The Red Cloud chief., 1898-11-04

I retired to q distant window, and took
up the Field; but my eyes wandered
from the close, cramped print 70 the
heads Of the girls beading over their
work. and thought what . charming
picture they made in the chastsnsd
golden light. and how rehectively my
wife's dark tumbied locks threw out
the smooth coronet OF Furnished gold
that crowned Edith's stately head.
She was . most beautiful woman
tall, fair. with soft Mue eyes heavily
dashed. and . faultlsss profile. Never
before had I seen her look SO attract
i've ~ she did on that evening while
she directed Helen's little = clumsy
brown hand across that square OF oat-
meal cloth on which such wonderful
birds. butterflies. and towering vsge-
tation were to blossom into life. Her
dress. Of a light blue stun. trimmed
with delicate lace. fitted her exquisite
ly. and there was q suggestion of grace
full poetic perfection about her general
appearance, her every movement, that
was most soothing TO the senses that
lazy summer day. I folt V II I could
have watched her with unsatiated
pleasure for hours at a stretch--"a
daughter Of the gods, divinely tall and
divinely fair"-while Helen. my wife,
was q most distinct child Of earth.
small. d~ark-haired. dark-eyed. with
uniformed babyish features. and o skin
which. though pure and healthy. lacked
the delicate peach-bloom OF the other.
Was she ordinarily pretty or almost
plain? still asked myself that Ques-
ton after nine months Of matrimony.
and could arrive at no satisfactory So
luton. For Helen was seldom the
same. either in mind. manner. or looks.
two hours together.
One hour she would look. even in
the most partial eyes, dull. common
place. ~hopelessly unattractive-the
next, for no apparent cause. her ap-
p~earance would change. her cheeks
glow. her eyes CLEAN with a light tina,
l vaguely felt for q moment would. In
most mems opinion. dim Edith's placid
beauty into insignincance. She had
certainly very strange eyes-I never
could ascertain their exact shade
Sometimes they were deep. dark. still
like water In heavy shadow-again
they were all life with iickering tawn.
lights. as they were that moment, whel
raised to Edith's In rueful expostula
ton.
ooh. Miss Stopford, please don't asl
me to change my wool againi lie
me finish to the stalk In this brown,
yellow"
my dear Mrs. Dennys, impossible
You have only three shades In the lea
as yet. and I have changed my WOO
as many as INTERNATIONALLY times Il
a single spray OF virgin vine."
"TIave you? Then I'll never be q
artist in crewels!" laughed Helen. tn
cloth dropping lazily from her hands
whereupon Jim, her little terrier
thinking the lesson over, jumpe
briskly up on her lap. upsetting he
w%orkbasket, the contents Of whic'
rolled over the waxed boards-sclssors
tapes, needles. bodkins went right an,
left. A stout reel OF black cotto,
travelled ~languidly my way. and. stoop
ing to pick 1t up. the golden hair o
the only woman I ever loved brushs,
my forehead deliciously.
meet me at the end Of the cedar
walk in half an hour" she said In
quick whisper. with downcast eyes
fumbling for the reel that I. In my agi
tation. had dropped again. II hav
something to say to YOU"
nodded. lay back in my chair. an
instinctively held up the paper {
shade my face from observation
When my wife called me w to drinI
q cup OF tea, I glanced apprehensivel
into a mirror to see II the color hal
faded from my temples yet. No. 1
was still there. burning brightly, eve
through my tanned skin.
"Meet me at the end OF the ceda
walk in half an hour" I repeate
stupidity. again and again, as I strolle
across the lawn towards Breton Hal
the residence OF General Stopfort
Edith's uncle. and my grandfather
brother. What does 1t meanf Wha
can she have to say to me? can
understand It."
Ito be Continued.)