The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-01-18

self with gathering II the yellow sprays
ATmitage, with one foot in the stiTun
stood stock still, half in surprise, half
stunned by a sudden and painful
thought Could it be that she was there
in hopes Of meeting-any one?
He retook his foot from the stirTup,
undertaking the rein still stood gazing
at her over his horse back. That placid
quadruped, whose years had been spent
in these pleasant byways and were too
many to warrant an exhibition of cOltish
surprise, promptly lowered mis- head
and resumed his occupation Of grass nib
bling, making a little crunching noise
which Miss Renwiok might have heard,
but apparently did not She was singing
very softly to herself:
''Daisy. tell my fortune, pray.
He loves me nOt-he loves me"
And still Armitage stood and gazed,
while she, absorbed in her pleasant task,
still pulled and plucked at the golden
rod. In al his life no vision of fair
women" had been to him so fair and
sacred and exquisite as this. Down to
the tip Of her arched and slender foot,
peeping from beneath the broideTed hem
Of her snowy skirt, she stood the lady
born and bred, and his eyes looked on
and worshiped her - wOrshiped, yet
questioned, Why came she here? Alb
sorbed, he released his hold on the rein,
and Dobbin, nothing loath, reached with
his long, lean neck for farther heritage
and stepped in among the trees. Still
stood his negligent master, fascinated
in his study of the lovely, graceful girl
Again she raised her head and looked
northwaTd along the winding, shaded
wood path. A few yards away were 9TH
er great clusters of the wild flowers she
loved, more sun Kissed goldenrod, and,
with a little murmur of delight, gather
ing her dainty skirts in one hand, she
fitted up the pathway like an uncon-
sciOus humming bird gaTnering the
sweets from every blossom. A little
farther On the pathway bent among the
trees, and she would be hidden from
his sight, but still he stood and studied
her every movement, drank in the soft,
cooling melody of her voice rs she sang,
and then there came a sweet solemn
strain from the brown, suniit walls Just
visible through the trees, and reverent
voices and the resonant chords of the
organ thrilled through the listening
/ woods the glorious anthem Of the church
militant
At the first notes she lifted up her
queenly head and stood, listening and
appreciative. Then he saw her rounded
throat swelling like a birds, and the
rich, full tones Of her voice rang out
! through the welcoming sunshine, and
the futtering wrens, and red breasted
robins, and rival song queens, the brown
winged thrushes-even the impudent
shrieking jays-seemed to hush and lis
ten. Dobbin, fairly astOnished lifted
up his hollow eyed head and looked
amazedly at the white songsTess whose
scarlet sash and neck ribbons cleaned
/ in such vivid contrast to the foliage
about her. a wondering little cotton
tail'' rabbit, shy and wild as a hawk,
/ came darting through the bushes into
the sunshiny patchwork OH the path,
and then, uptilted and with quivering
ears and nostrils and wide staring eyes,
stood paralyzed with helpless amaze,
/ ignoring the tall man in gray as did the
singer herself. Richer, rounder, fuller
grew the melody as, abandoning her
self to the impulse of the sacred hour,
she joined with all her girlish heart in
the words Of praise and thanksgiving
in the glad and triumphant chorus of
the TIE Deum. From beginning to end
she sang, now ringing and exultant
now soft and plaintive, following The
solemn words Of the ritual-swect
low and suppliant in the petition 50
therefore pray thee help thy -
whom thou hast redeemed vi
precious blood, " confident arG a.,
in the declaration, ''Thou az
of glory, O Christi and theu
fearless trust and faith in IT,
climax, LET me never be co.
Armitage listened as one IL
From the depth Of her heart
had joined her glorious voice TO the
chorus of praise and alteration, and nov
that all was stilled once more her heaC
had fallen forward on her bosom; he
hands, laden with goldenrod, wer
Joined together. 1t seemed as though
she were lost in prayer.
And this was the girl. this the pure
God worshiDing, God fearing woman
who for one black instant he had dare
to fancy had cone here expectant OF
meeting with the man whose aim ma.
been frustrated but the night befcrel ID
could have thrown himself at her fee
and implored her pardon. He did ste
forth, and then, hat in hand, barring M
proud Saxon head as his forefather
would have uncovered to their monarch
he waited until she lifted up her eye
and saw him and knew by the look i
J his frank face that he had stood By,
mute listener to her unstudied dovOtiOns
A lovely flush rose to her very temples
and her eyes dropped their pallid lid
until the long lashes swept the crimso
Of her cheeks.
Have you been here, captain?
never saw you, was her futterin
question.
81 rode in here on my way back frOr
the station, not caring to meet all IN
good people going to church. I felt lik
an outcast.