The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-08-28

the door. He went out and sat down on 4
log and took off his hat to cool his head.
He felt dazed. About tho dearest seusa-
ton he was conscious Of was a vague pity
around like REFRESHMENTS. He wondered
who had it then.
When the Cofees reached home that
night Lucian HartredRe had gone to bed,
and was apparently asleep. y
The next morning, directly after break
kissed Clarissa in rather a perfunctory
manner and spoke of coming back soon,
but there was a constraint, and abe re-
Qarded him with a vague trouble in her
beautiful eyes. He turned away hastily,
mounted his horse and rode down the
mountain, an intense relief coming over
him as the cool morning air blew in his
face. and he felt that he was leaving his
perplsxity and modification behind him,
temporarily at least.
For days and weeks this feeling haunted
him. But finally the revulsion set in. The
recollection of that last night faded Rradu-
ally. He began ia. think of Clarissa only as
the beautiful girl he loved and who had
promised to be his wife.
He was in his office looking over his books
when Z sudden resolution came over him.
His income was immense-it was increasing
every day-and q solution of the difficulty
presented itself to him like a door opening
silently before II prisoner in q cell. He
would arrange his affairs to leave homo for
an indefinite period. Then he would marry
Clarissa, take her to Europe, employ the
beat masters for her, and keep her. there till
he could present her 10 his friends without
notifying either her or himself. With in
ward excitement he went over the details.
Yes, it was-it should be-prsoticable. He
felt like giving ont a shout of relief.
"a dispatch. SIR"
II was his Office boy. He took the tsle-
gram and opened it leisursly. 10 a bus.
iLess man one of these yellow envelopes
more or less was a matter of small conse-
~quence? But what was this he was read
"Clarissa dangerously i'll. Como imme-
diately. BY order Of Joshua Coffee"
Like a man in a dream hs set off imme-
diately for the mountains. He could not
realize what had happened, the blow had
descended so suddenly. He felt certain
that he would reach Clarissa and find it all
q mistake.
It was twilight when he finally refined his
horse in front of the cabin. No dogs were
in sight, nor the children. Jake came ont
soon. almost a. though he had been watch
ing for the arrival, his eyes red and swollen,
the dirt on his face furrowed like he had
been crying. r.
heart sinking at this sign Of grief in the
"Pow'ful bad off," Jake answered, taking
charge of the horse. 1.-The doctor lows
maybe she'll pull thu The night. an maybe
my God; Is it so bad as thata What is
the matte ?"
Hits a fever. Mos ev'ry BODY on this
hyar mountinQ's he'd it, an consids' BILE Nv
ems died. Crrissy. she's a-askin' fur ye
mos ev'ry minute"
Lucisn entered quietly. Clarissa was
lying with her eyes closed, her face pale to
Rrayness; she seemed scarcely a part of this
life. The doctor was holding. one wrist.
her mother held the other hand, while her
father and older b;others we're seated near
tho foot Of the bed, their faces bowed in
their hands.
They looked up o. no approached. His
eyes questioned the doctor mutely.
"she Is sinking fast" WAS the reply. but
10 perfectly conscious"
"Lucian," she murmured feebly. and
held her hand to him. He went to her and
tool her IN his arms. Her head fell back
IN his breast and her eyes closed nRaiL. He
began to fear that she was already dead.
But no. ..r~ - -'.
murmured almost inaudibly. He had to
bend his head to catch the broken whisper.
"Ws-uns hain't yo' kind O. folks, an I'm
feared l. never could ha' rarnt' TO be, We
uns never could ha' Dir happy. Pvs knowsd
it FUN the fust, but l hain't never had the
heart ter say it. Hits q heap the best this
hyar way. But oh. I loved 70 SO! l loved
ye so!' and, with unnatural strength, she
turned and threw her arms around lis neck
aud kissed him twice.
But even with her lips against his they
stiffened. her arms relaxed their hold, her
head fell back on his shoulder.
He laid her down gently. She was dead.
Copyright. 1s9,, by James w. johnson. All
rights reserved.