The Red Cloud chief., 1896-05-15

thing OF the saint in my composition, |
don't deny that it did make me feel
just n little hard when | saw him sit
down by Edith Lonsdaie and talk to
her. and look into her honest blue eyes.
before | had half told him what had
happened in the village during the
drcary years of his absence. But the
feeling didn't last long.
IT'S natural enough, I'm sure |
reasoned with myself. and only what
| ought to expect. She is as pretty as II
picture, and now, if Roy viii fall III
love with her. | can be just as happy in
their happiness as il it had come to me
the blessing of a good man love-
SO ! persuaded myself; yet it was Il
little hard to feel myself smut out from
all the beauty and sweetness of a
woman's natural lot. | think | never
felt the bitterness of being an old
maid quite as acutely as | did that
night. when Roydon had gone TO the
village inn. and Edith lay sleeping on
the pillow at my side. and the scent of
the honeysuckles came waiting in at
every stir of the dewy night breeze.
Well. he came often TO our house. and
! used TO make all sorts of little eX-
cuses 20 leave him with Edith. while |
went mp stairs to sit by myself ana
weave little threads of romance in and
ont of the meshes of my fancy knitting.
One day Roydon Grey came 10 me,
for young Burnham had called, and
was chatting with Edith. and ! dare say
Roy thought ! looked lonely with my
work in the hall.
Pen. said he, what do you think |
am going 20 do?'
a dim idea he was going TO make NJ
his c%onfidante fitted across my mind.
Il don't know | said, smiling.
What is it. Roy?'
I'm going to rcfurnish the Old house.
II looks dim and dusky and old-fash.
Toned now; and | wan i; TO be fresh
and sunny and winsome. viii you help
me with your advice ana Counsel?"
OF course | promised; me for the
next two or three weeks we were as
busy as bees.
we mustn't let her know what we
are about" he said thar night. with u
motion of his head toward Edith.
"Oh, no, to be sure not, ] answered;
ut would spoil the surprise
How pretty we did make the old
place. Every room was like a casket
ready to receive Il jewel: the bright
carpets glowed in bouquets and MOSES
and trailing arahesques of Persian
brightness. all over the floor; the win
dows were draped with neat ard taste
jul shades; the pictures on the walls
seemed prospective of tropic sunsets
and soft Alpine moons: while every
vase and stand and bookcase was ar
ranged as | knew Edith would like it.
Roy said |, g%uardedly, the after
noon tina: our work of transformation
Vas complete. and We stood congratu-
lating each other on our siccesscul en-
deavors-fOr up TO this time | had been
very discreet, and asked 10 questions
-"whcn shall the queen OF this en-
chanted realm take possession of her
fairy bower? In other words'-and |
could not help laughing at his puzzled
look-"when shall you be married."
so you have guessed II, you demure
little O~edipus?'
Yes. ! have guessed it,"
We'll. what do you think would be
an auspicious time?"
Let me see: this H. July. Why don't
You say the first of AugIst?"
THE first of August he II then he
asscntod. You are SIRE there is
everything here you cdn possibly
think Cf?"
Yes, everything"
Because" he went on, when you
Am | to live here?" I asked. But,
Roy, perhaps she wouldn't like it,"
She? Who is she?" he inquired.
WHY, Edith, 10 be sue
What has Edith got % say, ! should
like to know" cried Roydnn, laughing.
My darling little Pen, If Won are salts
fled, the rest OF the world may say. do,
and think what it p~leaSes. Since you
have promised to be my Wife"
~" The coZily furnished little break
fast room seemed TO swim around me.
stop, Roydon, for a minute, please; |
i don't quite understand"
You said yourself, the first Of Au-
gust
But | thought it was Edith
Edith, indeed! a mere child-a
schoolgirl, whose whole heart, more
over, is wrapped up in Harry Burnham'
Why, Pen, where have your eyes been?'
Where, indeed? Could ! have been
blind all this time-so wsolutcly, in
corrigibly blind?
DO you love me, Pen? DOn't look
the other way; | will he answered.
| did love him; | had loved him long
and tenderly, and | told him so, not
without some ~blushings and misgiy-
ipgs, however.
"Oh, PEN he whispered, holding me
close to his heart, III you knew tho
years and years ! had been looking for
ward 10 this time."
So = was married quietly, OF course,
and with M bridesmaid INT Edith, Int