The Red Cloud chief., 1897-04-16

different from my restless, excited sen.
She was 80 sad at times mat l couiu
not help wondering II some time IN
her life she had not experienced some
serious sorrow, for she lac means I'M
friends enough to make her life worth
living. and should have been happy.
One day I found her weeping quietly
with a little red book In her hand. l
e%ndeavored to calm her. to n out
the reason for her sorrow. and then
she told me this story:
ut happened when I was only eigh-
teen. I was engaged to be married.
Ny lover was four years older b
myself; he was a mate OF O ship. and a
fine, dashing young fellow named Ed
ward Blake. We had been engaged six
months and were to be married a
month later. The day was fixed. and
Edward had arranged to give up the sea
and lake a situation on land. We were
as happy as two young people could
possibly be-; but, unluckily. just a
month before the time fixed for our
wedding day, a picnic was gotten up
by some of our friends. and Edward
and / were of the party. There was a
handsome young fellow there named
Percy Sandys, the son Of a neighboring
clergyman. He was fresh from col
lege. and full OF fun and frolic. /
CHANGED to be placed next to him at
luncheon, and not knowing. as I aft
erward discovered, that l was en-
gagged, he was specially attentive to
me. l did not care for his attentions in
the least, but I was in high spirits and
only bent on the enjoyment Of the mo-
ment, and l did not check him as. per-
haps, 1 ought to have done. Presently.
/ caught sight Of Edwards face, and
saw that he was looking terribly cross
and angry. Foolishly I thought II
rather good fun to make him Jealous.
and, on purpose to tease him, I pre-
tended to take all the more notice O!
Mr.. Sandys. When we finished lunch
con the party scattered and strolled
about the woods In various directions
I naturally expected Edward to &C
company me, but he rather rudely. az
I thought, held aloof. and, to punish
him, / paired OF with Mr.. Sandys
When the party got together again
Edward looked SO savage that
thought It better not to provoke hin
any further.
II shook of Mr.. Sandys. and, walk
ing away with Edward, began to scolt
him for his unreasonable jealousy. o
course, I did not think ! myself was II
fault: nobody ever does. A lovin,
word would have made me penitent di
yr,<ortuuotalv ha uya. crhtt
with anger. and began to reproach m
in a way that reused my temper, toe
for I was quick enough to take of
fence in those days. Ruth, though
have learned better since. can re
member. as II 1t were yesterday, tn
nook in the woods where we stood, tn
sunshine glinting through the tree
and lighting up Edwards flushed fac
and angry eyes. He reproached m
bitterly-more bitterly, / think. tina
I deserved. He called me a heartles
coquette, and I called him little-mind
ed and told him he had made himse
ridiculous by his unreasonable 1eaI
busy. We got hotter and hotter, an
finally he declared that II ! did nc
admit that I had been wrong. an
promise to behave differently for II
future, all must be over between us.
did not care a straw for Mr.. Sandy
and would fifty times sooner have ha
Edward with me. but ] would hay
died sooner than have told him
then. So I gave him a bitter answe
and we both grew angrier still. II
last words, uttered with all the inte'
sity OF passion. ring still in my ears.
can tell you them word for wor'
'Hetty, II you let me go now, undo
stand clearly o will see n
face again did not quite belle
him. Perhaps II l had ! should st
have let him 60. At any rate. W
iar too angry to give way then. q
by ali means. II you wish IT, sal