The Red Cloud chief., 1899-01-27
when she had done his head dropped

There are facts in life sven for signs"
"'ris true" he answered softly,
'yet | sighed for pleasure"
"What pleasure2" she asked curl
ously.
"Or IL may be hope" he added.
He looked at her, aud his gaze was
mild aud wistful. She regarded him
in perplcxity, and then n wild flush
took her in the cheek and throat.
"Poohl pooh.' she cried, and turned
off, plucking at the hawthorne bush.
The white may smelt rank, but
strange and soothing; the petals
shivered and fell. Miranda's heart
beat on, wondering. Something
clapped at its doors again and again.
Would she open? What a. this inn
patient visitor that pleaded so for
entr ance? She had so little knowl.
edge; she was but newly arrived upon
the world. Her emotions were still
strangers to her; she was a pilgrim
still among her new sensations.
Ought she to open9 Nay, to stay 80
and wonder was surely pleasantest.
One day she would throw wide the
doors and look. But now 1t was
sweet to feel that hand upon the
knocker, that clutching at the latch,
and lie trembling within In feigned
insecurity. She turned and faced
him. Straightway the clamor ceased,
and in her heart was silence. She
looked him coldly in the face.
"You smile for lover" she asked.
Eyes, dear" said he, ''and for the
thought OF you.
''Oh, You take me too lightly" she
broke out. "You do not guess what
a solemn thing this love may be.
You fiutter into a thousand follies on
the scantest reflection. You will
dance, and you will play, and you
will jingle jangle through your holt
day world without a thought for any
thing but pirouettes and jigs and
whirligigs Of laughter. The most
sonorous OF sacred sorrows may sound
in your ears and wake no echo but q
cape within your heart And you
would put me upon that dead plane
Of ribald merriment with yourself?
] will laugh with you. Yes; I will go
beg OF you for jests in my jocund
seasons. am willing to shrek over
your whimsicalities at my own pleas
ure. In my serene unthinking mo-
ments l will be content to exchange
humors with you, and to vow life
were void and dull were not such "a
you At my beck. But when I've
nnanAl ~ A1u ~ 6Av A-l Hu-l Al,A
door upon myself, my soul and I shall
DO alone together, and I will weep,
sad pity, and repent, and ache out
my heart with sorrows In which you
can have NO lot I I'm young, but I
have 81 inkling of Whist the world
may mean"
"The world" said he. means hap
pinesa."
1.-THE world" she retorted, ''means
tears and bitter wringing Of the
banda Have I not heard of death,
snd have l not seen pain? You think
me CAV. yet how long shall I keep
this gaiety in my heart? I go round
upon the wheel. 1t turns and changes.
What shall befsll tomorrow that I
shall not weep todayP You would pluck
mo with nc greater consideration
than you would pluck q flower from
Its stalk wherewith to deck your coat.
Should it wither or fall adjust, another
will serve until the coming of the
wine. Look you, you will sigh and
weep for love, and your signs will be
smiles, and your tears will be laugh
ter. Fortnight your heart is singing
like a lark. Yours! yours is the shall.
lowest Of paltry passions"
II would do much for you" said he.
"Give me your dimples." cried Mi.
randa, and SO to the churchyard with
. wry face?"
"Even that" he answered, nodding.
"Pah! You will not contain your
face lugubriously for five minutes by
the clock. Though you shall rsmem-
Der to be sober for two sentences, at
the third you will be whistling, and
the fourth wll find you holding your
sidea."
He moved = step toward her.
And i'll should die for you," he
asked. pleadingly.
Miranda gasped. She contem plated
his lace with uncertainty. His eyes
shone with the dew of tears; his
hands trembled; it was the corner of
his mouth that betrayed him. Mi.
randa burst into laughter.
your she cried. 'You! WHY, you
would forget my coffin as it passed,
and the color of my face ere my back
w1s upon you. "See here" she said;
81 will give you to the hedge for mis-.
cry; but | swear you will take to the
lane as jauntily as an hour since.
Get you gone, my merry man, and
come again to dispute with me in an
idle humor. File! hel to think on you
and death In the same companyi"
He sighed and turned away.
you have the smallest heart of any
maid ! know" he said, shaking hi
head.
THE better for my laughter,
laughed Miranda
He mOved acroaa tha ~a,do- Ii