The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1893-01-13
.nutn mas a severe headache-


fear that she staid out too long in the
sun this afternoon. Oh, no. it is moth
ing serious, but she may not be down
tonight
| Someway felt terribly oppressed
tried to explain it away by saying that
felt it more since had been respon-
sible for having kept her out so long.
| But Mrs Collins had seemed distressed
as if by something which she could
not understand, and, then, Ruth had
sent me no message.
"She surely must be very ill.," |
thought. However, ! fingered hun
grily about the parlors in hope of see
ing her, and just at 10, when / had
nearly made up my mind to send up
| to ask how she was, she suddenly
stood in the doorway, pale but more
beautiful than had ever before seen
her. She was robed in some tilmy,
white mist with gold girdle about
her waist, and once thought that
| there was brighter gleam of gold in
her hair than usual, though whether
| it was one of her own tresses shaken
loose or a tillet / never knew. Her
throat tool shall never forget that
one time that she let me kiss her
throat, and then blushed rosy-red be-
cause she had been SO bold-was en-
circled By a tiny yellow chain. Here
it is, you see, in this little case in the
slipper toe. Look, how fine it is the
thin, limp loops fall in heap no big
ger than my finger tip! There, told
you that I'd be sentimental-it's fool
ish, may be, but, then, you must re-
member that this has been growing
for ten years, and when the sluices are
opeNed the memories overflow in an
uncomfortable flood.
"She was in a suppressed mood and
answered me when questioned her as
to how she felt by nervous little
smile, as if trying to turn it away. ]
saw, however, when waltzed with her
that her step was weak and uncertain
and that her hand trembled violently
at times. In vain did beg her to ex-
plain the trouble; wanted her to go
out to the veranda and rest but she
secmed to shrink from the idea of be-
ing alone with me. She entered des-
| perately into all conversation except
with me alone and begged to dance
every number, as if she must in some
way expend her pent-up energy. An
eager flush suffused her cheeks, and
her mothers entreaties for her to re-
| tire to her room were useless.
At length the music stopped and the
last dancers were gone, leaving only
herself, her mother and me in the
empty room. She rose quickly from
| her seat, clasped her hands tightly
and cried:
asI oan,t frr ,r ct,;rc Hou, r 1roo6
the night!
"Her mothers white face showed her
fear at the desperate vehemence and
/ tried my best to calm her. Finally
| she said:
SEQ upstairs, mother, and wait for
| me. ! want to speak with Maurice .
| moment
81 wrapped large shawl about her
shoulders and drew her to the veranda,
| which was now deserted except by two
| or three couples of young people, with
| a matron or two for propriety's sake.
| In farther corner an angle in the
| wall made a cozy, secluded nook, where
| we seated ourselves. | said nothing
| but waited. At last she arose, and,
standing before me, held out her hands
and said: Maurice, how much do you
love meP'
Il was overwhelmed by this sudden
question. | rose and tried to answer
| but she interrupted me: What test
could your love stand?'
".It would stand any test in the
world, my Ruth
"But she went on, rapidly:
"'What if they should tell you that
was false?'
"'My child / began, you must go
to your room; you are feverish. You
must not 90 on thus
"'But | must 90 on thus. What if
should tell you that Twas not what you
think me?'
"'You would not tell me so, my love.
You are more ill than feared. Come,
you must GO
"She snatched her hands from mine
| and cried, impatiently:
"'You don't understand. Let me
think how to tell you
$50 she stood there, with her hands
to her temples, while | held my breath,
and at length she said, with pitiful
laugh:
"'You are right must not 60 on
thus. Take me to mamma.
"At her door she suddenly threw
both her arms about my neck and
whispered, eagerly:
"'Kiss me, Maurice; kiss me good
by!'
II kissed her hot little face and tried
to WOO the fear from her eyes, but l
knew that when the door closed be-
tween us l heard smothered sob
from within.
81 hurried downstairs and in few
minutes her mother sent for physi-
clan. An hour later he came down
with message from Mrs. Collins that
her daughter was at last sleeping and
that there was no further fear for the
night. But, added the doctor, it is
a queer case. She has raging fever,
but at times | think that She knows
exactly what she is doing. She is
very much excited and for one thing
won't have her dress changed, but lies
there now in her pretty ball dress.
"A second bulletin from the sick
chamber at midnight reported her
quietly sleeping, and ] retired to my