The Delta independent., 1895-09-25

VIC NSoIdoi, WIN SttillS hCIC"Ip aNoAAk
the war with Prussia; he was only q
young lad then, but born coward;
and his brother is n colonel in the
French army, his father a general. He
daren't go back to France. Sit down.
here's n chair for your coat; you will
feel better dry. I'll excuse your shirt
sleeves"
Talking all the while, she set chair
for his coat, one for himself near the
hearth, and then, knceling down by
the big dog, she put the little one on
the floor and proceeded to make them
acquainted. Skye instantly became a
fluff of growl and fight; but Mac,
with an ennuyeed sigh, stretched
himself and lay down to rest. He real
lied he was intruding, but meant to
make the best of it in peace. She
jumped up, the dog under her arm, and
flung log on the fire.
"There; nre you comfortable?" she
asked, standing and smiling on him,
lovely flush on her face.
"Delightfully So"
Oliver looked at her in wonder. Was
she child or woman? A slight, girlish
figure, but beautifully formed, tiny
hands and feet, a mass of short reddish
curls around the neck, parted smoothly
in the middle, hazel eyes with dark
lashes, nose retrousse, piquantly SO,
and rosebud mouth that showed
small white teeth Of fdazzling brilliancy.
Her skin was almost unnaturally pale;
and q dimple in her left cheek drew
s.ttention to it's soft roundness. Her
gown of yellow China silk clung to her
beautiful curves, and the wide ruffle of
the yellow around her throat was like
the petals of flower. lie looked at
her left hand; there was no ring; in
fact, all the jcwclry she wore was a
bunch of silver bangles on her right
arm.
"Do you live here?" he asked, lamely,
as she knclt again on the rug to pat
his dog, Skye in her arms.
Instead of replying, she made her
dog sit up on its hind legs and began
accomplishment Skye dislilked show.
ing, as he desired getting acquainted
with the new dog, and this circus busi-
ness seemed dcrogatory to his dignity.
"Sce!" said the young woman, breath
lessly; isn't he cunning? But he does
it better when there is not company;
he never will show of. Can your dog
give his paw?"
81 don't think l ever asked him."
stammered Oliver, who was thinking
what n pretty picture the girl made.
"Wcll, he is too tired to tease now.
OH" jumping up and standing by the
fire, "you asked who WASP"
mo; il you live hcre?"
"Do you think" half sadly, 20 person
could live here?'
ell don't know"
81 do" said the young woman, en-
phatically. 81 have tried it two years
and winters. all the long shut-in
months. ! eat. sleep, breathe, but l
don't live. ! am called Minny-chris-
tened Minerva, after my fathers ship
"a funny name. that does not suit me.
Children ought to be allowed to name
themselves. don't you think SOP"
"It might be better, but Minny is
pretty name, and" with smiling
glance of admiration. for Oliver liked n
pretty woman, "snits delightfully."- I
was named Peter-thinle of that!-but
luckily had a middle name. Allow me
to introduce myself: Craig Oliver, of
Denver, and your neighbor in the val-
ley of the Troublesome"
II am"-she hesitated moment and
looked at him deHantly-"Mrs. de
Restaud. knew you'd have to know.
put it Off on purpose. Now please
don't look mt me out Of the corner of
your eye and wonder / am not more
dignified and stop being pleasant to
me because / am married"
81 don't sce," said Oliver, uncon-
sciously becoming more distant, "that
your being married makes any differ
ence."
~ am glad; for up here they daren't
talk politely to me because of monsieur;
in fact, for weeks I only have Skye to
talk to. ] know run on foolishly; but
am like an exile meeting q neighbor
from the home country. No gentle
men come here; Lord Morris was not;
he might have been once, but liquor
changes everybody. Since Aunt Han
nah was sent away, six months ago,
there has not been living soul here l
even endured. by the way" smiling
again, "are you hungry?"
81 breakfasted this morning." nn-
swered Oliver.
"Well. III get You something to eat.
Please let me; it's such fun to have .
visitor. And don't you mind IL you
hear growls from the Kitchen"
She ran out before Oliver could OBJ
ject; so he sat and watched his steam
ing coat, wondering If the proprietor
would shoot on sight. He remembered
now seeing the 'crazy Frcnchman," as
he was called in the valley, n small,
wizened creature, looking rs il he
took morphine, from his strange color
and the unnatural brightness of his
eyes. The pity of it! the girl-n
child, almost-was his wife. ''1'his is
odd" he thought, ian adventure, and
Doctor John will never believe n word
Of it." Unfortunately, Mrs. de Restaud
had left the door ajar, and Oliver be-
came painfully aware Of her converse
ton:
"Annettc dear-how wish the Utes
would carry you off! how tired they'd