Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-12-22

will be TO such person here after to-
night"
'She-she is not sick-not dying, Is
sheY' questioned the colonel hastily.
"Oh, not at all. answered the young
lady. with a pleasant laugh, "only she's
going to be married to Lord Littel to-
night"
"Marriedg' said the colonel, half to
himself; then aloud: "Can you tell me
where she livcs9 l must SEQ her upon
business something very important"
"lt's not very far from here. The house
IN the park that you see on the left be-
longs 10 her father. But you must hur-
ry. It's after $50, and you've scarce an
hour"
Colonel Pember turned and walked
hastily along the road. "Married-mar-
ried--then | am too late. Perhaps not.
/ don't understand it. l can't" And
with every step he took came the re.
frain,' Married, married, married"
The next day Densmond was all OK
element. The daughter Of tho Hon.
CrOfton Burton had refused mt tho last
moment to marry Lord L0rloose Littel.
Aud then, too, the appearance of this
suspicious looking American. That must
not DO overlooked. Surely there was
something in this, 'if those rs knew
would toll" But tho Hon. Burton, NJ.
p, would tell nothing, and as Lord Lit
tel had left for town that morning he
could tell nothing, and Miss Burton, she
had declared that she would tell moth
ing. SO there the matter rested. and
like every other sensation was almost
forgotten 10 days after.
Almost. l say, for Colonel Peinber had
taken lodgings at the Pot aud Kettle,
and scarcely a day passed but lie made
his way to The Oaks, the residence of
Mr.. Burton. who seemed to have a great
fancy for his company.
Nor was it long in becoming common
talk that the colonel had returned to
Miss Burton on the eve Of her intended
wedding a blood stained miniature, the
token Of q schoolgirl love that she had
given to Herbert CrUston, tho village
nicer do well, and that as sho saw the
picture, stained with his lifeblood, the
old love had returned, and she had re-
fused to marry any II else.
So passed a year, and again summer
visited the little village, sprinkling the
lawns with yellow dandeliOns aud the
hedges with all manner Of sweetness.
From the many farmyards came the
sounds of cattle and of fowls upon the
clear and silent air, mingled with the
distant dashing of brooks. The trees,
Respondent in their garments Of green"
cast grateful shadows for the MONDAY
wanderer. And then tho gardens! Roses
everywhere. The air was one mass Of
perfume, delightful and overpowering,
the first sweet gift of summer.
During this time Miss Burton had not
been seen by the village folk. save on one
or two rare occasions, and those who had
viewed her reported that she was looking
palo and sickly, and Chat she scarcely ever
spoke. Now, however, at the approach
of summer she had thrown of her
gloomy aspect, laid aside tho 'inky
cloak" that she had insisted upon wear.
ing and had even gone so far as to ride
out into the country, and always with
the colonel as a companion.
One night they walked together in the
gardens that almost entirely surrounded
The OAKS. Ihere was no otnCr uSlJ tn2n
that of the stars. AS Amelia paused the
colonel placed his arm about her and
held her hand.
"You have my answ r"' he questionet
softly.
She raised her face slowly. Their lip
met.
at is 'yesY" no asked.
And she answered yes"
Far awayin the wilderness of Virgin;
the night winds gathered and Whispered
and irurmured and muttered, and Will
their dark pinions brushed the brigh
cold drops of dew that chung to thI
blades of grass above the unmarked
grave of Herbert Creston.-Exchange.
Enavv All Ahnuh t.