The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-12-26

He looked at her, his puzzled face
slowly clearing. Then he led her to her
chair beside the opened book, and stood
over her.
81 met an old friend last night" he
said, abruptly; "you do not know him.
but he told me-many things. He said
you were living here, and that Walter
was in delicate health. What did he
/ mean?"
.Walter is with mc-and dying. no
married Bell"
"But-but he was to-tU-"
ale was to have married me-, Of coarse
but-did not"
Positively. she was smiling. Mr.. Bar
clay drew IL deep breath. and sat down.
II came In yesterday" he said, and
to-day l am here. ! did not dream Of IL
twcnty-four hours ago. ami was so
used to being alone out there, I had So
little cause to think of any one: 1 had
grown selfish and a fool. But what do
you think greeted me, Mary? A holly
wreath. 1t made me twenty years
younger IN q minute. DO you know you
gave me the first sprig of rral holly l
ever saw That Christmas ] amt out
with Bob Hart, you remembers? Walter
was here then. Would you mind telling
me all that has happened since ] saw
you?"
There wa color in her face row, and
a light in her eyes. Her hands trcmbied,
too, as she laid them one over tho other,
listening quietly to his eager words. But
she told him. as he asked. her simple
story.
Mr.. Barclay wondered TO himself as ho
listened, and thrilled with n mcasuielcss
gratitude at the thought OF his slowly
unfolding destiny. He began to hope,
to believe he could sec the reason for
many things, to fancy lm had looked for
ward to this hour with Mary Thorntyke
through many years. when he had
success. In short, when She finished her
recital, Mary Thorndyke had u lover
who would have sworn he had known no
other love.
He dincd with her, Il quiet dinner,
sweetened for lin by other spice and
flavors than those his wealth had long
furnished. He waited over the fire for
her while she ministerrd in the sick
mans room to the wants, pathetic in
their lesscning ~Iucrulousncss. Me
clatted with her of foreign lands and
home prospects, and at last held her
hand for o brief goodnight, and went
away from her watchful eyes into the
~star-lit night. \ strange, sweet, rest
filled both their hearts, although he had
not spoken.
H will rome again!. said Mary
Thorndykc to her frightened face in the
glass above the nOdding roses. "llc will
come again. and then! Oh, after all,
God is good!n .
He did come again. He told his stories
of struggles to her waiting eyes and mo-
bile lips, watching their lovely play; he
wooed her dcNteronsly; he advanced
slowly, step by step, striving, as he
thought, to make sure of his advance.
At last, I'm fear and trembling, he told
her the secret of his love in an hour he
little intended, while her ewes were
heavy and her face pale with tho last
watches by the dcathbed of his long-ago
rival.
II cannot but be glad, Mary, that you
are freed from this care" he had COM
menccd, gravely. "PoOr fellow! His life
was one long error. IL seems to me. How
envicd him once. oh, Mary, the weary
years your mistake cost me! But for
that engagement ! might have won your
love. Now-now. l suppose you could
never care for me? ] am such % bach
elor forlorn!'n
There was an eager trcmor in his
voice bclying its carelessness. Mary
ThOrndykc made no answer but hcr
head dropped before him, and her hands
nuttercd aimlcssly over the loose paper.
she had been sorting.
MARY" he cried, starting up md lay.
ing his strong white hand ON her Shout.
der, @what do you mean? Tell mo quick!a
She looked up. stcadying her soft gaze
and trembling lips. "But for you,n sho
said-and oh. what q thrill was in the
words!-@but for you, l should never
have known ! did not love him.
She held out her hands suddenly and
impulsively.
passionately, as he seized them.
1t was his last complaint. They are
: 3thc happiest OF human beings" And
: Mr.. Barclay, telling his best stories, and
creating u Juror Of mirth around his
: Christmas table with his widest Jokes
+ never fails to sober down" and relate
t the wonderful fortune he owes to the
old woman's holly wreath.
"But for that bit of Christmas - he is
wont to say, II might have gone on
until now. a selfish. heartlcss, homeless
man. l had no thought beyond my
dinner, when came over the ships side.
r had forgotten it was Christmas Eve.
d But with n look at that poor old crca-
/. turc's twist Of leaves and berries / was
d another man. ! was hungry for tho past;
l remember things I had long hidden
away in the grave of youth; / was
restless and maddcned with a dis
appointment and loss 1 had once per.
suaded myself l did not feel. Out of
g this turmoil cam the resolution to un-
ravcl the web of years. And, 10! 1 found
1t woven with u thread of gold, leading
y me to the very treasure / had not dared
to sigh for! The ghost of Mary's holly
spray-that was my Christmas angel,
wasn't 1t, my wife?"
o The unwritten q are such q
this.