Dodge City times., 1890-10-24

IN It I had felt for EdnA I staztsd, q.
most guiltily, as knock came ct the door
Come in cried, and crushed thu
letter in my hand.
a slight, girlish figure s,ood quite still
for moment within the doos, then I'D.
yanced slowly to the center Of the room.
I was TOO much surprised, think, to
speak. The appearance seemed almost
supernatural, SO in harmcny was It With
INV thoughts. She csme close to me BE-
fore could utter q word. and. taking Cd
her hat and veil, Edna herself looked up
st me With her sweet, Shy smile. The
light fell full on her upturned fase and
on her rufied auburn hair.
Jack, she said, tremulously.
You are vet with snow. You an
half frozen, child" I exclaimed, and,
taking her unresisting hand, led her to
the easy-chair in front Of the irA
She leaned back YEARLY.
I knelt down, unfastened her cloak,
pulled off the vet gloves and chafed the
cold little hands in mine. Presently,
with Q sigh she raised her eyes, while q
faint tint Of color returned to her wan
face.
1T is for your sake, Jack, she said,
but in tones SO low and sweet the words
were scarcely audible.
What, dear? What have you done
for my sake?" asked, still kneeling
there and chatting soothingly the small
fragile hands.
All! this was the Edna l had once
known, whom only to know had been to
love. She WAS her own sweet self again.
But-what did it mean?
Il will tell you. I came here now to
tell you; for knew you would keep your
promise, Jack. I was quite sure You
would keep your promise! ] went away
on Tuesday. I am on my road back to
the Grange now, but walked here from
the station to see-to speak with you"
You have been away?"
Yes. Did you not know? But per.
hcps you have not seen-Miss Hargreave
Of glsdness illuminating all her face.
been very much engaged, answered,
vaguely.
She drew one hand away, and. STOPPING.
picked up q crumpled letter from the
foor. THAT is my writing, she said. as
she smoothed it out. How strange that
you should have been reading that-that
-that-oruel letter now, tonight
~Why so?"
.Because-oh, don't get up, Jack! l
love to have you kneeling there. It is
like the happy days of long ago. You
don't hate me, Jack-I see it in your
eyes-although I behaved SO badly to
you?'
Nothing could make mo hate you, Ed
ma. But tell me, what is it you have been
doing for my sske?"
An, presently, but not this very mo
ment. want to make q confession to
you first. II have always loved you
loved you better than my life. It was
your own father who made me write that
letter renouncing you. That was in your
prosperous days. But now-now all ID
quite changed. We are both roor-both
depenue:it. We are equals. Tell me, toll
me that you love me still"
She leaned forward, looking into my
eyes. What she read there can only
guess.
You do, Jack2" she whispered, thaa
forcing me to answer her.
God pity and forgive ms-yes!'
1t seemed to me in those few moments
that all moral sense must have forsaken
me.
My God!" I cried, starting away from
her minute later, Il am a villain!"
@You-my Jack-a villaini" She
smiled, then rose and stood before me.
mo, no, no! You are the dearest fellow
in the world. You firted with me Just q
little. Yes? Well, that is all over now.
She will not mind q great deal, for ]
I think. dear, she was flirting, too. All,
she cannot care for you as do, Jacki It
was because I wished to see you happy
that / made an excuse and asked for two
days holiday and went to-Leioester-
shire. wanted to be sure. in case You
really loved her, that she was worthy Of
you; and Jack-believe me-she is not!'
Hush, hushi" I cried, beside myself.
Il tell You I am q villain-a base, dis
honorable man. I can't bear that you
should look at me with your sweet, true
eyes. broke the promise that I made
you. I have sold myself. body and soul
to mammom!"
You have been hurried into some
thing2" she asked, gently. Tell me.
Jack. Perhaps I can help you. A woman's
vita loving woman's Wit
"Hurried2 II will cast the blame on
no one. A man should be master of him
self. I have been q fool, q dupe; slave
to passion and to vanity. Ednal I am
to be-married to George Hargresve to-
morrow"
dared not look at her while speaking
the last few words, but when had ended,
knowing that she had not moved, I
raised my eyes and saw that her face grew
very white; presently she swsyed, and
-nn11 fooroH havo fo11on TnvAlnv
tarily put out my arm to save her, but
she recoiled.
Don't touch me, please" she mur.
INJURED, family. III shall be bstter
presently"
She caught hold of the mantsl shelf
with one hand AZ though to steady her
self; the other she passed ACROSS her
eyes, and then once more looked up at me.
Oh! the tenderness and pity Of that look.
Il must 60 now, she said sadly.
Stay exclaimed; You said she 10
not worthy. What did you nean?'
She put on her hat and Il ordered
carriage to take me to Langdale
Grange, Will You please inquire If it il
ready?'
Her apparent calmness astounded me.
will you answer my question first7"
Il prefer to withdraw nv words"
Good heavens! And I am to mary .
woman whom you-you-have called un-
worthyi By all you hold most sacred
BY your love for me and mine for you, I
cried in my passionate selfshness, Il ad-
jure you to tell me all you know"
She had moved toward the door while
was speaking, and. laying her hand upon
the handle, opened it q little way Then
looking at me with imploring eyes and Q