The Red Cloud chief., 1896-07-31

''''NE'NA w ~ CIV NDaN SIN NV u
him, he he doe, not love her.
As for Anketcl. to see hcr-to 90 &c
her-to take her hand and coolly pres,
it has been torture. on did she
ever look 80 desirable as at this mo-
mcnt when he So fully realizes what ne
has lost in hCr-so much lovcliucss.
but not for HIM. 4 shabby frock in
decd "A poor little frOcK! but did ever
woman yet wear u frork - altogether
becoming? such IA shabby gown and
without ornament OF any kind; but
what ornaments could compare with
that sweet. soft neck, with those
snowy. slender arms? what levels
could outvie those cleaning eyes? Oh,
what - pale but perfect face, and the
head it seemed born to woar II crown!
How sad she looks how sad, Re
"mcmbcring, no doubt.
She had almost thought his glance
cold. She could not see that his heart
was wcll-nigh broken, She could not
know, seeing him there talking plati-
tudes to his host, with his eyes deter
Intimately turned away from hers. that
yet in his soul he is looking AT her,
see ng each curve of her gown. It has
come to him that, If she can look so
charming in that indifferent garment.
how bcautcous she might bc made to
look in something better! Oh, that
he might be allowed to give her such
things a. might deck her dainty beau
ty to its utmost. that he might give
her all he possesses! Some part Of
him she has already, II pure gift of his.
that she will carry to her grave,
whether she will or not his heart,
The dinner il over at last, and the
dreary half-hour afterward in the
drawing-rOom. The snow is still fall
ing, and The McDermot has elected
that his guest shall spend the night
beneath his roof. No going home
until morning. Dulcic had gladly left
them to see Il chamber warmed and
shceted and prepared; and sick at
heart. ana seeing no chance of II tcte-a
tctc with her betrothcd in which to
betray to him her one small act of fol-
ly. has refused To como down again.
She has gone to her own room, and,
still dressed, sits covering miserabIy
over the huge fire that the old nurse
had built for her.
ELECTROMAGNETIC has struck.
Rising at last, she goes to the window.
and, pull ng aside the blind, looks out
upon the silent night. the snow has
ceased! There is no wind. What
not eve rain? She opens the win
dow, and, leaning out. looks first up
at the heavens bedeckcd with stars.
then down ut the earth beneath
The latter proves infinitely more
interesting.
Below runs Il bllconv from which
M"Dermots den, that in other
richer houses would be called the
smoking-room. opens. To her sur
prise "A lamp shines through the win
dow. casting II dun, half-sbadowed
light upon the night outside. Not
gone to bed yet? Surely her father
II any n is there she could, from
where he now is. hear them talking.
Leaning a little further out, she
strains her ears: but no sound comes
No voice floats out upon the chilly air.
They must have gone 10 bed and for
gotten to put out the lamps.
She had better run down and eXtin-
guish them.
She is about Ia draw in her head with
n view to accomplishing this
when the window beneath her leading
from the smoking room to the balcony
is thrown open. and a man dressed in
evening clothes steps on to il. He
has a cigar in his mouth and the red
tip OF it shows through the mirk of his
surroundings. To mistake this man
for any other than Sir Ralph would be
impossible!
Dulcinea, drawing back hurriclIy.
against the shutters Of her win
The first impulse was not to be
seen; the second compels her to stand
upright and face IA situation, although
it be with blanchcd cheeks. Now
Is her time to speak.
He is alone. She is sure Of that. If
she hesitatcs now she may not for n
long time. perhaps II whole intermin.
able week, get Il chance OF %squarinr
herself with her conscience. She
must tell him. Then why, not nowP
1t takes but "A little minute to ran
the stairs. open thu smoking
room door, and crossing it reach the
balcony.
''Dulcie." says Anketell sharplr-
as sharply "a though he had seen n