The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-25
Not the Last Ride Together
By Robertson Howard Jr.
81 and my mistress side by side,
sShall be together-forever ride,
And one more day deifed.
Who knows-the world may end tonight"
The Last Ride Together. BROWNING.


mind now.
"Are you ready!" asked Alice looking at me
scornfuy from her dark eyes, while the French maid
helped her into her wraps.
l offered her my and she barely touched 1t
with the tips of her fingers, and when the footman
slammed the carriage door she sat in a far
opposite and gazed out into the black
night The wheels with their rubber tires made
noise as they rolled the smooth asphalt and only
the click of the steel shod hoofs broke the stiffness
of the night.
Il know you'll hate me for this" said T. "but I
had to you"
1 waited for her to make some sort Of reply bur
she remained silent
"Alce," commenced, in Il tone that told my voice
was getting beyond control. 'Alice -"
Indeed, she Interrupted coolly.
81 beg your pardon 1 said quickly. al mean Miss
Hudson"
But couldn't go on.
However, Alice relented little
what you going to say!' she asked
did not answer. because 1 thinking what a
strange thing it that should call this girl whom
had known all our lives by her proper name Her
father and mine had served in the regiment for
years, and we had always known each other. and
together had followed the old regiment through
burning deserts and great mountains and
snow-covered praires. Sometimes we would be
posted at fort where the barracks and officers quar-
rades and band; and again it would be some ram
shackle prairie stockade with town within great
many miles. and thousands of untamed savages all
about Even in those days 1 had loved Alice and
thought her the sweetest girl in the world.
One day she said: II don't think all the nice men
in the army"
This rather unorthodox for army girl and
1 asked her why
Because you are not in the army" she answered
calmly.
After that she wore my ring on her finger and had
only taken it off the week before The of her
taking it off was lie told her by fellow she hadn't
known a month, but who perfectly infatuated
with her. That why it hurt And just
then dashed past lamp post and by it's flare
her sitting opposite me with her hands clasped
and her head thrown forward expectantly, waiting
for me to speak.
81 know you think it cowardly,' said l. trying to
make my voice steady and cool, ''but may not have
another opportunity to tell you something which
think you should know
rs it something care to hear? she asked stin
looking beyond me.
"It is something wish you to hear" replied.
{. "Oh," she said. 'really?"
what want to say" continued. sis that there
has never been a moment of my life that 1 have not
loved you and that what he said just the other
way which Mrs Parker will tell you if you ask her"
Mrs. Parker knows nothing whatever about this
affair." unless" she added cuttngly, you've been
talking about me-"
"She knows the mans character" 1 returned.
I'm sure his character is as good as yours or
NINE" said Alice.
1 should have that she in laxative
mood and taken advantage Of it. But 1 was angry
and sore.
'You shouldn't speak Of character" l burst out,
'you haven't any You're the kind Of girl that likes
to turn into devils and ruin their lives. Once
used to think of you angel. You were always
so sweet and tender that you made think of
wild flower that picks along country road 1t
is always so pretty and fresh when you first pick
it from among the green grass and place it in your
buttonhoe, and yet it droops it's head and dies in
such little while. l used to think Of you like that
Whenever 1 heard of the death of some beau
tful young girl it made restless for days because
1 afraid death might take you from But il
you dead now could you once more and
send you flowers more and kiss your lips
But you wouldn't look up and laugh
then and 1 could never look into your pretty eyes
again. and your cold lips would feel my kisses
But if you dead your dead little hands would
be folded in peace and rest without that other fell
lows ring on your finger. 1 wish you We're dead"
1 added bitterly. And then I dropped back against
the seat and buried my chin in my shirt front.
Alice gave a startled little cry and pressed her
face against the glass and stared out into the night
the fort and had long since turned off the asphalt
street and travelling the last mile Of our
ride "Our last ride together, last ride together
1 kept repeating to myself. until the words seemed
to dance my brain like fall leaves along
country lane. 1t getting cold and late and the
driver imprudently dashed his horses into a gallop
that made the carriage reel and jolt and swing.
Alice pulled her cloak together under her chin and
settled back against the cushions, and we passed
the last street lamp that her hair had become
disarranged and that her long lashes wet with
tears. And those tears smote to the heart, for
then what 1 had been saying came back to like
the recoi of hundred-ton gun.
1 turned my head away and looked out into the
darkness. And then there before my eyes a
beautiful moonlight night a winding river with
the TALL graceful willows either bank swinging In
the wind like tropical palms. A yacht in which were
seated two and girl skinned along before the
wind and blue pennant foated gaily from
the masthead. The girl very sweet and kind,
this night and because the at the rlltider had
said he would like to fly her cOors she had given
him her sash which flew above the white sail.
"What will your mother say Alice? asked the other