The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-02-24

ing and handshaking some one clos
ed the door, to prevent the dress
maker from witnessing their family
joys, Isuppose!'
Poor Ivy! She turned faint and
sick as the fatal truth forced itself
upon her. Her face grew white as
death, and there was stony look of
misery in the soft eyes that would
have melted a less cruel heart than
that Of the woman beside her. But
in the midst of her misery pride came
to her aid. One thing she was re-
solved upon-no one should ever sus-
pect her anguish; no one should ever
say that she wore the willow for CAV
Joe Dalton.
How she accomplished the rest Of
the distance to church she never
knew. She had a confused remem-
brance that she turned the subject
with some commonplace remarks
that she discussed the weather, the
fall styles. the new minister, with
now and then laugh or careless
jest, in much her usual fashion. till
they parted at the church door and
Ivy mechanically assembled the gal
lery stairs and took her place among
the singers SEATS
"Why, Ivy Sunderland!' chorused
the girls; what is the matter?
You're as white as a sheet, and your
eyes-why girls just look at her
eyes!"
"There, girls said Ivy, with a
faint smile, "please don't talk to me;
I've got horrid headache" Which
was true enough, but heartache
would have been truer.
So the kind-hearted creatures bus
tied about and brought her a glass
OF water and a battered old palm
leaf fan from a dusty closet, and
mercifully left her at peace. But for
once the soaring soprano was silent.
and the anthem obliged to pursue it's
vending way without her aid, while
she sat on one side IDLY watching the
confagration drifting on one by one,
with their shining holiday faces.
By-and-bye came a firm, light
tread up the aisle. and Ivy closed
her eyes with a sickening shudder.
When she opened them again Joe
Dalton stood at the head of their
pew, ushering in a tiny, elegant crea-
ture in rustling purple silks, cloud
Of fluffy blonde hair above childish
face, and eyes like great soft violets
He faced the choir for an instant,
and, as his eyes met 1vy's the whole
face lit up with CLEAN of dark eyes
and flash of dazzling teeth beneath
his brown mustache.
l. But the smile faded to look of
halfindignant surprise asIvy looked
straight on and beyond him without
the slightest sign of recognition, and
he settled himself with that impa-
tient shake of the broad shoulders
which Ivy knew so WELL
Long alter service she fingered in
the gallery to avoid all chance of
meeting him, and then slowly made
her way home, a curious numb feel
ing at her heart, a strange blur and
chill over the sunny autumn land
scape and in tie crisp. golden air.
But when she reached home she
was even more gay and cordial than
usual in her greetings Of the numer-
Gus auhts uncles and young fry of
cousins who had assembled there
| during the morning; and all the after
noon her laugh was the loudest, her
jest the widest among all that hilar-
iOus group. A bright spot burned
on either cheek, and there was a fe-
verish light in her eyes; but no one
knew that her hands and feet were
like ice, that the wild gayety came
from an excitement that had just es-
capped delirium. And when Julia
Hunt and and her cousin called they
found her radiant in the blue silk,
and ready to discuss "the news"
which, thanks to Miss Simms, was
at present briskly circu ating from
one end of RedIeaf to the other. So
through the long twilight they sat
in the freight, cracking nuts and
jokes indescriminately, pounding
their thumbs and screaming with al
ternate pain and laughter, and
chattering through it all like con-
vocation of hilarious magpies.
Then, as the young moon looked in
at the western windows. Miss Hunt,
declared, jumping up, that they must
go; there was to be a dance a mile
away; at which they were due in an
hour, and pair of "somehodies" no
doubt awaiting impatiently at the
paternal mansion at this very moment
for their return.
So, Ivy, throwing her scarlet cloak
around her shoulders and pulling the
hood over her curls-a lovely, grown
up Red Riding Hood-ran down to
the gate with them to see them off, in
sociable country fashion, and after a
shower of girl kisses on both sides
stood watching them as they tripped
up the road in the wierd mingling of
twilight and moonlight which hung
over the world.
Standing on one side.l peering up the
road with intent eyes, absorbed in her
own thoughts, she did not hear the
footsteps that stole softly along the
grass bordering Of the roadside walk
The next moment a strong arm
| clasps her, pair of daring lips
snatched a kiss.
watching for me, Ivy?" cried Joe
Dalton, triumphantly.
'Mr. Dalton! How dare you! Let