Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-07-02
Cf;ApTE., x

CHAPTER Y.
1! went straight up to ,ny Room ana shut
''ie l"nr: then fri, Gown on nv knees
beside the bed a.:,l gave myself up TO
utter dc.,u... For oEce put Inv ill-fntrI
ioNc asio"' ana looked! life ln,! its attend
AMI circumstances fu,,y iii The face.
When rose frori ,l: knees that day
said i'll my heart: II will marry Sir Ralph
i'crTnrs to-luorIow ii oaly lie will ask me
;:gain'-and meant it.
The eventsS of the day bad unsettled and
disturbed! Mc. and every ti.mc thought oi'
'iie generosity ans! Kindness had so i'll
rcGu:el grew het with shame and dis
i:.ay. Sir Ealph Was JUS. the same as
ever. 20 all appeariAces--cou frank.
:,nia.-:;n ,ruc ~ gentleman. So kind IL
lrir'ii. said this ,o ,nyse!f again and
again ;l,: TIE meal went on: US l watched
'he looks. OF heard the to:cs knew so
We'll. and had vui,:od so !i.tlc. Some stu
pa ccAsts;:in' had fallen upon ne. and l
WAS Very t:ic.turm: hu. Sir Ralph and
l:.thc. ti'! not appear To Io:ice it.
When dinner was over ] A,i them. and
went out into Ike .raund,. Iac night wa:;
Isarl: with 'h;,,.o", .oic in the quiet walks
pa Ell; the stars ,iitcrcd in lnyri:,S over
'a" violet waters. aii everywhere came
;:!c sccn.s of roses and orange blossoms.
sleeping the air with nmsui,!, dycaiay
c!ols.
| 1t seemed to Tc as il l had never. been
50 k"only conscious OF the beauty of the
sccNe before. The very breath Of the
wind. tl.r sway of the leaves, and ,.!ul,nur
of the sea. touched! n,c in IL way altogether
Row and strange. ! felt as ii they were
/ f,f t.ts
Presently II figure stole out from nmon.
the shadows, paused. then cal. toward
:l".
"Is the child as!crp:" he said ahruptly.
II wished to bid her .,oo'i-byc, for I must
he off early i'll the morning."
l tur.cl my face TO his. saw how
pale he sr:s, and what " h;ras.;ed look
the kind gay eyes held in their depths.
You a:c .s,...:ea-to-:norrow: 1 echoed
s:ul,i,lly. Why"
~. is better should be-" he answered
Slowly. ''lcur fathers al.airs--! mus.
seq to t!.cE. They-they can't be as h;.d
as he says. and he mus not he allowed To
sell l;uorla mGs-hc mast no;."'
My lips began to quircr. l looked up
AT him.
'Uh. S.r isa!ph," l cried. show good you
have Naon. !:nw much you ;vc done for
,::-. Father only told ne to-day about
;.!iaut na:''..''
ii dd no.l:rt- t--ioi Ling" he said iinpa-
ticn,l;. What is the use OF money ii
oi.e ra!'t help y friend who's, in Il >crape:
And WHAT'S tho uSc nj my n.aMcy To NE:
II cart lay NE The affection Of single
r"natu'"-i! ra.i't give !i.c IL holn"--''
lis voice. ceased ;.''rMpiiy. then s,.rw gen
i'.r. "i'oryivr me. Joan" lie said: II
1 aid rot n:ean 10 rcproarh Tru."
'i;i; am fni.I of you.'' burst forth
with :;:l,i,irm coui;:se--'';.:.d grateful. oh.
yo': don't know how grateful am. Your
generosity sl.:.mcs ne. ! seem 10 have
hceH selfish. So oN;cii,.;
"!lnsh." l:r said. "If 1 have hecn of
:.ny use or comfort to you. that is all l
want. I ;.in a lonely man. wanted
something, 10 oecun: ny thoughts and af-
! :cci:om. found ii. III there il IL little
pain behind. That is only my fault: You
;iie not In l,.;,:.ic-o,'-or the child
'he ch:id:" /! fal,cvcd. "Ncs. know
i, WAS 10: her sake And she loves sou
so. Don't say ,here Is 70 onc-'
":Di,l SHY that:" he asked gently. ut
wa: wrong and unsr;,t"..::.;. WAS it not:
pcvi.an: should have sad---''
"No. do not say it, cred eagerly. ~
Enow What ynn mean. Oh. if l had only
known ii before
"Do you think I wanted TO hay your
love-" he said strvnly. "Ol,. Joan. low
M,,lc YOU know me! You would make amy
sacrifice ior their snlcs. am sure of il.
child: bat | don't want 81 sacrifice. Since
you have learnt the truth. must leave
you: for-ior lay own sake. perhaps. as
wei, as yours. l know it is hopeless to
expect You ,o love mc--cvcn Il little-Ind
:m foolisi. enough to care only for your
love
"Hut don't know that j. is-!iopelcss."
cried Suddenly. with Il courage born cf
desperation. ! fear. for could not bear
the idea OF losing him ont of my life now.
lie seized my hands aud drew me out
of the shadows inio The pale. sweet glow
of moonlight. aa,l looked down at my face
with earnest. searching eyes.
Child" he said. iii know You ut all.
know you would not trhe with an.
. mans h9.cst love. Do ynu know what
your words imply? If it is not folly to
yo". is it--anything clsc?''
"Yes." said. :;ravcly. "a great and
, noble gift. of which am rot worthy"
..:ut which you will accept; is that it.
Joan?"
\
his and wondering not IL little at the rap
turc and the joy that lit his face. and
swept away every line of age hy the
magic of happiness. "anl value as have
! never valued anything in all my life be-
FORE
MAY heaven bless sou for those
, words" he said. and bent and kissed my
brow With reverent and most tender
q touch ".And the love-will that come
too:"
"If were not sure of that would
] never bc your wife," answered.
+ II believe You" ke said. "And remcm
bcr. Joan" he added. solemny, Il trus,
You with all ,.,y hcart-with al III: soul.
II will remember" said.
Ard aiar off. like Il sob. the water.
seemed. to echo my words. as they ros.
and fell in the quiet night, against til.
: quiet shore.
4 a month later we We're married.
:. CHAPTER NJ.
:, t.I no,.nr c,N .nrf1,;1,r .;o ln-oiv IN fh.