Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-06-26

fash ont, leaving tie same blind night
found. SO the soul Of Ann Quinn opened
for an instant beyond her wretohed, work
ridden world, only to close again a.
quickly. The man caught her look mud
asked. his voice tense and ~quiVerings
"Those faded lilies Of the valley.
there in that cup, why did you keep
them only from the flowers you threw
away this m%orningf" ~
"They-they-smeliea good" an
swered the woman, troubled, bswildered.
''Only thatf''
"Yes, only that"
Have you never dreamed Of some
n you loved, some n apart from this
miserable squnlor l find you int"
The blood flooded her sallow face.
what business Is that Of yoursi Go
Away, l sayI r. 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
honor7"
Ann Quinn looked into his eyes and
laughed. There was no mirth in that
laugh. though, and he shielded himself
"a IL she had struck at him. Then he
spoke again.
Listen" be said. Tonight in a far
land my soul will be born new Until
then the veil il lifted. But we will
cheat God aud love and law-you aud
/ together. Soon my eyes will be blind
I'd, aud / shall NOT know you except by
this. Take it and keep IL always
your heart, and though you be old and
bent, and though you be = little child,
still I 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. It was a faded spray Of lily Of
the valley. Then he reached into his
pocket aud 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 l must be soce. 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
or IL came, ever nearer, and she felt her
muscles quiver in resistance, then grow
lax there was q pause, a gnsping 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 a strange, thin
cry, like the wall of a newborn child,
the man tore himself away and leaped
from the window into the night beyond.
There was a 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.
1t sputtered aud went ont. Then she
crawled way into a corner, her wide
eyes fixed on the open window. The
moon swan high, and the river ran
molten silver beneath il. The little stare
set, and the grny scroll Of morning un-
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 mp the canvas bag the
man had given her. She shook it, and
there rolled ont ON the table a great
handful Of unset rubies. Ann Quinn
stood staring ut them until the first sun
beam came sitting through the darkness,
lighting them into a thousand crimson
sparkles.
There was a rap at the door, and she
thrust the jewels from sight. 1t was
only tho milkman. and no looked at the
woman's face in disappointment. $50
you've heard the news already" he
asked.
"What newsf"
"why, didn't you know they've found
the body Of Ellis Price, the millionaire,
drowned not q hundred yards from this
very spotf"
mo" said Ann Quinn.
Eyes, and they think he must have
been murdered. He left home to go IL
the bank with some rubies he had toE
his niece's wedding, and they weren'i
on the body anywhere"
"Murdered-murdered What would
they do II they found-some n with
them rnbissT" Ann Quinn asked thickly.
"Why, hang him high as he'd
swing" answered the milkman.
Ten minutes later Ann Quinn stole
down to the riverside. She reached ovel
and dropped a handful Of stones into th'
water-a handful Of stones that Ghon'
like blood drops. Down they sank into
the gray river slime. But ON the ripplel
above them hung something too light t.
sink, for II was only a dried stem o.
lilies Of the valley.
Ann Quinn watched II drift ont o.
sight Then she turned back to the hous'
TO get bEsakfast-Juhe Closson Kenly