The Delta independent., 1897-11-19

my horse to continue at n walk. no that
Florence must catch up with me il she
intended TO ride 10 her home from Sid
ington.
The resolve to stick to my promise
WAS growing weaker since Sarah's COM
ment upon it. a word from Florence.
knew. would cause me to break IL. and
1 really was impatient for that word.
Soon the sound of approaching hoofs
beating the hard road reached me.
Nearer IL came and nearer. until finally
l caught n glimpse. out of the corner
of my eye. of n swaying Pctticoat.
She pulled in her horse TO walk,
and then turned my head and glanced
at her. My heart was in my throat
when looked. but the smile that greet
ed me ,iispclled my fears like mist be-
fore the morning sun.
But the smile wns not nll that told
me of her emotion at again meeting me.
with tears. With my own heart lcaping
for joy, reined my horse 10 n stand
still. In an instant I was Mt her side.
She extended her hand. ard with my
assistance sprang lightly to the ground.
took her horses bride over my arm
and. with the disengaged hand. helped
her climb into the buggy.
''rie the horse to the back axle, then
come here beside me-" were the first
words she said. lost no time in obey
ing.
Imagine, IL you please, the over
wheln,ing joy to be seated once more
beside her who held my whole heart in
her keeping.
could not trust myself to speak, and
II was she who dbegnn.
"Arr you not pleased to see me once
more. Mr.. Conway? Because II you are
not, I certainly will not tell you how
happy I am in again meeting an old
friend"
The soft, sweet tones Of her voice.
which l loved 80 to hear. fyad now q
trenhblc TO them. glanced at her. and
well. Florence was still my true heart.
NJ she Ind llecn throughout, notwith-
ctansiing my doubt and fear.
"Thc past year has been an eternity
to me-" I finally said.
''And who is to blame for that. won
der? And. too. when was the mystery
cleared up. since you are now speaking
to me?" she said. with a joyous lnugh.
which told me rs plainly rs words
could how she had missed me.
cit is not cleared up; sometimes
think il never will be. I could not have
found fault with you had you forgotten
me. Will you forgive me when ] con-
fess I WINS fearful you had?"
"No. do not think can quite for
give that. What reason had you for
mistrusting ne?" she earnestly asked.
"You passed me this morning, you
know. without bowling"
II was so startled. and We had gone
by before l realized that it wns you
who were standing there. That was
a slight cause for mistrusting me. sir"
1T was and am very sorry. Indeed.
I have been n fool right through the
whole affnir. see it now. had no
right to make such q promise"
well. do not think you were .
fool. But, forgive me, that promise was
a foolish one, and-and just trifie un-
kind" The tears again started in her
eyes, and her voice took on the tremble
which went SO appealingly to my heart.
"Never again will be 20 foolish!"
exclaimed. II will see your father and
tell him have broken my promise. that
IL was impossible to keep IL, and that It
is simply absurd to subject us to the
misery Of a longer separation. May
tell him that? May speak for both of
us?"
She hung her head, while the red
flush spread over her face. Then she
g. -
us. Why not, since It is true? Perhaps
you'll find father has changed his views
q trifie."
"Not in his opinion of my innocence,
1 hope" said. II have been told he
strongly objected to my arrest. And
know whose influence caused him 70
do no."
Not mine, really" Florence earnest
ly replied. Father believed you were
Innocent, and took the stand he did
for that reason. did not know about
the robbery until after the first meet
Ing of the trustees. 1t was at that
meeting that he opposed your arrest.
/ remember he felt quite triumphant
afterward, for most of the trustees in
sisted upon your immediate arrest, and
IL was only after father said that he
wonld never consent TO il that they gave
up the point"
"Now that il pleasant 70 hear" !
cried, joyfully. "Whst reason have you
to think he has changed his views re-
garding the promise ~
This morning. after we had passed
you. said: That looked like Nelson
Conway Father laughed at me, and
answered that II must have been an
hallucination produced by constantly
keeping my thoughts upon you."
II in impossible to describe the fasci-
nation Of Florence's manner when she
told noe this-how niaidenIy bashful-