Nevada County picayune., 1892-03-10

eyes to the face and figure of Nala,
a crimson stain on either dark cheek.
That the girl he loved, was pledged
to-that white-faced, aspen-lpped
woman, with cheeks as coIorless as
her dress, and such a still, steady
light in her great hazel eyes:
He mounted the steps slowly; all
the speed OF the love had left his
step; the love-Ight had died from
his eyes.
Surely it was Nala who had laugh
ed in his face and left him-Nala as
he remembered and loved her! This
pale, still stately woman, who waited
for him 50 quietly, could not be the
bride for whom he had come.
Dazed, chilled, cold with name
less disappointment, he reached her
side, and put out his hands to her.
''Vala?" he asked, half inquiring-
| ly.
And she laid her cold fingers in
her palms-no more.
Yes" she answered, in a voice
that sounded strangely IN her own
ears; II am Nala, but the years
have changed me; they have been
kinder to you, Roy. Ina is just
what | was when you and last met.
| am almost as stranger to you. 1t
will take US some time to recognize
each other
How her heart pulsed and painted
for one tender word-one word that
would let her know how dear he held
the faith and truth of all those years
how much more to him would be
the love of the woman than her
beauty. But no such word came, and
when Ina returned to them, she
found them seated side by side, but
with nothing love-like in their posi-
ton, and Roy's eyes followed the
younger sisters merry face, and
dwelt on it again and again, until it
grew warm under his regard; and
Naia saw, but made no sign, although
in this whole world of aching hearts
none ached so keenly as that of the
woman who, having waiting for eight
years for her lover, saw his face at
last, and found it cold to her no
lovelight on it.
The moon peeped through the
branches before Roy took his leave
and went to his home-the simple
humble home which he had left that
he might find a better fortune in the
world abroad.
And as he rode under the moon
beams, more than once he sighed.
A bright glad face had been with
him in all his wanderlngs; worn
white one had met him on his return.
He had forgotten that years and
pain could change his girlish love ;
and now
He sighed again, and at that mo-
ment dark object tlitted over the
roadway, end his horse sprang to
one side, The leap would have done
no harm, but that deep trench had
lately been dug by the roadway, and
the startled horses hoofs struck the
edge of il, slid, recovered, slid again
and horse and man were flung pro-
strate into the trench.
A struggle, fierce and short, and
the horse scrambled to his feet and
up the bank; but Roy lay there,
crushed and torn by the cruel hoofs,
with a sprained ankle, and broken
arm, and several gashes from which
the blood gushed. until at last he
tainted; and then cold grey was
Frightening IN the east, and the
freshness Of dawn was about him,
and aid was near but he knew moth
ing of it.
When he awobe to life again he
found himself on a couch with cool
soft hand OIL his forehead, and the
faint perfume of roses about him.
And Naa sat near, with the olden
look in her hazel eyes, and tremul-
Gus smile on ner lips.
Somehow, as he watched her, she
seemed again his love, his darling,
the bride for whom he had come
over land and sea, and he put up a
weak hand and pressed the cool
fingers more closely to his brow.
"You are better?' she asked
softly. "iour horse threw you, and
they brought you here. AT first we
thought--we feared-"
The soft voice broke; she could
not help it. She lowered her pale
face to the arm OF her chair and
burst into sobs.