The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-05-11

lLAsAA oANy Az tAA' ~
found, SO the soul Of Ann Quinn opened
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:
"Those 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-smelled good" an
"Only that?"
Eyes, only that"
"Have you never dreamed Of some
II you loved, some one apart from this
miserable squalor l find you in:"
The blood flooded her sallow face.
What business is that Of yours? Go
away, l say!' she added weakly, giving
him a 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 than life or
honor?'
Ann Quinn looked into his eyes and
laughed. There was no mirth in that
laugh, though, and he shielded himself
as if she had struck at him. Then he
spoke again.
Listen" he said. Tonight in a far
land my soul will be born anew. Until
then the veil is lifted. But we will
cheat God and love and law-you and
I together. Soon my eyes will be blind
ed, and l shall not know you 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 1 shall know you
He thrust his hand into his breast and
drew out a leather case. He opened it
and pushed something toward her. She
looked. 1t was a faded spray Of lily Of
the valley. Then he reached into his
pocket and threw a canvas bag down on
the table. Take these" he said.
There is enough here to keep you from
this drudgery." He pointed to the iron
ing. And now I must be gone. The
river calls to me"
They stood looking at each other in
silence. The light swan before Ann
Quinn's eyes, and everything blurred but
that white face staring into hers. Near
er it came, ever nearer, and she felt her
muscles culver in resistance, then grow
lax there was a pause, a gasping breath,
and 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 a strange, thin
cry, like the wall Of q newborn child,
the man tore himself away and leaped
from the window into the night beyond.
There was q heavy splash and silence,
The wind had blown out the lamp.
Ann Quinn CROPPED her way to the table,
dazed and stupid. She struck a match.
It sputtered and went out. Then she
crawled away into a corner, her wide
eyes fixed on the open window. The
moon swan high, and the river ran
molten silver beneath it. The little stars
set, and the gray scroll Of morning IN
rolled across the night. Still she sat
there, her eyes fixed on the empty win
dow space.
Suddenly she stood up, and she felt
old and dizzy and lame. She reached
out and picked up the anvas bag the
man had given her. She shook it, and
there rolled out on the table a great
handful of unset rubies. Ann Quinn
stood staring at them until the first sun.
beam came sitting through the darkness,
lighting them into a thousand crimson
sparkles.
There was q rap at the door, and she
thrust the jewels from sight. 1t was
only the milkman, and he looked at the
woman's face in disappointment. $50
you've heard the news already?" be
asked.
What news?''
"Why, didn't you know they'v found
the body of Ellis Price, the millionaire,
drowned not a hundred yards from this
very spot:'
NO" said Ann Quinn.
Eyes, and they think he must have
been murdered. He left home to 60 tC
the bank with some rubies he had fol
his niece's wedding, and they weren't
ON the body anywhere.
Observation-Disclosures What woul6
they do if they Troublesome n with
them rubies?" Ann Quinn 2sked thickly.
why, hang him Ugh as he'd
swing" answered the milkman.
Ten minutes later Ann Quinn stole
, down to the riverside. She reached owe,
!, and dropped a handful of stones into thu
water-a handful of stones hat shont
like blood drops. Down they sank into
the gray river slime. But on the ripples
above them hung something toe light te
sink, for it was only a dried stem Of
lilies of the valley.
3 Ann Quinn watched it drift out Of
sight. Then she turned back to the house
, to get breakfast. Julie Closson Kenly
; in San Francisco Argonaut.