The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-19

no mistake she STOOD up on tlptoe to see
the better. Yes, it was Aileen. and now
Gerald WAS leading her out to dance.
| The pink silk kerchief was round her
neck. Something seemed to shoot across
NIona's eyes with binding pain. When
Barney begged her to dance she an
swered a little sharply, and he went
away again.
at is too warm here, aunt, just now, T"
she said to Mrs. Kelly.
$50 stand in the cool a while, child, !"
said her aunt. There's Aileen comm
over here; bide bit"
But Mona was gone. Not under the
trees did she stop, not by the little gate
Swiftly she passed out the side way,
over the dusty road and into her own
yard. Here she paused a moment, and
catching her breath with something that
sounded like a sob passed around the
tiny matched hut, and so over the stile
TO the river Down on her face upon the
grass she threw herself, careless of the
! yellow sash of which she had been so
proud; the yellow beads burst their
string and some rolled down the bank
into the river. She lay very still and
quiet, so quiet that nightingale gave
her no heed and began 10 sing. A whip
poorwill called on the opposite bank, and
far off in the woods came the answer of
his mate. The cleaning moon rolled
slowly into view and silvered each
branch and blossom.
The birds sang on, but Mona heard
them not. She was thinking-one hand
on the heart that beat SO fast, the other
arm pillowing her head. She did not try
to analyze her feelings; she would not
have known how. There was a dull ache
in her breast, and memory was torturing
her.
''Holy mother" she began, whisper
ing, and could get lie further.
''She will not help me now; am too
bad, too bad at all"
She thought how unl1indly she had al
ways treated Gerald; she had laughed
then to herself.
"Och, wirra, wirra." she calculated
And now Aileen had taken him; it was
Aliens fault, not Gersld's; how could
she do it, how could she?
And wear his kerchief-the prettiest
girl in Kilgarnock-those were his
words, and now she know what he had
meant Oh, why had not Aileen stGid
away! And now Gerald was gone from
her entirely.
Slowly she made up her mind that she
would be brave; no one, not Aileen nor
Gerald, should ever know the truth.
Gerald should never know she was sorry
now, and SO he would be happy She
murlnured him a farewell in soft Irish
words, Gerald, anoon ma Gerald"
The slow tears trickled down her
cheeks and cleaned upon the grass like
diamonds. The moonlight lay over the
PROSTATE figure in broken patches.
Gently the breeze lifted and let fall
again each dark ring Of silky hair curl
ing over her head and down 20 the white
neck that shone all the whittier.
The moon reached the middle Of her
jeweled course. The nightingale sang.
all unconscious Of the silent grief be-
meath him. The lashes lay over her
flushed check Ike a dark shadow; in
very WEAKNESS and worn out with her
misery she had fallen asleep.
The bird at last hushed his sweet
treble and flew away. Ee had heard a
hasty step over the grass. But Mona
heard not. saw rot. Somebody came
down TO the river bank almost Oh run,
and stopped short at sight of the little
figure lying there SO motionless. He
knelt down beside her. With a quick
eye Gerald noted the tear stained cheek,
the parted lips, whence came long
drawn sobbing breath.
Without word he gathered her up in
his arms, asleep as she was, but Mona
stirred and then started from him wide
awake.
'I-you-oh. Gerald"
They are all ahunt for ye," he an
swered. "Ye have scared the heart 'av
me. An why did We come down here"
Don't" she whispered, trying to re-
member her resolution. Il will go back
now" She stood up and then swayed
little, dizzily.
mona, Inavourneen" said Gerald,
ir1iding her close.
She struggled to release herself, and
stood back from him pitifully defiant.
Eye shall not touch me- she cried.
"Go back to Aileen; 80 back to her and
spake Your words. Tell her that same
mavourneen story; she Will believe We
Let me pass; can go home: III not
need but the proud curve of the lips
weakened. and the eyes commenced TO
brim with tears. She turned away her
head and tried to spring past him. Ger
aid stood motiOnless at first. looking at
her in surprise, and then he caught her
by the arm.
Mona, stop a bit" he said, almost
sternly. What is this come to We?
What av Aileen to me? Are We dhramin',
child?"
Let me go, she whispered; 'fet me
60"
mo. III not let you go. Spake TO me,
Mona. What is it? Nay, We cannot 60
Tell it to me-
She faced him then. and her eyes
flashed through the tears.
An We would talk 10 me, would ye?
An We would wait fer me 70 market;
an We would sing TO me under the thatch
at night; an We would tell me We love
me. Och, 1t is not thTue at all, at all.
Ye know | am speakin' but the truth.
an We viii make me say it. All, but
the heart av We is black. Aileen is there
dancin' tonight: Aileen is there waitin'
for We with your kerchief round her
neok-the pink ko7chief We showed me
nrnd sid .tt--l. E-r do r.,-,t. -. .--.r-l ~,