The Red Cloud chief., 1898-11-11

- 80 ~ Va NV ,Seet
ap my pOsition, lighted q cigar. n
tried ~ walt as patiently ss ] could.
70 was n lovely evening In late June.
and the drowsy hum Of the bees,
Sdnsled with the breath OF roses and
uyringas, coming from the old English
garden behind the walk. sent my
thoughts wandering back to another
evening In June. just q year ago, when
] had sat on the came bench. burning
with love and suspense, waiting 10
ask the fair lady who had given me
tryst today to DO my wife. We mad
known each other from childhood,
during my sisters lifetime little Edith
had lived almost as much with US as
NJ the Hall. ! remember ! had pro-
posed to her at the early age OK four
teen and had been favorably answered.
Yes. Paul." tho young lady had
said. lifting up her rosy lips for my
sheepish kiss. Il will marry you, az
yeu are the eldest. and have asked me
Arst-and then, when you're dead Ill
marry Arty. II he's good"
To which arrangement Arty-at the
tfme being hopelessly In love with
Hdith's French governess. a black-eyed
vtvAclous damsel Of twenty-nine-
sheerfully agreed.
After that ! cav nothing Of her Tor
many years. My sister beginning to
al and being ordered to the South OF
France. I spent my holidays for some
yeaB with her and my father
q Riviera: then I passed into Sand
hurst. and. after that. I had Ave years
With my regiment In India.
In the meantime matters had not
gone smoothly ut home. My handsome
brother Arthur, destined for the bar.
and who was supposed to have all the
brains Of the family, turned out to
be q desperate scamp and an unmiti-
oa1ed fool. He disgraced himself ut
Oxford; then, throwing aside all sense
Of restraint and decency. sowed the
most prolific crop OF wild oats ever
shronicled In the sober and respectable
annals OF the Dennyses OF Colworth.
Before no had reached his twenty-sec-
sad year he had sQuandered two con-
siderable fortunes-one left him by his
methsr, whose favorite child he q
another by his godfather. besides
plunging my poor father into q gulf
Of debt that eventually FASTENED his
death. Hearing Of his critical state
and heavy troubles. I resigned my COM
mission and hurried home. only to find
him, alas. resting quietly In his grave,
and my wretched brother an exile in
The wilds OF Australia. whittier he had
conc to evnde his creditors.
II was a very dreary home-return-
ing. and bitterly did l a~nathematise my
precipitancy in giving up my profess
zion to moon away my life Mt Colwarth
q soiitqas Nearly all the chung
III my boyhood had moved on" somo'
how, except my immediate %neighbors
ut the Hall. tho old General and his
nice; and I think, but for their kindly
reception. I should have started wan
Aering again. The former I fount
N q very p~rccarious state Of health
and temper, the combined influence,
Of govt and unlimited brandy-wate
making him q trying companion T.
poor Edith. who was however mos
patient with him. and AZ devoted n
any daughter could be.
At irst I did not recognize In tn
beautiful and graceful young lady VIII
groeted me 10 easily and kindly tn
shiA I had played with years ago; blu,
by degrees, landmarks OF old time
cropped up. We found we had not for
gotten each other In the least. fel
head over heels In love with her q
once. and for weeks lowered abou
her In a state OF beatifc suffering
NOT daring to hope, and unable I
tear myself away. Day after day
told myself I had not the slighte.
Shance. Wa she not the most beaut
ful, charming. angelic creature In Q,
istonce, besides being the presumI
tayo heireas Of the old generals va!
vealth7 Was not every eligib'
male IN tho country my rival? We
stayed, and by degrees the deligh
ful. intoxicating fact became ciea
oven To my bewildered senses. that al
showed more favor to me than to ar
other sutton. She had always a smi
az welcome and q bright word for IN
and at times. when she believed he
seaf u~nobserved, I have caught b
lovely blue eyes stealthily resting {
M With a look OF unmistakable a
ioesiou that fred my blood. and ma,
ue lose my head for the moment.
One day, driven to desperation
a OF those stolen glances, I reso,v'
- try nay fate and learn the best
worst. She had gone to spend 4
afternoon at the Rcctory. her un.
tsld me. but would be back to dim,
went 70 the oe~dar-walk, knowing q
veuld return By that way. and spe
q feverish hour preparing for the Z
tnOk. composing heart-rendering a
peals. declarations Of eternal devotio
ana yet the moment she stood befo
ne N her blooming beauty. with o oil
white finger held under her nose wit
IN an inch Of my moustache. and "a
.sa~cAinglA VI pnul dear how