Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-09-08
HAPPY EVER AFTER

so NT1L we'met face to face in a
crowded street 1 had not known

His manner seemed 4 little ervous.
but l attributed it to our unexpected
meeting.
We had been friends until our walks
in life widened apart. He became an
architect and decorator and l had
chosen medicine.
When the cab stopped before n hand
some house and Ben sprang out. 1 was
silent with amazement. He led >mc
through halls and rooms that seemed
old and grand to my American eyes.
and then closed the door of Il cozy den
and we We're alone.
why. Ben, old fellow, you must have
struck it rich" l ventured, and he
looked mt me. pa!ing Il little.
Haven't you heard?" he asked.
Not IL word since the old man was
cut up i'll the wreck, and Ban Ward,
being the next of kin, came in for the
fortune that should have been yours"
I replied, he%sitatingly, knowing what a
blow all this had been to Ben.
He laughed softly, and his hands
moved in the old, restless way l had SO
often noticed when he had something
important to tell me.
"You came away before l took the
contract to restore the old placer" he
said.
Yes" 1 answered, with something
like IL gasp. Had they added insult to
Injury? Had they dared
AT first the offer hurt me, and then
the man in me gave way to what YOU
used to call the artistic instinct. Hadn't
these years?"
But to do it for another man-for
him. Benz l Interrupted.
We'll. he really couldn't help 1t, you
know. though it was not until later that
l n able to take that philosophical
view of it. 1t was only that l loved
Lakewood too we'll to have it spoiled,
and-and l wanted to get away from
the city, for Doly's father-well, he
liked Lakewood and all that goes with
1t, and ST Dan. and not 1, was in high
favor With him."
ut was hard when You had every
reason to expect it for your own" l
persisted.
Yes, but there was the bigger trou-
lla using me up he said. smiling
softly.
lie sat still then; still, except those
restless hands; slender and white as a
woman's they were, and l knew by
their moving that Ben's story was a
hard IN for him to tell.
tsv0, Joyst ho1in1o IN rI,oete tn %,,>
return of the disembOdied spirit, do
you. Dick?"
well, no, Ben. 1 suppose 1 am ma
terial. My profession"
But you'll believe my story lie
looked UP with his sweet. calm smile.
"Ccrtainly l will. Am 1 to hear it
nowy"
He glanced at the clock. Eyes. Ill
tell you now, before Dolly comes"
"Dolly!'
you have the last OF the story first.
The married and happy ever after
you know. Well. you see, we went
down to Lakewood, and the men lived
at the village hotel. But 1 put up ut
the old place, with CASTOR and Hannah
to take care of me. Poor old things!
Over and yer they described the hor-
rible scene to me-. I had only reached
home in time for the funeral, you
know, and for theAthe will, which
could not be found.
"For Il year, Il whole year, I worked,
nee growing tired of the eX-
quisite woods. metals and fabrics. a
year, and the anniversary Of my
adopted fathers death was at hand.
All. the place was II wonder of. beauty
now!
.'It happened that l was at work III
the Old mans room, the long along
the south wing. 1t was midnight, and
l was busy with my drawings. Now
and then Il splash of rain came with
the wind through the window. and the
light, the only one in the room, hickered
and east strange shadows on my pa
pens.
81 had measured the wall and was
turning away when something on the
pillow caught my eye, and I stood still.
My blood froze as the horror of it came
upon me, aud my feet were like lead.
ION the pillow lay the head Of Mr..
Guthrie. The fine, grim old face, with
its inscrutable eyes and thin lips, the
brow and shining white hair-all this,
but the head only-the head severed
from a body that l did not see.
II heard a voice, q low, sobbing
voice. but my soul was faint with sick
ening fear, and I did not hear the
words. staggered to q chair, my fas-
cinated eyes on the face that lay upon
the white pillow. But only my eyes
were alive. l could not hear IL there
were words. The light on the table
fickered and went out and I was alone
with that.
"Hannah came with the coffee I al
ways have &C midnight when I am at
work. She relighted my lamp ana