La Junta tribune., 1899-02-11

counterpart, whom believed to be seek-
ing her Once indeed, when Desborough,
a great itrbcd lawyer, with broad, deter
mined hands and n close mouth, shndOwed
the house, l grew fearful for her. He
would sit for hours unspeaking, In n cor
ner of her drawing room, while she poured
tea for her visitors. discoursed literature
and abused and initiated her neiRhbors
and acquaintances, never her friends, and
he would laugh moodily sometimes at her
flippancies and frivolities. She rode lit
tie old pony her husband had given her,
which rarely. IL ever. went out OF fast
walk, which just suited Dorothy. whom
no amount Of ridings would make good
rider. though she looked well on horse
back. The pony WAS afflicted with q wet
nose, and Dorothy would climb down
many times and wipe it gently with the
little lace rag she called her handkerchief.
Desborough would accl .npany her on
these excursions, coming back moodier
still and with devouring passion staring
In his eyes, but one day when they return
~ his face was old and pallid, and there
was little hardness about her mouth, SO
that knew he had spoken, and she, as
usual, had been merciless. Ho left for
England the next day, though all his in
tercsts were in the country.
shade of her red lamp, was so busy al
laying my fears of Desborough that
hardly noticed him. So he and Dorothy
trod the old path unrestricted by my
guarding eye and he drank deep OF the
cup of Circe. All and she put her lips
to IL, too. and SO was the tragedy OF Iris
tram and lseult once more to tell
II came upon me very suddenly. l
was sitting by her MS she lay among the
purple silk cushions OF her divan with her
hands under her head among her glimmer-
ing hair. She was wearing what called
her tragic" gown, loose tea gown OF
emerald green satin, with gold dragons
vomiting scarlet poppies all over It, and
she gossiped casually while strokcd the
glossy dragons.
Peter" she said suddenly, "a certain
person is beginning to occupy my thoughts
more than Is quite cool or comfortable
Dorothy. don't talk rot" said, with
ghnstly jauntiness. You're only trying
to make me miserable.
He wears red ties dear. and he says,
Amt you comingP What! How can
one help caringy"
For moment my fears were sOothed
Then the doorbell rang and Lyndhurst
was shown in. wonder II man will
ever look at me as he looked at herr 1t
would be something worth living and
dying for, l think. turned TO her, and
the light behind her eyes as they rested on
him shriveled my soul within me.
Soon the beginning came OF the end
ing One morning as sat at breakfast
with my brothers camc little note to
me, addressed simply to Peter, Ms was
her quaint fashion. Come to me-" was
all 1t said. l flew, and, coming, found
her on her divan. She was clad In her
trs kic gown. and her face WAS heaven lit
like lustrous sunset and happier than !
had ever seen 1t. knew at once what
was to face ! knelt down and kissed her
again, and then, being weak fool, l cried
all over her face and her lovely gown.
"We are going tonight, Peter" she
crooned in her golden voice.
mo, no, Dorothy, darling; never, new
er. You shall not GO
I'VE are going tonight, dear, and she
stroked my hair; going together to find
those islands OF the blest-"
mo, Dorothy, no." moancd.
"Mayn't i have little hnppinessf" she
asked hercely. "what has my life been.
Peter?" Then relapsing into an infinite
tenderness, You see, Peter, he cannot do
without me-we cannot do without each
other.
Later, when l was stonily calm, she told
me their plans. They were going to take
horses that night and ride for Umtali,
getting fresh horses there and n cart to
take them to Beira--and then straight
home. Once out of the country they were
safe.
But kpiven?" asked. He will fol-
low you, and You are not good rider
Dorothy"
"Oh, I win ride-Ill ride like the
4. a., -.
be with him, Peter. Kniven will be away
at billiard match, and we shall get
good start-and he inny not follow us.
thought knew him better.
In the twilight l saw them off, She
went In her riding habit, taking nothing
with her, and for the last time straight
ened her shirt for her and gave her the
reins. Then took Lyndhurst by the
hands, and looking into his eyes cried to
him to bc good to her, to love her all his
life, never to let her regret, and he prom
ised in n voice deep with love. They say
dark men are as true ms men can be. Then
when had kissed her little stockinged
ankles and she had said, Bless you, little
Peter, II u wicked woman's blessing can
do any good, and goodby, they rode away
into the night, and l lay down on my
face in the grass with my heart full OF the
tragedies of life. After awhile stumbled
blindly homew0rd, u wild wish struggling
within me that some one would come and
take me away, too, and that we four
Dorothy, Lewis, the other and I-might
all 20 together and find the islands of the
blest. As neared the house a man came
into view under lamp some few yards
OF He had white. fury dashed face,
with q mouth set hard and cruel. Then
tainted.
II WAS only horse against horse, and he
came upon them at farmhouse before
they had even got half way.
I rode out with my brothers, who had
loved her, too, and tho clergyman who
buried them. When had hidden the ugly
mark on her forehead with flowers, there
was nothing to revolt In the sweet calm
Of her face but we covered his face all
eyer with them. And believe they are