The Dickinson press., 1895-08-24
# the houses like a shadow herself.

Of the houses like a shadow herself.
The girl had never been in the street
at night before without attendance;
every sound affrightened her, she
shrank even behind her veil from ev-
cry passerby. As soon as she had
turned the corner she brought into
palmer sight the large parcel she car
ried, that she might pass the more
readily as maid. A half hours rap
Id walk and she ran up some steps to
make sure Of a number, rang the door
bell, said something explanatory to
the man that answered. 1t, passed In
and followed him to the door of a
room up one flight of the broad, low
stairway there.
The room was In confusion. A
leather box and a portmanteau lay
packed and strapped by the door.
There were empty and ciscolored
spnces OH the walls where pictures
had hung, brackets Ind held their
busts and great cases and cabinets
had stood. 1t was plain to see in its
disMantleL state that 1t had lately
been place Of luxury.
"A AA&AA 6AS Will ulS 1Cbu
bowed upon his arms as they lay
along the table, in an attitude Of ut
ter detection. He did not look up
y ben tire door opened and closed.
But the girl crossed the room quickly,
aid standing behind him stopped with
ler arm laid across his shoulder. He
lifted his head, looking st.aight be-
fore him. Il suppose it Is q dream .
h. l.~NA III,
dream
II am not dream, Jack" she said,
bending lower. her soft. cold cheek
touching his. II am Felicia"
There was silence in heaven for the
space Of half an hour. For one mo-
ment there was silence and rapture
here. And then the transfer men
came for the luggage. "And this par
Gel, too," said Felicia.
"Felicia!" he exclaimed.
''.rhis parcel" she rep Gated. "You
know l cannot go back after coming
here" she said, when they were alone
again. Il have burned my ships be-
hind me-"
"Do you mean it?" he exclaimed joy
ously. And then his tone fell. Il
tbought-oh, yes; certainly, l must
take you home before my train
leaves"
"You will take me home? My home
is with you, jack
"You don't know what you say"
he answered her. "Oh, no; can not
accept the sacrificed" the eager CLEAN
Of his eyes belying his words.
Jack" she m,irlnured, "tle sacri-
flee was in my coming here unasked."
"You knew l loved you. you knew
loved you! And then this crash came
and there was nothing for me to say
to you, who have lain in the lilies
and fed on the roses of life. l whose
part was the husks!'
"Yes, knew it, or could not have
eome," she replied, and she moved
away from him, going about the room,
and pausing in the curtainless win
dow place, where the moonlight lay
upon her, pale and impassioned.
Don't make 1t so hard for mel" he
exclaimed. "An hour ago 1t was the
blackness of despair. l was going to
bury myself in that ranch with its
bunch Of cattle. the one thing left me
as If it We're grave. Now shall &c
out into that new life radiant with
this happy knowledge and my hope
And even IL l should never prosper
enough to come for you," he said
after moment, taking step toward
her, ''if you should weary in the long
waiting, and give some other man the
love have won-well, 1 could bear it.
perhaps remembering and living again
in this nights joy"
"Some other man" she exclaimed
unclasping his arms and booking fol
the hat and packet that had been
thrown aside. Il am going with you
Jack. II you can live summer and
winter in a tent in Texas I can, too
have the fit clothes iii that parcel
have my jewels here. They were
my mothers, and are mine, and have
the right to take them, and their price
will hinder my burden
"a burden! Oh, Felicia, If might
II I dared"
"Ycup will hy*e to-" said Felicia,
calmly. 1.-The Church of Blessing is
round the corner, and the rector is nv
friend. Jack, you made me propose
to you. l shouldn't think you would
make me ask you to marry me!'
Standing there in the moonlight,
adjusting her disordered hair she was
for mortal mnn to resist. 'The train
leaves at midnight" he said, controli.
ing his voice as he could. "There is
should regret--if you should repent
If! Oh, you must, you will!
"Never" said Felicia. And then
fingered one moment before they went
out together.
1t was q year afterward that Fe.
lacia sat one night in the refulgent
moonlight Of the high prairie. after q
day of heat, tempered by the great
Gulf breeze blowing over 800 miles
of flowers.
care you sorry Gamer she said.
"Are you?"
"Do you know 1t seems to me pre-.
cisely as IL we were living on an out.
skirt Of the Holy Land, with focke
and herds, and the fig and the pome.
granate and the tender grape givins
Q good SMELL" she said.
Precisely. And the docks and
herds are prosperiLg so that we shall
have to take counsel OF the prophet.
Wasn't it Isiah that said: Enlarge
the place of thy tent, and let them
stretch forth the curtains of thy habi-
tation; spare not, lengthen thy cords,
strengthen they stakes:' Col Upshur
lived in tent over the range yonder
for a dozen years. but we may build
our house next year, fancy"
with roses lying on the low roof
and night blooming cereus Chamber
ing across the gallery, like some Of the
houses in the old Spanish town there.
I don't know, but like this better,
though-the lovely freedom of 1t. oh,
we never lived before!''
"Are you sure you never regret"
he asked.
"Regret! Well, I confess l should
like to have heard Bah read our mar
rilga notice at hreakfaSt-and Dah