Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Nev. County, Ark.) 1885-1???, 1891-06-04

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railway station. A train had jus,
come in. Passengers were alightng
Suddenly he saw a figure that he
thought he recognized. The blood
seemed to leave his heart. He
started forward. Yes! it was Ralph
Meredith, and their eyes met, and
they uttered each others names.
"How strange that you should be
the first to meet me-" Ralph cried.
"We thought you dead" gasped
Ben.
Neither of the men held out a
hand to each other, or made any
sign of friendly greeting.
''Thc Indians took me prisoners.
My skill in drugs saved my life"
said Ralph. "They made medi-
cine man of me. have Just es-
capped. Genie Bell? Tell me about
her."
eve are to be married to-mor-
row." said Ben. "This is the we'd
ding-ring"-he took from his pock-
ct little box. You cannot blame
Genie" he went on. "She wore
black for you as if she were your
widow. If l comforted her at last,
remember we thought you dead. She
is very happy now. You'll make
her wretched, | suppose"
Ralph turned away and leaned his
head against the trunk of great
elm that shaded the road, for awhile,
then turned again to Ben.
Luck is against me- he said,
"but l have not come back to make
folks unhappy. She has forgotten
me-she loves you. There is no one
else in this place | care much to see.
l have no relatives here. Goodbye
YOU may consider me dead again, "
and he turned upon his heel.
''Docs he mean it," asked Ben OF
himself. "If he does go back it will
be all over with me. Genie cares
more for him now than she will ever
care for me while she lives.
''Ies, he really seems to mean it,"
he added, as he watched Ralph out
of sight. He has gone back to the
depot"
And Ralph indeed had done so,
but no train was yet due, and he
walked away again. lnstinctively
he turned towards the great woods
where he had so often walked with
Genie. The memory Of the fountain
and the lovers cup was strong upon
him. He turned his feet that way
and saw the pcarly water flowing in
to the shallow basin, the strange
stone cup standing in its niche, the
shadow of the great trees falling
over all, the whole place unaltered
as if he had left it only yesterday.
"Why did they not kill me with
the rest, there at Lonely VILLAGE"
he sighed.
Suddenly a light step sounded on
the path, he stepped back into the
shadow and saw a woman approach
ing; the next moment he recognized
Genie,
She was pale and there was a
strange look in her eyes. She reach
ed across the basin and took the
lovers cup in her hands, she filed
it at the fountain and lifted her eyes
to heaven.
"Ralph, my beloved, to whom l
plighted my troth beside this foun-
tain" she said, "listen while l re-
peat it, this time for eternity" She
emptied the cup. "Now God for
give me and receive my SOUL! !" she
sighed.
Ralph saw her take vial from her
bosom and lift it to her lips he un-
derstood all, and springing forward
clasped her in his arms, while she
clung sobbing to his breast.
"The charm of the lovers cup is
fulfilled, darling" he cried; "we
meet again. You are mine and am
yours! And since you love me still,
no man shall come between us while
we both live."
A little later messenger came
to Ben Brander; he brought with
him note containing these words !:
"Ralph has returned to me. -
[ Mary Kyle Dallas.
Tom Corwin had an enormous
mouth, which, when it opened, was
m, lorna 10 ,,n,- A., ,Ilin,tnr,,