The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1893-11-01

talst 6lF beneath TIE Bekbzfr trsn
Rns fte bst wrench iu giving nn fi.e
f6teidden She had thought sh6 MAS:
befur good and noble was keeping
her promise as the highest eanons 81
duty demanded Was putting aside
temptation and yet the voice kept
saying she was bad. It was problem
her learning could not dear
Some one was calling AT the door,
calling some other person with an nm
familiar name - would they never
leave off? They bothered her. Then
someone else, man, boldiy crossed
the threshold of her room, laid his
hand upon her arm. bent low and
said: Anna, love of me-cosne, we
shall be late"
She let him lead her away. He was
So tall. so strong. Down in the hall
below people were waiting. Some OF
them were crying, and it made hcr
vaguely sa5. She tried to ef1ace her
self by stepping into the shadow of
bookcase, and then someone sought
her ought and said: .sGood-by, Miss
Irwin and everyone laughed at what
they called his '.blunder'
She wished they would not. 1t con-
fused her; why should they laugh be-
cause he called her Miss Irwin was
that not her name? Ah, no. she re-
mem mbercd-and there were more good
byes, and many kisses. and she was
seated in the carriage beside the tall,
straight maa. and they were driving
down the hill that she knew so we'll
How good it all looked. The trees
touched by the first early frost into a
spiked glimmer of gold and flame
The little river, singing exultant OF
recent rains beneath the bridge upon
which the hooss of the horses smote
sharply, with ringing sound. The
world was fair, SO very fair. Did it
not seem thus to those who were
about to die, she wondered, so sweet
and dear world to close their eyes
upon, and have darkness shut in upon
their lids forever?
The man at her side bent over her.
coming between her and her thoughts.
She felt his arm about her. she heard
his whisper of Anna, my little wife,
after all the weary years of waiting. y
For one detiriouS moment she gave
herself up to thinking that these were
other arms. to believing even the voice
another voice. to dreaming that she
could look up and see the stern, dark
face of the absent, instead of the clear
trow and frank eyes of the present.
Then she tore herself away with a
little choking cry of horror at herself
and hatred.
The man looked, saw the carriage
had almost reached the station plat
form, saw a merry party thereon
gathered, and said. apologetically,
''Oh, see, dear, they are here before
u.s." and then smiled brightly to the
wedding guests who had preceded
| them. The long wind swept aside
shawls and wraps as they walked and
gave to ordinary people about the
depot glimpses of satin shoon and
lace rufaes and glittering arms, and
here and there a flower and jewel
There was an abundance of laughter
and rice, and both were distributed by
the restless ones unable to wait
quietly for the belated train and the
proper season for rrice-throwing. Anna
felt the cold, hard grains press against
the hollow of her neck, but only
smiled. 1t was dream, and she her.
self but a fantasy among shadows
The dream grew more and more con-
fusing. The bridegroom was hurried
away to the ticket Office upon some
errand which had become entangled.
A thought of temporary freedom
seized her. She must get away from
this con fusion of shadows. She turned
in the direction which her husband
about her: 'sShe cannot loose sight of
MIN even moment Oh, Anna, won't
you be known for a bride at once?'
and tenderer than the rest MUIR
INJURED: How she must love hirni"
But Anna did not follow her hus-
band beyond the first door. Crossing
a waiting-room she opened a second
door and emerged into the outer air
again, and upon a second platform.
She knew the place we |. Here was
but single track and less light and
fewer people. Here she could be more
quiet to think the problem out--why
the voice kept saying she was 'sbad. .
She paced up and down. and the wind
blew her siik-lined mantle into cling
ing, classic folds about her. Still it
cooled her head and cleared her brain.
Why was she bad? Had she~ not
kept her promise of years? Had she
not irrevocably sent away that other
man who had made vows even as hers
now Wer? She had suffered; so,
doubtless, would he. At the latter
thought the old cruel pain clutehed at
heart and throat-but she had done
what she thought right. Up to to-day
her life had appeared pure. spotless,
blalneless. She anG that other man
had drifted into loving almost with
out knowing, DuC upon rea12ablOn OF
their folly they had given each other
up, had done their duty singly How.
then, could either of them be ssbad?"
But the voice kept saying it and Anna
Irwin-no. Anna McIrtyre-cringed
as she recollected d saying of her
fathers when once as child she had
sobbed to see debased and cursing
wretch ragged along the streets by o
policeman. She is bad woman. my
darling" But she-Anua--how could
She? Why, her only. sin was
in t.iinking of that other mana thing
wLieh had only become sin at The
ma riage ceremony of to-day. But
yeas it sin? Like flash came to
ner memory of the sermon or the
mount = whatsoever lookeths' - the
heart thought was with him even as
the deed, thing ths purveyors Of