The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-12-09

the mountains and TO his home.
The train Numbered into the station.
Tom Weir had never been east of
Denver before. The babel and confu-
sion annoyed him. He thought of the
solemn. wind-swept mountain spaces
and of the wide spreading peaceful
plains. He longed to find a quiet cor
ner. But the clatter and hubbub pur-
sued him to his hotel.
The address of the letter he was r
rying over his heart took him far up
town. When he succeeded in master
ing the intricacies of the bells in the
apartment house he found a door was
opened by a pert little maid, who star
ed superciliously at his height and
breadth, his sombrero and his clothes.
NO" she drawled. Miss Cameron
is not in; she is driving in the park"
Can 1 see her this evening"" he de-
manded imperiously.
why, no." she said, with astanish-
ed eyes. "of course not. No n ever
sees her in the EVENING""
"When can 1 see herr" He felt him
self going hot and cold by turns.
you might possibly see her at noon
tomorrow" snapped the maid. "She's
never up before noon" Then h shut
the door with a decided bang.
Tom strobe away, hurt, angry, sus-
picious. What in the name of God did
1t mean. Art, a carriage, living in lux
ury. Never up before noon. Suddenly
he stopped n cursed himself for a
mean, pitiful cur that he should sus-
pect her of anything that was not good
and pure and womanly. Tonorrow-to-
morrow at noon, he would see her. Ev-
erything would be explained, and on
his knees he would beg her to forgive
him for his unworthy suspicious.
AS he entered his hotel he ran into a
man from Denver he knew. They shook
hands and adjourned to the bar. Tom
was honestly glad to see him. To tell
the truth, the ranchman was lonely and
q, bit homesick.
Got the dumps?" laughed the man
from Denver. ooh, brace up! Go to the
theatre and amuse yourself. Let's see.
Go to the Gotham. There's a great
show there. Out of sight. Say, but
there's a girl there that's a beauty.
The town has gone wild over her. She
is on only for a. few moments, but she
leaves an impression. I'll see you to-
morrow about oon Good night-in a
- of a hurry" and he was gone be-
fore Tom could tell him hat tomorrow
at noon he had an engagement.
The theater was crowded. The stage
vas peopled with hosts Of pretty girls
with brazen smiles and alluring eyes.
There was plenty of fun and music and
dancing and laughter.
But Tom was not interested. Per-
haps his lonely life had not fitted him
to enjoy such a shaking Of folly bells.
Perhaps the heart that had always
reverenced womanhood despised the
dubious Jest, the offensive ~innuendoes.
He wondered as he looked about how
nice women could bear to listen to such
stuff.
At times he lost sight Of the stage.
Tomorrow at noon" ran in his mind.
It throbbed through the melody Of the
orchestra, it resounded in the strains
Of song. The violins breathed and
whispered and sobbed the refrain over
and over, Observation-Disclosures at
At last the stage was darkened. He
heard some people next him talking
about the beautiful womAn who was to
pose as 4 statue. He leaned forward.
The curtains parted. On q PEDESTAL
stood a woman with masses OF clus-
tering hair falling over her white
Her superb form stood out
like marble against the sombre back
ground.
There, under the blaze of the calcium
she stood-her head thrown back. her
eyes half closed, all those sweet
charms Of which he had scarcely dared
to dream Haunted to the %devouring eyes
Of hundreds.
What was it the men were calling out
as the carriages rolled up to the door
Of the theater? Oh, yes, how stupid OF
Tomorrow, at noon," of course.
And what did all those blazing letters
read in the glittering signs along the
crowded t~horoughfare, Tomorrow at
noon-tomorrow at noon."
He went up to his room. He laughed
he flung himself upon his, bed. TO
morrow-tomorrow at noon."
The man from Denver knocked on his
and ratified and shook it. wake
Weir!' he shouted, wake up. It's
Darling, of Denver. Come, you lazy
beggar, I want you to go to luncheon
with me"
There was no answer.