The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-03-24
forehead, .hifty eyes and crafty,


Fer moment there was silence.
Then Joan's voice, clear as the ring
of Sweet-toncd bell through frosty
air, broke in upon them.
"Thst is my mother" she said.
With startled eyes Francoise moved
away.
"My father, when but young boy,
went to America, she went on steadily
"One summer he spent in the Indian
Territory. There he met Swift Fawn,
a bonny, bright eyed Indian maiden.
1t was but an idle fancy for shapely
form and flashing eyes, and lips as red
as the rubies upon my breast, but he
was very young and he called it love.
He married her, and ten years later re-
turned to France, with Swift Fawn and
me, his only child. But long ere this,
oil the passion that lad filled his heart
for his 'bright-eyed fawn, as he called
her, had died away into nothingness,
and only the ashes Of foolish infatu-
alton remained His loye died with
her beauty. Swift Fawn, so out of
harmOny with her surroundings, and
longing fer the blanket and gaudy
trinkets of her girlheod, dropped and
faded into mere wrath of her fermer
self; and one day my father awoke to
the fact that his once agile, bonny,
happy-hearted bride, whose merry laugh
had been sweetest music to him, was
dsmeAted, repulsive Indian squaw.
He fitted up these rooms in this unused
wing of the chateau, and Swift Fawn,
prenaturely aged worn, took possession
Of them. The long years rolled by,
but never once did my Indian mother
leave her rooms. So completely was
she buried in oblivion that I never
knew OF her existence during all the
days Of my childhood. My fathers re-
ply to all my questions regarding my
mother was: She is dead-to me.
And his answer contented me. But
when l returned from Aries, he told
nae Of that past folly, and brought me
to my mother, who did not recognize
me-"
She ceased speaking, and with a sud-
den, impetuous movement she cast her.
self down beside the Indian woman
"Mother-motherl" she cried, with an
expression of deepest anguish. Her
oAly answer was shuddering, "Ugh!'
"You will go away now," she said
simply, looking at the two silent men
before her, with eyes full Of untOla
woe, "I have told you all, and you
know now that my birth can net be
called pure, even by one of great heart
and sympathy"
Francoise Charmioa stirred uneasily.
can Indian mother! he said huskily.
"Great God! And the blsod of that
creature is coursing through your
veins Joan, JoaR I will go away
and forget. Farewell forever! I will
leave France tonight, never to return. "
He was gone.
She heard his footsteps hurrying
down the staircase. Had Carl followed
him? She lay like one stunned, her
heart throbbing with strange, uneven
bounds, her face buried in her arms.
Would Carl, whom she SO loved, bt
uAfaithful, also?
| Outside, the moonlight and the star
light glimmered; the slender orange
trees swayed in the breeze like tht
wings Of plying angels.
He bent over her, and lifted her il
his arms.
"Jsan," he said brokenly, sis thi
ALP"
eyes, ALL" she answered, "but tot
mnch"
"And yoa will let this separate us?"
"Why do you ask me?" she cried, re
treating toward the doorway. "Ar'
You willing to take me as lam, knowing
of whose blood I am, for myself, AM
fer myself alone?"
"Joan-my Joan! come to nae for
everl Do you think that your India
mother, of whose blood yen are, cal
ever have the power to change my love
1 lock no further than yourself, dea
one. FRANCHISES loye has not stoo
the test, bat I viii be faithful to you
even unto death. Joan-Jean--"
She turned to him with outstretche
hands.
THE END.