Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-11-18

With you about to- morrow. My mother
WIN expect us to remain with her during
the morning, and do not believe l shall
Dc IN town till evening. At half past ten
o'clock, however, I will meet you at Miss
Glraud's ap artments.
She is going to give little dinner, to
which l will ask her to invite you, as
special favor to me. You can there pay
hinsey Tor the theater, and after the din
ner We will meet my friend-rather the
minister, he added, confusedly, .at his
home, and be married. It will not be too
late; will see that he has everything in
readiness for us; and-Chris, will you
Gomez"
She did not speak, she only looked at
him dumbly, as If she hated him.
promised to go, or l would not. You
don't mind, do you. dear2 1t will be .
new life for you, he added, incoherently.
Still she did not speak or move.
She only stood there with her head bent
down, wretched; a sad picture of youth,
OF elrihood. with her childish, golden
curls, and her pallid, despairing counter.
ance.
He came nearer her. He put out his
hand: She was rigid and cold Is marble.
have done much for you," he said.
lou should be grateful; you should love
me. Will you kiss mel"
be bent over her, but she started back.
her eyes wild with horror.
Not now," she implored. Forgive
me, and wait till to- morrow"
She wrung her hands as she made the
entreaty. and then. as if following q sud-
den impulse, darted away, through the
narrow. crowded aisles formed by the
scenery. over the rough boards, slippery
and dark with dirt, out in the air-the
sweet spring air, that seemed to be cursed
for its very brightness.
People turned to look at her as she
went through the streets, her eyes CLASSY
with film of despair; her face colorless
as marble, and set in rigid lines.
Men stopped and stared, for it is not
often one witnesses such agony; but she
needed nothing; she went blindly on
Monochrome to miserable rows; home to
the complaints, the poverty and wretched-
ness OF her fate-and as she entered the
old worm-eaten doorway, her white lips
muttered:
.oh. God, what have done? What
shall dor"
Poor innocent little Chris!
In the midst of her terrible suffering,
through the horror that had crept over
her, through the darkness of the pit of
anguish into which she had fallen, came
a voice, feeble, fretful voice: Chris,
did you bring any fruit?" it said; Chris,
did you buy any dainties?"
Like a reproach to her came the
thought that she now could not plead
poverty as an excuse for the neglect.
What right had she to forget another's
pain because she suffered?
She shook of her desire to throw her
self down and cry out in her misery; and
With murmured word of entreaty for
forgiveness, she darted through the hall,
and rushed out in the street again. When
she returned, her arms were full of bum
dies. Her cheeks were flushed with
feverish excitement, her eyes danced with
the delirium of pain; she laughed while
the tears rolled down her face, and great
lump rose up in her throat when she
heard her mothers exclamation, as she
saw what had been purchased. Chris
watched her enjoy the fruit and wine she
had fearlessly procured, for there was no
need to save her salary for household ex-
penses now. as on the morrow she was to
marry a rich man.
Oh, if she had only known Grifith's in
tentions
Il would rather die, but must live"
And the selfish, foolish, beautiful
mother saw nothing amiss with her
child, and was happy with the luxuries
that had been gained at the price Of
what?
Was it possible that Chris unseltish
soul was to be sacrificed forever?
Ye who are of the world look about and
answer.
See if You know no innocent little Chris
forced out in sphere for which nature
has not fitted her, and tell others whether
those who suffer most are always deserv-
ing of sorrow.
Chris anguish was not greater than
she sleeplessly watched the black night
glide away in the gray light Of dawn; as
she saw the hours pass one by one, till the
evening shadows fell again.
She bore her pain in silence, bravely.
Her sick mother never dreamed why
she kissed her so tenderly, why she chung
to her so pitfully as she babe her fare
we'll when she started forth for the even
ing play; but could that gay audience but
have looked into the young girls heart
they would have wept more bittA tears
than her mimic grief called to their
eyes, for she acted that night like one in
that she had promised to we'd man she
loathedl.
The curtain descended on the last act
and the little actress, while with dread
of she knew not what heard that a car
riage awaited her arrival at the stage
door.
1t was to take her to the theatrical dim
ner.
For one moment it seemed to her she
would rather die than go there and marry
Griffith Byrne; then. Mortified by the
awful sorrow coming to her, awed by the
black shadow about to fall on her life,
nj
went down and entered the vehicle; en-
tered it, when, had she been but warned
of Griffiths intentions, she would have
rushed from it to her home in terror and
despair.
CHAPTER
RISKING CHRIS SOUL.
In ordar n laarn hoxu Oh iris