Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-02-03

long DeIOre the rluerb couiu NC 500u.
Listening more intently she soon
knew there was but one horse, one
rider. The expectancy was ended
when Capt. Charters slid from his
horse, tied II at the gate, and walked
toward the house, idly swinging the
leather mail bag as he camo. Once
under the portel. he threw his hat on
the floor and sank into a low chair
beside the girl.
Poor Frank went on to catch the
train for Santa Fe. Your brother
wrote and urged it. Bah! it's a nasty
ride from Ortegas!"
The man broke the silence.
"Sing something-something Span
ish."
Jack played a soft chord on the
mandolin and sang tender serenade.
AS she finished he leaned over her and
said gently:
"You shall have the answer to the
question of this afternoon now. How
can / compare you to other women,
you who are so strangely different, so
intoxicatingly charming?" He leaned
nearer and took, unrebuked, the tan
ned fingers in his own. You are
the result of this strange life and cli-
mate, and I-oh, you know how l feel!
You have shown your power over me
since you first raised those eyes 10
my face; and when l hear you sing,
then-then you know you hold me,
did
before. You know it., don't you,
Jack?"
Enclosing her eyes as from a dream
of bliss, she laid her hand lovingly
upon his shoulder.
You don't understand me, Captain
Charters. l suppose i am not like
other girls, and it takes a long, long
time to understand me-"
Charters hid smile with his hand
The pleading voice was in his ears, the
red mouth near him, the eyes shining
unconscious love in his face, and the
moonlight, the wind, the echoes OF the
song reused his slow senses, and put
ting his arm around her he whispered
in his melting voice:
Jack, do you love me?"
There was no shyness in her rapt
face, as she drew nearer and muir
INJURED:
"Oh, yes; yes, do love you, and
was so afraid you would never under
stand"
The smile grew broader on the Eng
lishmans face as he ardently kissed
her, and the mistaken moon incau-
tiously threw glamor Of tenderness
into the steely eyes, while the vibrat-
ing little creature, with her head on
his heart, accepted the moons soft
Establishments, and worshiped on.
The intense stiffness of the summer
night seemed to ask for music, and
Jack drew the mandolin toward her,
playing slowly that sweetest Spanish
air Media Noebe" While her fingers
were on the strings, Charters, after
whispering "Carissima, querida Chi
quita" in her willing ear and again
kissing her, strolled to the gate and
mounted his horse. She sat still, a
bright bit of color in the vivid moon
light; and as he rode away, waving
all the strength in her quick hands
sending after him a flood Of melody
which sounded in his ears long, long
after the agile broncho had borne him
from view.
She slept to dream over the last act
of her life, and awoke to redream II
as she wandered restlessly about the
house or swung in the hammock. Har-
ry and Farringden would not return
for two days.
Surely Harcourt," she whispered the
name blushingly to herself, would
come again"
Seeking shelter from the heat in the
long hall, her eye fell on the forgotten
mail bag; for occupation she unstrap.
ped it.
There were no letters for the Anita
ranch, but several for Farringden
and a London newspaper which hat
been opened, read and refolded. Sh,
aimlessly unfolded it, glancing ovel
it uncomprehendingly until pencilet
paragraph attracted her eye. This read
The marriage arranged last winter
between Captain Harcourt Dene Cliff
ford Charters and Lady Evelyn MauC
Branksworth will be consummated OF
June 20 at st. Georges, Hanover
Square. This marriage will be an ex
ceedingly important social event, ow
ing to the prominence Of both bride
and groom, the former being the sec
ond daughter Of the Earl of AlwyI
and the latter the prospective heir o
his uncle, Lord Walforth, of Walfortl
House, Surrey. Captain Charters will
shortly return from the American
Southwest, where his long stay ha
completely restored his health" Th
paper was still firmly grasped in he
stiffening fingers. She did not chang
her position; the brown face turnet
a sallower shade, and the eyes had
glowing fierceness. She neither erie,
the paper and replaced it in the bag.
Night came again; the moon cam
back to the old portel, and with tn
wind played a sweet duo in the accus
toned way. But there was no appro
ciative grace in the heart of the SINAI
creature who sat here. With wind
burned face and raging heart sh
looked out over the broad stretch G
prairies where only last night all ha
seemed vision of beauty. Suddenl
she leaned back her head and called
. l-sharply. Augusta Victoria!"