El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-14

y
cret. Don't get angry and bark, win
you? 1 haven't told you before be-
cause there wasn't time before [ went
away. But | met her at Mrs. Man
toms ball three weeks before 1 sailed.
Yes, her. her, Jess; just think of it; the
embodiment of OUR dream-blue eyes,
woma nliness, grace. ah. everything
that YOU and | had yearned for all
these years.
Il knew her three weeks, and just
think of 1t, Jess, she said she loved me,
and she promised to come and sit at the
other side of the fire and to tease us
and kiss us and make tea for us. All,
little woman, l began to believe that
our dream was coming true" The col
lie lifted herself with quick spring
and stood upright on her knees and
pricking up her ears to listen began to
bark furfously at the farther door OF
the room.
'You are nervous. little woman"
Bentley said Now settle back and
let me tell you the rest. 1 have wanted
SO much to tell somebody. 1t has been
rather hard to keep it shut up in ones
heart without even the comfort Of
friendly, patient ear. I went away
with her kiss burning on my lips. I
hated to go without her, but it was
war, and that meant duty, and it was
the one thing for which I had worked
and studied and fitted myself for 20
years. She wrote to me, Jess; yes,
grand letters; and, lame minded dog
that 1 am, 1 didn't know how to an
swer her in the way she wanted. I
couldn't even grasp what she was driv-
ing at, and 1 used to think at times
that she was aiming at a smashup.
Well. then ] fell i'll and couldn't writa
at all. But she wrote and kept on writ
Ing for months, but didn't get the let
tiers. 1 don't know what they were
thinking of down there to hold them
back. Here they are. Jess, in my
blouse. and the last one is awfully bit
ter: yes. awfuIly bitter. little woman.
and guess the Jig is up. Cad, don't
blame her. Six months without a
word. and then she wrote and said she
hated me and loathed me and detested
me and that was a coward and that
could never see her again"
Again the collie sprang up and bark
ed still more furiously. Then Mrs
Blossom came in and asked him If he
would not 60 and look at his room and
see whether or not everything was all
right
"I think there is something which
annoys the dog" he said. as he got up
to do her bidding. But she had disap-
peared again.
at the door and looked In. It seemed
dreary to him. He did not have the
heart to inspect Mrs. Blossoms ar
%
back to the fire. As he reached the
chair at the other side Of the hearth
and then stepped back suddenly and
steadied himself against the door
frame. For moment he felt dizzy.
He ran his fingers across his hot eye
lids to shut out the vision. A slender,
girlish figure leaned back in its dreamy
depths. Bentley looked again, and the
vision seemed fuller to his tired, sur
prised brain.
"Louise!" he whispered audibly.
A yellow head turned and smiled at
him in an old. familiar way. He stole
over to his chair and sat down. look
ing at the quiet, graceful girl.
Louise. Louise he whispered feel
ingly. The collie sprang at her skirts
and barked Indignantly. A strange
being filled the depths of the sacred
armchair, which Jess had been taught
never to use herself and to protect
with religious vigilance against intrud-
ers. Now 1t was occupied.
Bentley watched her curiously. She
smiled again and dropped her head In
her hands and watched the fire criti-
cally.
Louise, is it you, dearest?"
Eyes, it is l." she answered calmly.
1.-The newspapers said that you had
been MORALLY wounded. but the sur
geon cabled other news, and conclud-
ed that he knew. I came today to in
Quire for you Of your housekeeper, and
you surprised me here"
Louise. do you love mer'
'"That is not the question we ought to
consider. / have proved my love-" she
said firmly.
Louise, 1 love you. and you know
itv' he cried out wildly. Wont you
come and occupy that armchair al
ways?"
"Some time" she laughed exultant-
~, with sudden gayety. as she got up
to run toward the door. She stopped
in the middle of the room and came
back and leaned over to kiss the spot
on his head devoid of it's silken gray
hairs and then the sunburned cheeks.
scanned with lines of long suffering.
and then the dear limp arm with it's
glorious wound.
Yes. some time" she laughed hap
Counterfeit Cents.