The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-11-29

ColsClcHCc, rose up III the poOE leitOW ;
heart. He accused himself of a hun
dred imaginary shortcomings, and
suffered as those are prone to suffer
who Judge others b., the standard of
themselves. 1t was only by a great
effort that he controlled hi self SO as
to present the quiet outside necessary
on reaching Mime. .'ardine ; door.
from which she would son go forever:
nay, from which she had already gone.
He knew II t whom to ask for. He
stood ilent and l~ewi!dered: but t Q
little bonnie seemed to III derstand, and
admitted him without a word.
Beyond the So o n was a small bed
chamber which mother and daughter
used to share. In tie center of it
stood. raised a little. and covered with
something white. that last sleepin,-
place where we III lst al Il day rest.
How long he stood there. ga ing On
the still face so exceedingly beautiful
he had never thought before what a
beautiful she must have been
Roderic could not tell. At last tle
door. which had been left ajar bthlnd
him slightly stirred. He thought il
was the ponne. and would not turn he
did not wish her to see his dimmed
eyes. Ii vas more than a minute te-
fore he looked up and saw. sta ding
quietly on the ether side OF HE o.lin.
tie orphaned girl. the girl whom he
adored like Il lover. and yet SCENE | TO
cherish already with the p otecting
tenderness OF a husband who has been
married many years.
Perfectly laliid. dead-white almost.
from the contrast between her back
/ dress and fair hair. Silcace stood an
looked at him: ne e'y Losing. not
holding ont her nand both her hands
were resting on the coin. She spoke
in a whisper.
you are come to see hcr once again
That is Kind. She always liked YOU.
Is she not beautiful; But she i. gone
Nou SEE. She has g ne away and left
me al alone
ne sob Just on no more. Nothing
in his life had ever touched Roderick
like the strong self-command by which
this frail girl in her utmost agony con-
trolled 1t express on, and, rccollccting
herself, snmmonet all her courage.
dignity-the sacred dignity of ,orrow.
which asks n help. no consolation.
You must forgive me: my grief i,
new. Are these your flowers: Thank
lou: they are very sweet
And taking them from him. she be-
gan arranging them IN the folds of the
shroud. gently md carefully as if she
were dressing a baby. then drew the
kerchief once more over the dead face.
NOW YOU must 90 away"
Il will, he an,wercd-the first words
he had uttered. only. just once
Tenderly removing the face-cloth
again. Roderick stopped and pre-.ed
his lips upon the marble brow of this
dead mother. only making q solemn
yow-would that all men made the
same. and kept it. to other dead and
living mothers. Something Of its pur-
port must have been betrayed in his
look, for when his eye, met those of
the girl opposite she slightly started.
and a int smile sutfusei her check.
Fading. it left her deadly pa'e: she
staggered rather than walked. though
alone. refusing all help. into the next
room.
There she sat down. Roderick stand
ing beside her. The door was open
between. he could zee the foot of tc
totiiI and its white dra cry. Tho al
now, for the first time, he was acne
with hi. chosen love, kn wing well.
and hayi = an instinct that she must
know, too, that she was his love, and
ever would b., there was &C great an
W upon him that he could q speak
one " rd. Il / ever # the commonest
consolation or sympathy. And. taoJgh
he could nav fan n his knees b.
fore her and kissed he" ttry feet. h
80 II I touch even tile tips o rer
poo little palliJ fingers. 20 Strangely
idle. th-ir occupation gone.
wv al an J II d. vi hoOt nv moth
err SlleG T. sal at at, with Il pltcouS