Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-10-27

INV ~ tAAg 4
proved an obc;lient daughter. and lei'
sure In my heart that you wouin IN
a good and faithful wife,"
..As will be-" she exclaimed ~
| riedly. and with what for her was aD-
/, soiute agitation. That, at least !
| can promise. l prayed in cliurcs 10,
day. dear, that you might always nnu
| me all that n wife should be-
Herbert Santley looked long, and Us
II seemed to Grace's excited fancy,
almost pityingly at the earnest ace
| Then he quietly took his place BESIDE
her. and held one little hand wlthin
his own.
AS the moor shown down upon them
there they looked more like welded
| lovers than they had done previously;
/ n trace felt. Will. a little quickellng
| OF her pulses, that she was drawing
! nearer TO something like understand
ing and sympathy with the mai to
| whose life she had linked her OWL.
After all. she might find something be-
yond hard 3nd barren duty in the new
| existence that opened out before ler;
| she might be almost happy which,
when that old haunting memory,
| which now would be a sin, should De
lived down.
Something of this faint newborn
hope shone in the limpid eyes: but her
husband evidently read he expires
siou, and his dark face turned i.vld.
The girl saw the change. and asked,
with a thrill OF sympathy in her SOFT
shy voice
Are you angry, HerbertT'
Angry? No!' he replid vehemently;
and the clasp in which he held her
land became n convulsive pressure.
IL was thinking of yoIr future
GraceT''
"Of our future. you mean" she cor
rectel, with a faint smile: but he did
not appear to hear her, and contin-
ued--
81 wonder If any bride ever knew so
little of her bridegroom as you Know
Of me? Are you not curious as TO my
past life. Grace"
.N,rfor no doubt You will tell me
all that is good for me to know
He smiled. but the expression was
tingd with bitterness. He knew, or
thought be knew. that no loving wo-
man would have given such an answer,
and he tried TO feel thankful that she
did not love him.
'Tut 7 could have taught her. She
is n child-a grateful and aftectionate
one-in whose sweet nature gratitude
would soop have turned TO love he
thought almost fiercely; but loud he
said. .tiood little wife! Yon wonli
have baffied Blue Beard himself! But
am more inquisitive-tell III ONE
thing about yourself.
about mvselfg' Grace echoed IN
steadily. what Is there for me 10
tellg'
"A school girls stcry-an innocent
idyll Of home affections and school
friendships-is that the summary,
Grace?"
She nodded. not trusting herself 10
speak. hating herself for the tact
eu~uivocation. and yet knowing that il
was impossible for her TO volunteer
the absolute ruth.
"A placid simple existence, broken
only by the great vent of to-day"
he proceeded dreamily. "But suppose
/ died now. Grace-don't look so
scared, dear--men do die suddenly ut
times. you know-could you ever 70
back to your old life, anil find it quite
what it was before? Would YOU not
UlNaNS NATE uls lOI thtUstih- "a Lin
and ugly memory upo nyouy?
Mr.. Sankey's eyes never wandered
from his bride: they shone with such
a curious wild brightness that once
again Grace doubted his perfect san
ity.
You will not die YETI she answered
lightly, though her heart fiuttered I'M
easily. II don't care TO entertain such
uncomfortable ideas. We are to live
happily ever after, you know!"
"No doubt" he replied carleessly
cit was an absurd remark: but I am
troubled with curious fancics. tonight
perhaps because the moon Is ut the
full. How beautiful the moonlight
looks Upon the water, Grace! A man
might walk from time into eternity
along that shining track"
His wife looked at the lovely line of
silvery light on the dark water, but she
was hardly conscious of Its beauty. a
chill premonition Of evil was upon her,
and she trembled in her wrappings,
though the night was warm.
The boat was nearing Calais now.
and already the han Dor lights cleaned
through the misty moonlight. Already
the hustle OF arrival made itself felt
within the vessel: passengers. hdeI.
with wraps and parcels. came strug-
Cling up the cabin stairs; the sailors
were busy, and Grace Santley knew.
with n vague feeling of relief, that her
strange journey was nearly over.
I'VE are almost in" she exclaimed.
smiling up at the passionate, dark face
so clos1 to hers: and her husband an
swered. hurrledly:
Almost home!" Then. drawing Ter
closely to him, he continued, In a fisrce,
rapid whisper: you think me mad,
Grace; but you are wrong. A bride
gromm may be mad with Joy. you
know: and that Is my only mania.
Forget all the folly I have talked Of to-
night. tand promise that, with or with
out me, you will try to be happy"
Il will try" she answered. firmly,
conscious only OF the supreme necessi-
~ Of calming him.
L THAT, let what will happen. you will
neither hate me nor my memory
Neither you nor your memory
Grace repeated; but you must not ash
me that question again. Herbert. until
we have been Darby and Joan for 1T
least twenty years. Will you promise
me-"
II promise never TO ask 1t again." lie
said, gently; and then the young cou.
Dle sat together In Dprfect silence FOR