Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-08-27

within his reach.
In a fash, while instinctively her hand
was pressed against her heart in futile
effort TO still its sharp pain, her thoughts
had gone back to her bridal journey
through this wonderland, when to her
happy fancy it had seemed but the fitting
portal to the rich new lie before her. II
had been then, she remembered, that,
amazedly staring up from the observa-
ton car at the awful masses of over
hanging rock, as it seemed just ready tc
drop and crush to nothingness the poor
little train crawling along in the shadow
like a presumptuous worm. Anita, steal
ing her hand into his, half ~fearfully, half
glad of the fear that made excuse for the
tender touch, had asked Donald if he
feared death "Only because it might
divide us, darling" he had whispered
back. the shadow of a deep earnestness
fallen upon his sunny face. 1t was such
a little while ago-less than a score of
months, and now they were divided by
a black gulf Of lies of his making, and
she lived to see that life might be more
cruel than death.
The wind was signing s~ullenly, almost
stilled. and the cloud masses were fringed
with glowing brightness where the sun
light was feeling its way to earth. Out
and away from the shadow of the rocks
sped the train, past gentle, sparsely
wooded hills, on through the green garden
of Canyon City and its outlying fertile
fields, by desolate ranch houses where a
weary wrath of a woman, apex of a
clutter Of unkempt children, wa always
staring at the passing train, hungrily
snatching a Barmecide taste Of the out
side world-on and away, each change
of scene to Anita but as a mile post
marking another unit Of space put be-
tween her and Donald.
All but the smallest cobwebs had been
swept from the sky when Pueblo was
reached, and the sun was pouring down
with a blazing persistency which seems
especially reserved for that bustling
burgh, which tiourishes al if finding oc-
cult favor in the heavens hot partiality.
Here Anita was to change cars for the
south; perhaps she would be compelled
10 wait; she did not know. Would it be
a clever scheme. she pondered, to battle
Donald on her track, to purchase a ticket
but for another little piece of the way?
or should she boldly name her destina-
ton at the ticket Office and get the tire
SOME details Of ticket and trunk check
off her mind for good and all? Irreso-
lutely she threaded her way among the
motley crowd on the hot, unshaded plat
form of the station, pausing, because it
seemed to bar her way, before the sec
ton of Pueblo's king of cottonwoods,
which advertising ingenuity has erected
there-it monument, Donald had once
said, for a city's crime of arboricide.
Ever the thought of Donald in every
thingl impatiently frowning while she
read the black lettered legend of the
tree, the surprising figures Of its girth
and size, what celebrities had camped
under its shade, and how many unfortu-
mates had been hanged from its branches
idly read with her eyes, while her mind,
not grasping a word, still wrestled with
the problem of the ticket. All, why
should she make herself petty trouble
seeking to mislead him, when soon or
late, he was sure TO find her? a sudden
hot shame burning all over her with
a sneaking consciousness that she want
ed him to find her soon. Great heavenl
was she then so weak in spirit that
she could run away, but hoping to be
followed? And could it be-with bitter
self contempt-that already she was
nursing a fancy of n day taking him to
her heart again, when he came pleadingg
Let her go buy her ticket and away!
And yet she hesitated to take this final
step, realizing, with fierce impotent an
ger, what her hesitation meant. I'm the
enforced quiet of her journey, some
where, somehow, in those hours of brood
ing thought, the hot fame of her fury
had gone out, and now the reaction was
come. She had not grown tender or
forgiving; she was sore and sullen, feel
ing how weak she was, how helpless to
keep her heart from turning back to
him; her anger burning but the more
~furiously in the consciousness that, how
ever slit Qtollctu Hliu. snc 1Cb NOuAO uOt
break free from the love of him. But at
least she would not yield herself to the
d~espicable weakness; she would go on,
her teeth hard and resolutely
turning back toward the ticket Office.
A step had faltered beside her un-
needed, and now a hand was suddenly
put out to detain her.
"Nita-Cousin Mia, what luck to meet
you here" exclaimed 2 young man eager
ly, yet with a certain difidence, AS if not
quite sure of his welcome.
Gray Van Zandtl your in breath
less surprise, staring at him with wide
eyed incredulity. 1T is not possible? u
thought you were in Paris"
IN ny a que les morris qui ne review
nent pas" he gayly retorted, seizing the
hand she supposedly held out in a close,
caressing pressure. II was in Paris; but
| am here. 1t is not my ghost, |
can assure you. And how do you happen
Is your husband with you?"
The surprise was the one touch of
needed upon her overweight
nerves. ION, HOY glad-how glad
amf' she exclaimed, in a tone hat left