The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-02-15


for an instant beyond her wretched, work
ridden world. only to close again as
quickly. The man caught her look and
asked. his voice tense and quivering;
"Thoso faded lilies Of the valley,
there in that cup, why did you keep
them only from the flowers you threw
away this morning?"
"They-they-smel good" an
swered the woman, troubled, bewildered.
"Only thatp"
"Yes, only that. "
"Have you never dreamed of some
one you loved, some one apart from this
miserable squalor find you inf"
The blood flooded her sallow face.
"What business is that of yours? Go
away, sayl" she added weakly, giving
him push and catching at the table to
save herself from falling.
"Tell me-" he pleaded. "have you
never missed me, who was more to you
those few short years ago ihan life or
honor?"
Ann Quinn looked into bis eyes and
| laughed. There was no mirtb in that
laugh. though. and he shielded himself
as il she had struck at him. Then he
spoke again.
"Listen," he said. Tonight in far
| land my soul will be born anew. Until
| then the veil is lifted. Rut we will
cheat God and love and law-you and
I together Soon my eyes will be blind
ed, and shall not know yop except by
| this. Take it and keep it always over
your heart, and though you be old and
bent. and though you be a little child,
still shall know you"
He thrust his hand into his breast and
drew out leather case. He opened it
and pushed something toward her. She
looked. 1t was faded spray of lily OF
the valley. Then lie reached into his
pocket and threw canvas bag down on
| the table. 'Take these be said.
"There is enough here to keep you from
this drudgery. He pointed to the iron
ing "And now / must bS gone. The
river calls to me. ="
| They stood looking at each other in
silence. The light swan before Ann
Quinn eyes, and everything blurred but
that white face staring into hers. Near
er it came, ever nearer, and she felt her
muscles quiver in resistance, then grow
lax; ; there was pause, gasping breath,
aud she had thrown herself into his
arms. The cold ooze from his wet hair
trailed on her neck. Closer and closer
they swayed together. locked in each
others arms; then. with astrange, thin
cry, like the wall of newborn child,
the man tore himself away and leaped
from the window into the night beyond.
There was heavy splash and silence.
| The wind had blown out the lamp.
Ann Quinn CROPPED her way to the table,
dazed and stupid. She struck match
1t sputtered and went out. Then she
crawled away into corner. her wide
eyes fixed--on the open window. The
moon swan nigh, and 'Sae river RAJ
molten silver beneath it. The little star
set, and the gray scroll of morning un
rolled across the night. Still she sa
there, her eyes fixed on tho empty win
dow space.
Suddenly she stood up, and she fell
old and dizzy and lame. She reached
out and picked up the canvas bag the
man had given her. She shook it, ant
there rolled out on the table grea
handful of unset rubies. Ann Quinn
stood staring at them until the first sun
beam came sitting through the darkness
lighting them into thousand crimson
sparkles.
There was rap ut the door, and sh
thrust the jewels from sight. 1t wa
only the milkman, and he looked at tn
woman's face in disappointment. IS
you've heard the news already?" h
asked.
"What news?"
"Why, didn't you know they We foun'
; the body of Ellis Price, the millionaire
drowned not hundred yards from thi
very spot?'
: "No," said Ann Quinn.
eyes, and they think he must hav
| been murdered. He left home to go t
3 the bank with somo rubies he had fo
] his niece's wedding, and they weren
ON the body anywhere.
Murdered-murdered What woul
r they do if they found-some one wit
Q them rubies?" Ann Quinn asked thickly
"Why, hang him high as he
swing" answered the milkman.
4 Ten minutes later Ann Quinn stol
Q down to the riverside. She reached owe
. and dropped handful of stones into th
: water-a handful of stones that shon
: like blood drops. Down they sank int
Q the gray river slime. But ON the ripple
: above them hung something too light
s sink, for it was only dried stem {
t lilies of the valley.
Q Ann Quinn watched it drift ont
sight. Then she turned back to the hous
Q to get breakfast. Julie Closson Kenl
, in San Francisco Assonaut.