Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-10-02
FACE TO FACE AT LAST.
BY EVA RICHMOND.

1t was the ball of the season, and
was the beauty and the belle. Many q
one envied me, I suppose, as / swept
down the long rooms, flushed, triumphant,
smiling, elegantly attired, and with my
titled lover by my side.
He was my lover, openly enough, though
we were not engaged; that was my fault
entirely.
You will grant me an interview to-
morrow" pleaded SIR Edward, softly.
I knew well what that meant, he would
be trifed with no longer. / bowed col
assent. Then Mrs. Gray came up to me
and said: Il have charming surprise for
you, my dear. Who do you suppose is
coming here o-night-coming, too, ex-
pressly to see your You remember your
old schoolmate, Viola Wilton? She
home for her wedding tour. They ar
rived only yesterday. could never have
persuaded her to be present tonight but
for her longing to see you."
My heart beat wildly. Viola coming
home, and SO anxious to see mel What
might it mean? Pretty Viola, about
whom Frank Bascome and had quar-
relied because of my jealous fancy. I
realized now how idle that jealousy had
been. What if Viola was the bearer of
some message from Frank! Some pre-
Oh, if it were but word, to tell me that,
In spite of pride. his heart had been as
constant as my own, how l would well
come it! Hope sprang high in my breast.
Sir Edward may be disappointed to-
morrow after all, thought; aud then I
inquired as calmly as could:
who did Viola marry?"
IAN old acquaintance of your own,
dear, which makes it so much more
HI Dna T,nyn 80,
now-as pretty as ever, and much more
stylish. It seems to me that you and
Frank Bascome We're good friends two
years ago. 1t will be pleasant for you
all TO meet"
And then some one else attracted her
attention, and she ran merrily away
1 don't knowehow long may have sat
there, quite still, without realizing any
thing but the anguish of the wound she
had so innocently given my heart. The
first thing that aroused me TO a sense of
the present was Sir Edwards voice.
He was bending over me with an air of
lover like solicitEde. 1t would have az
gered me at another time. but it was well
come now.
! fear you are not we'll, he said, SOU
look SO pale.
/ arose and took his arm. did it
po:nted'y, with certain air of appro-
pratiOn that all might see.
II am not we'll, said. IF you will
take me quietly to my carriage, AMI then
return and make excuses to Mrs.
Gray" / paused, then added, mean
ingiy, looking strai ght into his eyes: Il
shall be sufficiently recovered to receive
you when you cal Tomorrow, / dare
say"
A look of triumphant pleasure flashed
into his face.
Dearest Chrislinel" he murmured.
He had never presumed to call me by
my name before. | shuddered with a
feeling of repulsion for moment, then
controlled myself and leaned upon his
arm. Many eyes followed us under
standingly as we made our way slowly
through the crowd. At the carriage door
be kissed my hand. That was seen also.
did not care. What did it matter? He
was not to be disappointed Tomorrow,
after all.
AS 7 bowed COED night from the VIM
dow another carriage drove up 10 the door,
and | saw its occupants descend. A gen.
tleman came first; tall, with fece Tint
seemed familiar to me- Then sprang out,
into his very arms. q little do .nty figure,
clad in bridal white Viola! pretty Vio-
la! Prettier, indeed, than ever, aud spark
ling with happiness and Joy. Another
figure followed her Frank Bascome-the
mani iovedl
Oh, heavensl the sight OF him, after
those two long We rs. How it drove all
other thought, all other memory from my
mind. save only that Of how loved him.
I leaned forward, DIR mixing in e5geriy
every detail Of his dress and form and
face, noting, in one second, all the
changes of two years. A noble form, a
brightly happy face; no trace of long,
unsatis6ed heart yearning there.
/ had forgotten that he was Viola's
husband. All memory Of Sir E1wafl's
hopes had vanished from my mind. One
little incident recalled it ALL Az gazed
he took Viola. laughingly and with gem
tie force, from her dark companion's
arms and conducted her in merry tri-
umph into the house himself, the other
following gayly.
think the cry of anguish that broke
4 trommy lips ct that sight would have
had its way, though ell the world had
stood by to hear. Lost to me-lost! The
man ] loved -adored who once had