The Red Cloud chief., 1896-08-07

however. lie draws Der WIN Il ~ OnE,
if tender arm. to fe shelter of Tia,
warm With
See her.. Bulcic,' says he. stand
ing before her and taking her hands
gently in his own, ''shali we begin all
over again. you and l|'
you and l?'
"WEy uotP Look, | set you free
| release you.' pressing her back from
him. not very far, but sti far enough
for him to know that DIlcin as TN
gers have frightened over his. rs il in
fear or protest or both. Evon such n
little distance has frightened her. Oh.
the glad thrill of dawnIng hops that
heats his veins IL ne feels the nervous
clasp NJ OF her hands
''lou ar free. Dulc'c; | have no
smallest claim up II you. You III go
your ny, and | mine. YOU ur-
steadily. ''you quito understand that?'
Yes" family.
"Wcll-now,' Ia pauscs rs il afraid
to 90 on. After all 1t j. only an u
pcrimc1t; who knows how it. will end?
Now propose 70 YOU all over
again. ! beg. | cutrcal YOU to marry
me, You have your freedom; you can
h''D Illc w v nv ~ h' N'u ~
but" ~pasSionately, 81 bcsocch you to
keep me-
'.Oh, noH Her pretty head is hang
ing down, her voice ha' sunk into Il
whisper. 'Not aftcr-aftcr that ~
After tn t-aftcr everything
Miss McDcrmot raises her head
slo ,ly and looks ut him. Rcproach is
in her glance.
''Why why werc you not ike this
a~lways?' asks she.
.'llow could ! bc?' The repro ich
is all on his side now. and strong
enough to dwarf hers. ado you know
how you treated me? VIII II iciclc was
ever colder? Why. | was afraid to go
uparyou. Once | kissed you. DO Won
remember II? | do; aud your look
after it. Once only. This STOPPING
aud pr ssing his fps lightly to ner
e eek, ii, the second time. And %
sadly. II do not call that kissing you
at ALL
And what do you call it?' asks
she. II CLEAN Of mischievous fun creep
ing into her face in spitc of her. Their
suddenly she ilings h T. arms around
uis neck. "Wcll, I'll kiss YOU" say
she, because love you, Ralph; | dc
indeed"
..You are sure Of it?' H. asks five
minutes later.
Quite. quite surr.'
II wish you had been sure a little
earlier
made it ever : u much surcr.
And you are happy, darling"
IL never felt so happy"
.'Not even one regret"
'.Wcll." n]ervously, there is some
thing sImething-' iidgeting awk
wardly with the flower in his coat.
Yes. something? Go on" says h.
%anXious.y. 'Can it be about Eyre
''lts-hc seemed very uneasy abou
it,"
$50 he very well might" indig
nan,ly.
''Oh, but it was all for me-"
IAN for himself, in my opinion"
You wrong him." warmly;''you d,
indeed"
TO hear her stick up for Eyre is ga.
and wormwool' but To shake the 100
feeling established between them no,
is not to be thought of for u moment
well, don't let us quarrel abou
! him. says he, and his one tighten
Itself mis- heart AS heavy as leaC
> "What WIS he uneasy ab at in o.
pecial?'
! ABOUT thc-thc lies he told you.
.'Hc' who?'
; "Why, poor Andy, Of course; whOl
, were you thinking of?''
"Of Eyre. Forgive me that"
: Nonsense says Mis- McDcrmo
"Why.' airaly, ave forgotten hin
: No. il wa Andy. lou know he tol
., YOU last night that he hal brought III
! to the station, and rs ! toll you, /
is that ali?'
.'Ics. 1t was a good deal. An
; Andy is greatly pat ri about il. u
-yon are sure You don't think ball
of him.
Il think" enthusiastically, ever
highly OF him.'
"Dh, do you, reallyF'
''Wlt. how els should ! think
him? Was he not trying to h
y you?'
And you will say something love
; to h IN tie very litst thing in the NOR.
. ing?'
"No; | shall say somoChin lovely
you then
!, ooh. Ralph! Well, 600
= night . .e, Goodnight again .
>, Goodnight, really, this time.'
THE END.
=, Nhat II ZOuIXs a.
local rhnrlptrp i'm ivan, timps ~