Hutchinson gazette., 1900-03-22

at home" She stopped,
81 was only joking" Don interrupted
her calmly, "But this reminds me-
love. / shall have to get your fathers
consent, suppose, before can ask you
to name the happy day. For you
know OF old I'm not patient fellow,
Lille. like things to be assured ana
smooth-salling. stick to the fine old
maxim. If 'twere we'll 'twere DONE
then twere we'll 1t were done
quickly"
She looked UP in her tall lovers face
with a plquant, dubious smile,
"That sounds almost like getting
over disagreeable duty" she objected.
"And / am sure my father won't want
me to run away from him just yet-not
till this disturbance on the frontier
Is over, and he is ready to take me
home"
For to the heart OF Briton, In
whatever foreign cline, the sacred
name of Home" belongs to the be-
| lOVeu DTlllbu lblSb ulohN'
For answer Don drew her once more
within his arms.
II can't wait for that, Lille" And
II his mastery arose more from the
dogmatic will OF the man than the Inn
petuosity OF the lover, there was no
doubt about his earnestness, III you
ever go back home, II must be as my
wife; but, Lille, / won't promise you
| would take you. could not bear
1t, for am homeless wanderer now."
The culver In his voice moved her
profoundly.
1--WE will make fresh home, Don,
you and /, wherever you like In the
whole world" she said.
Even Don, self-absorbed as was his
nature, was touched by her devotion,
"You are very generous, my darling,
and / am going to take you at your
word by asking your father to give
you to me before the summer. / hope
to see him in a very short time, for |
have Just had orders to take relief
draft of our Derbys out to join his
camp tomorrow"
She turned pale as her clingine
gown.
Tomorrow? Oh, Don, why didn't
you tell me before you were going to
leave me Tomorrow"
Because i'll news is told all toe
soon,' he answered gently. But
cheer up, child, / don't expect to be
gone more than three or four weeks
at the most"
But she clung to him, with the tears
swimming in her beautiful blue eyes
ooh, Don, my dearest, shall be
dreadlng all sorts Of things happening
to you on the way! used to feel sc
frightened when my father went out
first; but now l know he is safely In
camp 1t is different. Oh, Don" she
broke off, "if you never come back tc
me 1t would break my heart!"
my darling" he reassured her, "thC
tribes have surrendered, and the wal
is practically over. There's really
nothing to be nervous about"
"You must think Of me killing time
, counting the hours which will brine
, me back to the dear little woman who
, is going to open a paradise for the
poor outcast wanderer"
She put up her little hand to hit
; lips.
Don't call yourself that, Don. AS W.
hope to be forgiven, forgive and for
get the wrong your mother did you
, when she brought you up as Gadle''
heir, Remember 1t was all for love
, of you she sinned."
what then, sweet pleader, woult
you have 1t that love condones a sin?'
he Queried, capturing the hand ant
covering 1t with kisses,
God Forbid" she answered earnest
ly; "but surely, because Of that love
forgiveness should be easler?"
Ah how both were to remember tha
conversation in bitter day to come
. All too soon came the final moment
for last caresses and parting words
for presently the red-turbaned native
announced that Gordon sahib's horse
was at the gate as ordered, and his
cloak also, as dew was falling"
Lille picked up silk coverlet from
the divan, and throwing 1t over hel
shoulders, accompanied her lover tc
the veranda.
The moon had risen, and in Its cleal
light her lovely face, with its aureolt
Of golden hair, shone radiant with its
love, but quivering with the pain which
this moment of farewell brought.
The red flrenles were flashing, the
perfume of rose and pink oleander
waited from the garden on the hot air
On the far-stretching terrace Of the
bungalow great adjutant bird, with
Its head nesting under Its wing, was
silhouetted against the silvery expansc
Of sky
From the prickly-pear hedge Of the
compound rose anon the melancholy
howl of a jackal.
All unconsciously, scene and hour
were to be fixed irrevocably upon Don
Gordon's memory down to the veriest
trihe.
He took his cloak from the natives
hopd opd tbro,uipo ~ nv ,iood I,iat,,s