The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-09-24

dowaSers, her sister Bab's face with
the scarlet on both checks, aud her
own, white and angry, in the glass, as
he marble Diana behind her.
Ii was while the last dinner guests
That night were still saying tender
nothlnSs to Bah, rs she leaned against
the mantel and tho low freight
played on the satin sheen of her white
gown till she looked as if taking life
from fiame-tinted jewel, that n slen
der shape slipped swiftly down the
steps and passed along in the shadow
of the houses like shadow herself.
The girl had never been in the street
mt night before without attendance;
every sound atfrighted her she shrank
even behind her veil from every pass
erby. AS soon as she had turned the
corner she brought into palmer sight
parcel she carried, that she might
pass the more readily as maid. A
half hours rapid walk and she ran up
some Steps to make sure of number,
rang the door-bell, said something ex.
planntory to the man who answered il.
passed IN and followed him to the door
OF room up one flight of the broad,
low stairway there.
The room was in confusion. A
leather box and n portmanteau lay
packed and strapped by the door.
There were empty and discolored
spaces on the walls whore pictures had
hung, brackets had held their busts
and great cases and cabinets had stood.
1t was plain to see in its dismantled
state that it had lately been q place of
luxury.
a man sat there, with his head
bowed upon his arms as they lay along
the table, in an attitude of utter deiec.
ton. He did not look up when the
door opened and closed. But the girl
crossed the room quickly, and stand
ing behind him stopped with her arm
laid across his shoulder. He lifted his
head. looking straight before him. ssI
suppose it is n Dream" he said, half to
himself. ''If you are n dream"
i am not dream, jack" she said,
bending lower, her soft, cold cheek
touching his. az am Felicia."
There was silence in heaven for
the space Of half an hour. For one
moment there was silence and rapture
here. And then the transfer men
came for the luggage "And this par
eel, too" said Felicia.
Felicia! ~ he exclaimed.
This parcel, she repeated. "You
know / can not go back after coming
here" she said, when they were alone
again. "I have burned my ships be-
hind me-"
"Do you mean it?' he exclaimed
joyously. And then his tone fell. "I
thought oh yes; certainly, 1 must
take you homo before my train
leaves"
"You will take me home? My home
Is with you, Jack. 5"
"You don't know what Won saw !"
he answered her. ''Oh, no; 1 cannot
accept the sacrifice !" the eager CLEAN
OF his eyes belying his words.
Jack, she murmured, "the sncri-
lice was III my coming here unasked."
You knew loved you, you knew
[ loved you'll And then this crash
camc-and there was nothing for me
to say-to you, who have la II in the
lilies and fed on the roses of life.
whose part was the husks !"
''1es, | knew it, or L could not have
come, she replied, and she moved
away from him, going about tie room.
and pausing at the curtainless window
place, where the moonlight lay upon
her, pale and imprisoned.
Don't make it so hard for me -
ne exclaimed. can hour ago it was
the darkness of despair. [ was going
to bury myself in that ranch with its
bunch OF cattle, the one thing left me.
rs II 1T were grave. Now I shall 90
out into that new life radiant with
this happy knowledge and my hope.
And even If / should never prosper
enough to come for YOU" he said after
a moment, taking n step toward her.
'if you should weary in the long wait
ing and give some other man the love
! have won-well, ! could bear it, per
haps, remembering and living again
in this nights joy"
"Some other man !" she exclaimed.
unclasping his arms and looking for
the hat and jacket that had been
thrown aside. 81 am going with You,
Jack. II You can 1.-Two summer AMI
winter in tent in Texas ] can, too.
] have the fit clothes in that parcel. /
have my jewels here. They were nv
mothers and are mine, and / have the
right to take them, and their price
will hinder my being burden"
"a burden Oh, Felicil, il I might.
If | dared"
"YOu will have TO-" said Felicia.
calmly. "Iho Church OF Blessing is
round the corncr, AMI the rector is
my friend. Jack, you made me pro.
pose to you. / shouldn't think Won
would make me ask you to marry
mel"
Standing there in the moonlight.
adjusting her disordorel hair, she was
too beautiful, too sweet and tender
for mortal man TO resist.
"Ihe train leaves Mt midnight" no
said. "Ghere is but scant time Oh.
my darling, if you should repent
1t Oh, you must, you will I"
Never :" said Felicia Aud then.
lip to lip and heart to heart, thoy lin.
gcrc ono moment before they went
ont together
IL was year aftcrwnrd that Felicia
sat one night in the rofulgent moon
light OF the high prairie after day of
heat, tempered by tho great Gnlf
breeze blowing over three hundred