Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-06-22

XIX
Had Arkwright lifted again the web
Vet curtain OF Madame Eiorence's win
dow, which had fallen behind him just
when that low cry smote his ear. he
would have found her sitting, Just rs
he had left her. and dreamed only that
his sense had deceived him.
The smile had not vanished. Her
eyes were undimmed by that moisture
which. later. had sprung TO his own.
He would have looked and zone again.
but that quick glance would not have
betrayed 10 him that the smile had
frozen on her lips. and that her eyes
were hot with 4 pain which only the
tears which were dried up in their
channels might assaage
For the first time in all these weary
months. when her heart had fed ouly
on the just retribution il hSd wreakeSi.
she had believed il stone. In this mo-
trent a sharp and sudden pang OF az
N dsrted through IL Arkwright had
left her. and left her forever. YeSter-
day he Scarce had crossed her memory:
1~Sday-she would pursue the thought
n0 further.
She rose and ran- for her maid. Her
breakfast she left untouched. except
for the fragrant Mocha. which she ea-
gerry drank-She ordered her horses.
then donned her sableS,
II would IoSok my IovelieSt today
She mnrmursd. -sn honor Of the leu
tenant and the prince. Where is the
battle ground 1 wonder: And who
knows. Perhaps. II ". Gervais is in
ST. Petersburg. he and | may chance
TO meet Does he carry yitriels II
would be 4 vulgar revenge but snre
But Der drive was unmarked ~ any
incids&. save the curious gaze Of adj
u~liration which ever followed her.
The afternoon was late when she
STEPPED from her carriage az the palace
gate.
"A lady waits 10 see madame" said
the man who held open the doors that
she might enter.
Doubles some privileged friend had
taken this liberty. Perhaps the count
~ was her thought. - v~ouchsafin-
vo " Ackey 10 reply. she swept ou
Into her drawing ooEa,
For 2 moment she thought it deserted
Ia moment cnly. for. on hearing the
rustic Of her skirts. someone standing
IN the deep embTasnne Of an a~lclvs4l
window, turned. and came quickly. Inn
petuously forward with = low cry.
watch she knew not ~hetokenei Joyo or
palm
The faee. the figure of the stranger
were young and giriIsh. but a woman's
anguish was painted i'm the lines abou,
her mouth. \ woman's pain in the
brown eyes which Fixed themselves M
on her. half in horror. half in inploVin-
petition
Yet there was something about the
face that seemed familiar 10 her sight.
Surely, she had seen IL bef0ra-some-
Nhere met the gaze OF those -lear. yea
yety eyes. and felt their innocent love
liaess smite her with sudden pain. I'm
bringing back a girihood which Law IN
Numbered years so hort a time be
fore that on which she had -szeSi. bat.
Eartins time by feeling. seemed 10 In
tersese between the I'VE a Of
esernxy.
a din recollection swept over her
100. thsx II. ipsleeSi. the two had met
before = had heen ia happier SCENES.
when the celor had not been blanehrsi
from h v0nnS cheek. now 50 color
less, ans tse smile on lip and eye had
net been ssadowed by grisFs black
pan
~Nou wiShes To see me ASKED Flor
ence. in her sseet. low tone. which had
swayt~t 50 naaiy 10 her will and which
now sirack on me girls ear with all
the magic NJ ia Music. and sent q ray
OF hope and reaaNed courage 10 her
heart.
A Oma with a Aolce like that could
not BE- al hard, all ,rueS.
II have waited 10 va YOU. madame
she answered while. 0nconScsousiy the
two little glovet hams locked them
selves tightly tegether--waitexi. while
every mcmeEs. every hour. has been
torture in iis lcng-drasn a.oar. IL
you had NOT eome-oh. Coz III Won ha,.
not ccme l SSonld have Sne mad
n momentary Thought efssei Flor.
ence's mind that already sose trouble
had nnseated the girls ~arain.else why
should she. a stranger. addres to her
words like these.
-Ya1 we've so impatient OF nr com-
iagy" she asked.
And there was now = tender nv in
her tone,
$50 impatient. madame. that mo-
ments heightened into endless days
have lived y year since l entered t,s
room. and yet, already. w. waste TIA.
too precious in this idle talk. Madame
you do not know me, bat I know ycu-
I know your y your beauty, your
fascination. DO not let me learn that