The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-05-21

r%,ea~c. l have a grea, deal to say to
you.'
Maud sat down. Vanity walked over 70
the window. and settling herself On a high
ottoman. and resting her face %agains, the
pane. said in Il tone as Of soliloquy:
Il wonder how | ought to begin. l Ike
You. | shall speak freely 10 YOU
Thank YOU Maud said. You are
very kind"
Fifteen years ago | was a little sickly
child. with Il dying mother. who was. oh.
50 patient and good. Now she has been
fifteen years an angel in heaven. And a
father-oh. God. forgive me for what |
was going to say. Living in conccalment
and solitude. | met a man who was struck
by me and loved me. O., what a time
that was. He seemed 10 me all that heart
could wish. He asked me to marry him. |
warned him that | was not fir for him. He
persisted. | yielded. | let my heart 20.
.. let me not think of chat time any more.
1t was too wild in its daring Dreams"
"All the rest | know. Vanity"
Not all. Not the most dreadful part.
Mrs. Neville. for weeks after | was with
You my fixed resolution was. at all costs,
70 win that mans heart back. 10 revenge
myself on the woman who had robbed me
and blasted my future. | lived that
wicked life over and over in my thoughts.
and then the smallpox came. | believed
tlat my face was hopelessy ~distigured.
Ana then. after planning suicide twenty
ntty times in my frenzy and despair. my
heart was changed. oh, how good Sister
Catherine was. did repent I believe |
ala heartily repent Of my wickedness. |
saw how dcte>table | had become. NV
old passionate self seemed to separate
from me and recede further and further.
ana every day | deSpised that image more.
Not for all The world would | again be
the Vanity Hardware that | was a little
while ago. An infatuated, deluded. self
deludinE woman. Reckless. wicked. all
Tor love OF a man whom | pity now rather
Than care for. since my eyes are openo1
about myself and him. And then | fonnd
that my fears had no foundation. Nv
tace was uninjnred. Thank God. when
| discovered that, my resolution did nor
waYer. No; my desire for 4 new life was
more settled than ever"
Vanity stopped. Maud did not speak.
Now. Mrs. Neville." Vanity continued.
III a somewhat stern tone. would You like
ne for Il si>ter-in-law:"
i have told YOU" Maud replied calm
y. Your frankness has not altered INV
mind"
But ought not your brother to know
ali have now told YOU
NO." Maud said slowly. Il do not see
The necessity
"IArre is no necessity for him to know.
Mrs. Neville. tell your brother he is good.
Kind. amiable-I might have loved him
Once. But my mind was made up some
time ago. l shall never love any man
again."
"Vanity.'
On a small bracket in a corner of the
room was set a statuet;e. a woman with
ioWncast face and streaming hair. caz-
.nG on a cross which she held in hey
dropping hand. Vanity pointed to il.
Strange that statue should be there.
have looked At it 50 often. Il is he
image Of my heart"
anlty. 1t has been there for years"
speak to it," said Vanity. Bid the
bosom r>e and fall. and the checks glow.
AID the eyes light up. Tell the head to
rise. And when the marble obeys Won.
then BID me love again. For that stone
IS not :, dead 10 human love as l."