The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-12-29

merry young people thronging the pleasant
Rooms. be vas conscious Of a thread OF pain
running the last night Of the old year, touching
/ only Mss Summerhsld and himself.
By be, mean Leigh Reyburn, the owner Of
I the old-fashioned. low-ro0med grange beneath
whose roof the young people Of GladbrOok had
gathered to keep merry wateh-niEht. With
music and laughter and gay repartee they
meant to dance a welcome TO the joyous New
/ Year without much thought for the staid old
/ tHeIve-montb which had served them 50 faith
I fully.
But Leigh moved uneasily, sending imploring
glances after the the blue gown, all to no puT-
pose. Marie was absorbed with the fascinating
company Of Maurice Davenport, and was smil-
{ ing her sweetest-and Marie could smile divine
ly-and entertaining him admirably
Reyburn was thinking hard, and, it must be
confessed, uncharitably. Had he EOrshiped
and petted and lived for Miss Summarized
these two blessed sunlit years, to have hope and
happiness go into the grave Of the frail old year
leaving nothing but memOriesi
What was that Marie was singing to the
swest-toned guitar she held so daintily, strap
ped IN place with a blue nbandi
Ring ont the old, ring in the new
The year is dying, let it go;
Ring II the news ring in the new"
Her voice seemed to falter little on the re-
peat as it fell to soft cadence. Was it possible
she was thinking Of the old so tendsrly-the old
love, for instsncef All! well, he did not know.
The yule log had burned out a week ago, but
he had not the heart to take up the silveTy
ashes from the old. red brick hearth as yet.
Ever since that other night he had kept bis vow
and closed his doors to all me rriment for two
long years. But somehow the lads and lassies
Of GIadbroOk had lain their sympathies on his
door-stOne and worked themselves into his
good graees once more, and before be realized
what he was doing he had given up the silent
rooms again to a Christmas party. But no
more New Year frOlics under his roof, he said /;
not untiI-Tel. maybe He stopped short IN
his MUSINGS still the remnant Of the mistletoe
hung in the bracket work Of the old chandelier
and he remembered now, as he looked at 1t,
how pure and fair Alicia Merrill looked when
Herman MontrOse kissed her beneath its potent
spell a week ago. She put him In mind, o, 50
much, Of her. Covering his eyes for a moment
with trembling hand he went to the window
and looked out. White and glistening as an
angels wing lay the snow on the intervening
fields. Over there was her house, but she had
been away now for a long time studying music,
and be had heard, for she did not write to him
that her voice was simply divine, and as a Tuu-
stefan she was wonderful
Nevertheless, it was a night like this, nOdding
toward the flooding moonlight outside that
{ hey-he and she-had their misunderstanding.
A spasm Of pain crossed his fine face and he
caught his breath little. Re could not tell
Just how 1t came about, never clearly under
standing, but that night 50 much like this and
New Years Eve, too, marked the beginning Of
their diTsrging paths. And he had heard OF di-
verging paths which came together again after
a whilel
Tomorrow was the glad New Year again.
Would its happy greetings be only mockery to
hint
Suddenly thought, which had smOuldeTed
in his mind for days, flashed up like CLEAN Of
heavenly light. radiating his whole being.
She was coming home tonight on the late
train; and he was 50 hungry to see her. only
God knew how famishsd Of heart he was!
he would take the down train, set of at
Rockland when she changed cars for Glad0rOOk.
No one could prevent him from riding home in
the same coach with her; and even that would
be q blessed comfort. Then, maybe, something
would come of 1t. Who knewf
In Is minutes he Was inside his great coat and
locking the hall door, with a nervous glad ez-
citement stealing over him, like the coming Of
new day. A ten-minutes' walk brought him
to the station.
Going away for the New Year7'' queried the
agent, pleasantly, handing Reyburn the re-
Quired pastebOard-
20, a little way lie replied, absently, pulling
on his gloves.
Scarcely had he settled himself in the out
ward bound train than Joe Antrim thumped
him on the shoulder and sang out: 'Hullo
going away on blowout, Supposed Well, SO
am L. Some are going away, and some are com
ing home
In the awkward silence which followed JOe's
voluble Introduction. he seemed to read Rey-
burns thoughts, for without looking further
for reply, be began again Miss Summerheld
is coming tonight, they say; and they say, too,
that she is bringing her best fellow with her
Gladbrook looks for wedding at the Summer
field home tomorrow. Bat, Of course, don't
know; It is only gossip, maybe"
Having thus delivered himself, Joe Antrim,
without waiting FOR reply, bstOok himself to
the smoker, leaving Reyburn IN Just the state Of
mind ne intended, hallway between insanity
and desperate intent.
But BY and by Reyburn's mind cleared to
Joe's last sentence Only gossip. OF course
that was all; bat joe was mean 70 hash it over,
to him Of ali persons. and In such an insinuat-
ing manner, too. Wen, he would 60 on 70 Rock
land now II he met her complete bridal party
be would see for himself, and il It was all true,
why. be would not 50 home that night and per
haps GIadbrook would never see him again
At ROcdand he mad only few minutes to
wait between trains and already the home
bound one was waiting a side-traek- PuE-
chasing his ticket, lie snscOnced himself where
he could plainly see the passengers leave the
cross train
WOW Cor the bridal party, at least the bride
and groom ne said, tEging 70 be iOc1lar with
himself, although his face was very white and
his mouth tHitched nsrTouslT-
At the crT train train everybody began 70
hustle about. Friends, baggage and EOod-bys
were mixed Up indiscrininatelys but Leigh was
very stiu- he could hear this anxious heart
beat cut its suspsnse In great su5Ocating leaps,
as the fateful train thundarsd in
Surs. enough, there was Miss Summerheld7
and the fne-loolfng you1g nan who helped her