The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-11-26
beautiful as the eyes of love, and Dorothy

\ klV lloAA AAAAN oNes " fhAA VI l
longing lips We're pressed to hers, and a
kind joyous voice said:
"a happy new year, my God-g;ft! May
we stand thus together many and many a
wear with hearts as light and hopes as bright
as those that make this madness inme now.
Forgive me, dear, if offend. Some day l
may win the right to kiss YOU twenty times
.. 4 minute"
The JOY of Dorothy's heart had found a
name at the warm cont,ct OF his lips. She
knew she loved him with the first love of a
life, yet she had known him but a week;
but the wings of love are t1eeter than time,
and a careSS can make infant love grow in
to Il Hercules in less time than it takes to
tell of it.
She rested her pretty yellow head against
his breast, and he said softly:
Listen to the bells, love; they seem to
throb with JOY. Oh, how beautiful is love j.!
My heart is bounding with hope at this
sweet yielding. Tell me, my own, can l
hope that you can ever care for me as l do
for you: Are you free to take my love, my
name into your care? Only tell me you can
love me, and | ask nothing more OF you.
Il know you are beautiful, l feel by i'll
stlnct that you are good, and you are all the
world to me. | never loved another as l
love you. ! think l loved you at first sight
when l saw yOu like a frozen lily lying in
the SnOw-drift.
Say something kind to me, child; l cam
not bear suspense tonight"
What shall l say! l love you more than
words can tell. I've loved you ever since I
opened my eyes to see your compassionate
tender eyes bent IN mine. Oh, my love, my
master! Jour trust is sweet to me as your
love, and l am not unworthy of you.
ut will be beyond the bliss of earth to be-
long to YOU, to have the right to love you,
to win the heart of your little child, and to
lead her innocent soul to God"
You will be the angel of my home, my
life's best treasure, the one light to lead my
tagging steps to Heaven! Hark! how the
Joy-bellS seem to bless us. How still and
clear the night is, there is not breeze enough
to watt our VOWS to Heavens registry; yet
they will be %sacredly kept, will they not,
sweetheart? There is an old saying that the
lover never loved Alright who did not love at
irSt sight"
Still they stood together locked in a love-
dream, their forms clearly outlined by the
light behind them.
Someone stole out of the shadows, and
looked upon the pretty picture framed in
IVY, with a background of golden light, and
a deep curse was whispered through clench-
ed teeth, and a woman snlot her breast in
lmpOtent passion.
In her heart a iiandish voice whispered
that word of hate, KILL
The curse of Cain was on the oma she
was seized with envy, hate, and horror in
looking upon the paradise she had once
polluted.
II has put me aside, driven me ont Of
his life! but 1 will be a bane to him, a pes
thence upon the fair-faced girl who has fill
ed the void l left in his life. Oh, my child,
my little innocent child! you could have
kept my heart from further sin, yet | may
not touch your sweet lips, or look upon the
face that embodies all | know of heaven or
the angels.
II will steal you from him-a mother has
a right to her child. His heart will be torn
at losing you, for though he hates the moth
er, he loves the child"
These muttered words, too low to be dis
tinguished, told someone of her presence,
for a strong hand was laid on hers, and a
mans voice said in an undertone, hoarse
with emotion:
Cousin Alison, why are you here again?
1t is foolish of you"
'Jem, look at that window. What does
it meanw:
1T looks nightly like love-making to me,
Ally, my girl. Remember he is free to WOO
and wed afresh now. lie has been a quick
one and no mistake. Why, he only found
her in the snow a week ago. She is a pretty
creature, and perhaps he might do worse.
He wants a mistress in his home; he is a
rich mar now you know. Happy is tho
wooing which isn't long adoing,' seems his
motto. Surely you can't care, Ally? You
used to hate him like poison"
What is poison to a woman at one time,
Jem, is nectar OF the gods another. Do not
try to read a woman's heart, lad, it is ever
changing as the Sky above us. Mine is black
as midnight now. Oh, Jem, l want my
baby. If l had the child l would care for
naught else. l have money enough, with
what l earn, and what that man gives me,
to save me from taking the wages of SIM"
Jem put his big rough hands on the wo-
child, and said softly:
Il always loved you, Ally; now you are
free, my handsome girl, let me make an
honest woman of you. You liked me in tho
long ago when we were lad and lass togeth-
er among our own tribe. I'd be so good to
you, my dear.
"Tve saved a bit of money thinking to
help you some day. Don't deny me, Ally.
Far away in a SUMMER land than this we can
make our home and begin afresh. l shall
seem a comelier sort of mar when you
can't see me beside yonder fine gentleman.
Shall it be hope and happiness with me at
last, far away from the shame that clings to
you here? IT'S New Years Day now; say
you will begin afresh with me, and lead a
new life in which l may love you"