The record-union., 1892-02-06

going; Well miss you, You have been a good
friend to us all and when YOU get tired OF the
States, and being a swell, come down to
Dug Out City again, and We'll be mighty glad
10 see you,'' and they meant it. mother. Not
one among them but would do for me any
iaVor might ask of him. IT is a rough. wild
life, OF course, but at present feel as though
IT would be a haven of rest to escape all the
demands OF society. have spent the last two
months here, at - Springs, where / have
met several Old friends and managed to pass
the time quite pleasantly. But another OF
these restless spells is upon now, and
can content myself here no longer, SO to-
morrow viii see me once more on my way 10
Arizona. Hoping this viii find you in your
usual good health, am, as ever, your affec-
tlonate boy, JACK.
Having put it in an envelope and ad-
dressed it, he put it in his pocket with
feeling of relief. He was not fond of
writing letters, and especially one to his
mother, telling her he was going still far
ther from her. He wondered ifshe would
guess the cause of his going. Hardly, he
thought, as he had never before in all his
twenty-seven years of life, given a sec
ond thought to woman, until he met
Maud Elliot. And still women are quick
to perceive when danger threatens those
they love. He knew why he was going.
1t was not to forget Maud Elliot; that he
knew would be impossible for him while
life and reason lasted, but he meant to
keep his word, and never purposely set
eyes on her again. And he was sure
he would never see her again, or any
thing to remind him of her, except the
vision OF her sweet, sad face, and two
dark eyes looking into his with love,
that would haunt him through life, no
matter how or where he spent his time.
The next morning Jack boarded a west
bound train, and soon - Springs was
left far behind. He sat gazing idly out of
the window and noted how that when
mile after mile of trackless prairies was
crossed the country changed and grew
more broken, the rolling hills finally
merging into precipitous "buttes'' cleft
by deep canyons; then entering the bad
lands the scene changed to one of even
more grandeur. AS far as the eye could
reach huge masses of sandstone III fan
tastic shapes strewed the level floor of the
alkali plain. 1t seemed 10 be some vast
deserted city, so like to mans handiwork
were the spires and domes, walls and
arches, unchiSeled, save by natures
forces. 1t was a wild, deserted-looking
scene, indeed, but one, in his present con-
dition OF mind, that just suited Jacks
fancy.
It was a very pale, heavy-eyed Maud,
that descended to breakfast the next
morning, and when asked If she were i'll,
replied carelessly that she had not slept
well, and poor girl, she spoke the truth,
for she had not closed her eyes to sleep
promise of another day.
After going through the pretense of
eating her breakfast Maud rose from the
table, and taking her large straw hat
from the rack i'll the hail. she started out
on her usual morning ramble. For some
distance bordering the path leading from
the hotel there grew quantities of sweet
spring vlolets, and stopping every now
and then to gather them she soon had
quite a bouquet. Why was it she looked
at the innocent little hover with that sad,
wistful expression? Was it because the
dear violet was Jack Stanford's
favorite little flower, and that he nearly
always wore a few in his button hole?
With her nose buried deep among the
flowers, the thought came to her of how
last night just before she had left him,
Jack had bent down, and taking little
bunch of violets she had worn in her
ha1f during the evening, kissed them,
and putting them in small book he car
ried in his pocket, looked down into her
face with that grave, sad expression hi
face had worn so much of late, said:
while | live [ shall never part with
these. l will take it as good omen that
you have worn my little violet on the last
II evening | shall see you"
But all dreams must end, and rousing
herself with an effort from her pleasant
day-dreams, and with a resolute eX-
preston around the firm little mouth,
and determination, no matter how her
husband might neglect his to do her
duty, she walked on and tried to see the
silver lining to the dark cloud at present
darkening her young life.
When she returned to the hotel she
found two letters on the table, one from
her father and the other in strange
handwriting. Curiosity getting the bet
ter of her, she opened the strangers first,
thinking: Il can sit down and enjoy
papa's letter better, when l know who
this is from''
1t is strange how in one moment the
whole tenor of our lives may be changed.
Little did Maud think on opening the let
ter that ii contained news that freed her
from one whose selfishness and neglect
had made her young life miserable It
read thus:
Ny Dear Madam regret that it becomes
my painful duty to inform you that your
husband, Mr. Nathan Elliot was accidently
shot and killed in a quarrel arising from a
dispute over game of cards. The sad acci-
dent occurred in the rooms of the State Club,
of which he q member.
AnXously awaiting your reply stating your
wishes, remain, dear madam, yours obedi-
entity, EDWIN LEWIS
Maud read the letter through and a
storm OF conflicting emotions swept over
her, for though their marriage had been a
miserable mistake, the news of her hus-
bands tragic death was great shock to
her.
y
Two years have passed since we left
Maud with the letter in her hands. 1t is
June again, one of those soft, balmy days
OF which the poet sings:
And what is so rare a day in June.
Then, if ever, come perfect days.
Then Heaven tries Earth, If it be in tune,
And over it softly her warm ear lays.
On the long, low piazza, commanding a
magnificent view of the Hudson sits a
lady with snow white hair and a beauti-
ful high-bred face, and, despite her fifty
years of life, a still handsome figure.
1t is at Kewaydin, the country-seat of
the Stanfords. At present Mrs Stanford
seems restless and keeps looking anx-
lously down the path leading to the road.
Soon her face lights up with pleasant
smile OF welcome as she sees coming to-
ward her beautiful young woman clad
in some soft, white material that showed
to advantage the rounded outline of her
lovely figure. She wore in her belt
bunch of dainty violets that lent to
her an additional charm. As she reached
the piazza Mrs. Stanford came forward,
and kissing her tenderly on her beauti-
full, flushed cheek, said in her low, sweet
voice: MY child, / am glad you have
come, as l wanted some one to share my
great happiness with me. My dear boy
Jack, of whom you have so often heard
me speak, will be with me tonight"
AS the reader may have guessed, the
new conner was Maud Elliot. She was
visiting her aunt, whose country resi-
dence joined Kewaydin, and a warm
friendship had sprung up between her and
| Mrs. Stanford. Little did Mrs. Stanford
guess what her good news meant to the
girl of whom she had grown so fond.
Maud clutcbed the RAILING To lyaan froy,,