The Delta independent., 1898-09-23

The Hs:c ery rih rhicA shc greeted him
died on her LpS--HEd his.
tered his fathers patient spirit. but he
turned from her In u silence that told
her far E,ose than cny ol.burst Of re-
breaches how utterly ia his estimation
she had fallen.
Ho never evca wrote 70 her the p:r-
ticulr.s Of Williams death. lie bundled
. newspaper into q wr.pw and sent ft
without comment of any ki:,tl. sud slie
read 1t, little caring what confession he
had inadc TO Ray Ead Maynard. She
heard Gertrrde's clear ycrrg voice
cnrOling like the lark in the joy Ok her
lore day after da-, and the contrast Of
her own gloom and dcsolatiOn weighed
moro uad more heavily upon her. As
tho summer waacd uad the bouShs Ct
tic fruit trees Lcgan to droop with the
weight uf their ripenin: load shc retired
nore ard mo:e frc::i public vic:v, rarely
appearing ~ Of old Oh t3c villago street
or speaking masterfuliy mt the church
societies. She was aSing fast and grow
Ing i'll, and at last it v:s her E:int who
wrote ard baic Kc:ald rot to Le slow
in coming to them.
He showed tho letter TO Athcrton With
an awed look in his grave young face.
Sister Grace had ever seemed 10 strong.
70 far removed from human ills or frail-
ties, but there could bc 70 mistakiug
the nature Of the summons.
''Better take . s;anii cscort and ride
for Rock epirrs, Maynard, wirina
fru0 rettesn,an for your lcsve," Md
the colonel. and Maynard did 70. In ten
days he was home, shocked to rec how
aged and i'll his sister looked and feel
ing now . sense Of keen SORROW and re-
morse that he had shown such deep
ofKense ut her ersorx. After all. had rho
not devoted years and years to him!
Had she not been . 10. ing Gnd faithful
Fistcr? He knclt by her with sorrowing
heart aud shining eyes, yet when ho
would have told her OF his regret she
checked him.
"Ronald. sho Whispered. II want to
see her. ! have . reason. 1wEnt her
forgiveness.
"For what, Grace?''
"For something I want you never to
know until time aud Nathalie have
taught you to forgive me anything"
Late one lovely October afternoon
Mrs. Barry reclined on her couch before
tho cheery blaze Of biigbt wool fire In
their coy fat, and near her rat Ronald
Maynard, older, sterncr, grnver looking
than In the stormy times nc Russell, y I
wonderfully improved by tho vigorous
life In the sun and the wind Of tho wide
northwest. His bruve young eyrs were
81 ,,,l
however. His heart was ti,robbing In
his breast. for what Mira Larry had to
say thrilled him.
''She would never have aid no then.
Ronald, bad she mot believed you wers
/ in honor bound to another girl. even
though you might have ceased to love
| her, and now that she ki:o:.s tho truth
end now that people Gt Russell havs
written 70 foudly aud sxcetly to hci
since they learned Of Williams death,
aud all he mid 70 you aud to Captain
Ray, she's anUther girl. All her old
| joyous manner has returned. Just wait
till you Mercy! There she corres
now, and II isn't time for an hour yet.
| Quick! Go into the dining room. Then
after she has come In let yourself into
suC heAs ossu ~ ssAos8ss shAou&o sns<
the parloe and wait there till call you.
IL wouldn't b fair 70 surprise her thii
! way. She thinks you still in Wyoming .
i Promptly - obeycd. The portiers
was still slowly waving bchiSd him
/ when her quick, light footstep va.
heard ~ ske hssrisdly catered. IL
could not rssist stopping one instant q
hear tbs sweet tossss Il the voics n
loved, hst Mn Bagry spoke hrse.
"why. Priscilla mine, what hrisg.
you back 20 soouf Ilioaghs yoa wers
+ to eo"-
"Oh. was, hut just down the avenuc
net our postman, aad ho smiled aud
nid he - leteers-and I opened nine-
Il mid IL was from Mrs Fscssuap-
ls told me- Oh, let me light yosS LAMP
and tben yos Fead it,
"Bus I'd nther hear is ss cocs, Nat
II muse have been ssueshiDg isnpustans
| - hiring you back 10 soou.'
cit aid-is's sbous'- lat even
now she cusId mt trust her-rlf TO SPEAK
his nalse. Her eyes wers diIatiug, ben
! sufs chreks nssbed INN. Larry" sic
f, inpsls:vsly asked. els is 20: Did you
f, ksow bis dssss wss Wy iII-.s.l BOD
bUso nss lw!''
'Nos sstil v~y lately. Nst."
Without sycr ttrowtus OF her hsi