing. Let me present yon to her."
She bent her fair head and turned
at his side in silence.
If there was a regret in her breart.
It was not for the dead husband
whom she had LETT under the grasses
Of Naples. And if her dainty face
vas paler than usual, it only proved
hat in the most selfish heart there
S spot which can be touched and
made to culver with keen agony of
pain.
He led her to Elaine and introduc-
ID the two. And when Inez met the
Iunny, upward glance of Elaine's
lark eyes, she did not wonder that
Ter own spells had fallen from Clyde's
leart beneath their splendor.
"She is lovelier than l." she told
herself, bitterly.
And it did not dawn upon her that
t was something nobler, worthier,
ess transient than that beauty which
lad won Clyde Harris .-Saturday
Night.