Evening journal., 1892-11-04

CHAPTER o.-Anita gives way 10 ueSpoh-
dency and prepares for flight, An acc9nllho-
dating bank Official cashes check Tor her at
q late hour IN the evening.
Yet even into this dream the thought Of
Donald must intrude. They had so often
talked of taking this trip together, in some
happy holiday time! Would he guess
at once where she had gone, and follow
she wondered, cold disgust creeping
over her at the thought Of looking upon
his face again Her heart seemed numb
and cold, only dead ashes there in place
Of the. love that had but yesterday
burned so iercely. Anything but the one
thing he had done, she bitterly told
herself for the hundredth time. she
might have forgiven him. Had he but
come to her in the masterful spirit Of
man, and said, 81 like these people, and
| will have nothing to do with your
whims and prejudices; | shall go with
them and amuse myself" Had he but
been bravely honest about it, however
her jealous heart might have protested,
she could still have looked up to him
with the doghl1e love of woman But
when he had driven her to despise him,
with his puerile, cajoling lies, it was as
if that part of her nature that had thrilled
in response to his had been suddenly
stricken with paralysis
What world he say, what new lie
would he invent, when he came and
found her? For she was perfectly sure
that some day he would come and find
smooth it over. He would say that the
hunting expedition had disappoiuungly
fallen through, and the Rogerses had
been so pressing in their kindly hospi-
tality that he had not been able 70 escape
them; or be had merely stopped with
them for the night in order 10 make an
early start for the ascent of the peak, a
trip be had always been longing 20 make,
and which he could scarce be expected
to resist when at last the opportunity
came; OF perhaps he would deny the
whole story. For the first time, as She
imagined his excuses. Anita faltered for
moment in her rvengeful purpose, wish
ing she had but waited day to read the
letter which even now probably was wait
ing for her in the Office. She felt bitter
curiosity to know what he would say for
himself. 1t might have been more just
more kind, to have halted to hear his
side, and yet-with fierce cllnching Of
her hands-what had she 10 do with
kindnessf Had he been kind when he
lad schemed to circumvent her wishes,
when he had callously thrust aside her
leuderly written request
A pale twilight fell suddenly upon the
rar from the overhanging rocks Of the
Royal Gorge-pathway meet ior the
King of kings, in its grand stiffness and
repose, shadows old rs the world linger-
ing in the deep recesses, where the
quivsring touch of a sunbeam finger has
never penetrated to wake to sensuous
10Y the pallid plant life cloistered there
Anita looked up almost startled as the
Rars shadow fen across her drealnily
staring eyes like an impalpable veil,
glancing out Of the window with the in
sunctiye recollection of Donalds Joy in
these grand scenes. Nature had never q
more Joyous worshiper than he to whom
nad been given the gods best gift t.
man-the happy faculty Of interesting
himself in whatever offered, with eyes "a
see an that time and chance lnight be-
nnlding ont as he iourneyed. never miss
ing the smallest pleasure that cam
within his reach.
In a flash. while instinctively her ham
was pressed against her heart in futil
effort to still its sharp pain, her thought
had gone back 70. her bridal journe
through this wonderland, when to he
happy fancy it had seemed but the fttin
portal to the rich new life before her.
had been then, she remembered. tha
aniazediy staring mp from the obsery,
ton cur at the awful masses Of ovei
hanging rock. MS it seemed just ready
drop aud crush to nothingness the poo
little train crawling along in the shade
like presumptuous worm, Anita, stea
inc her hand into his, half fearfully, ha
glad Of the fear that made excuse for I'll
tender touch. had asked Donald if
feared death "Only because it migl
divide us. darling" he had whisperC
back. the shadow of a deep earnestnc
fallen upon his sunny face. It was snC
a little while ago-less than score
months. and now they were divided
a black gulf Of lies Of his making. al
she lived to see that life might be mo
cruel than death
The wind was signing sullenly, almo
stilled, and the cloud masses were Fringe
with glowing brightness where the su
light was feeling its way to earth q
and away from the shadow of the roc
sped the trun. past gentle, sparse
wooded hills. on through the green gardl
of Canyon City and its outlying ferti
o. a. t.f..t., ,..,,,,i, f,,4,eas ,r-ltf,r.,