Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-05-25

seen them often before. He even fanciel
lie could hear Hyperion tuning up his
fife and see the old man handing his hat
to a %bystander to be cared for until the
drum was made go like she ought" A
sense of serenity came over him as he
looked down and away. one hand grip
ping the iron railing.
Mark Barriston, turning his team into
the livery barn. looked around at sound
of his name to find Edward Thorn ut his
elbow.
Flows your father? Where is he?"
Cup there" He motioned towards the
hillside.
Thorn turned past the hotel. the lum-
her yard. and the little lumber Office.
Around the sweep by the railroad track.
across the 9nes. up the hill opposition
he went. Through the gateway on the
right-and across the worn path to where
by the q~uadrangular iron railing a man
sat with bowed head.
Jack"
1t was the old name that leaped to his (
lips. The other looked up.
"Ned..' He rose trembling to his feet. y
Lets talk it over. Jack. / never meant
to do so. I thought she-she might not
wish it. But 1 think she'd rather we
"CNiA MN llistl OIE " ullu
mine-should suffer-"
Yours md mine.." Then the old Bar
riston vindictivencss came back in all it's
strength.
Mine shall NOT suffer. Why should I
care for yours? You know what you did,
Edward Thorn. Played fast and loost.
with the woman you loved-the woman I
loved!"
II don't know whit YOU mean.' said
Edward Thorn.
I'll tell you then" He was trembling
still. hut his grip on the railing helped
to support him. The day we marched
forth to fight you told me Annie Lester
had promised to he your wife when you
came back. You knew how I loved her
Loved hcr-thcn?" Thorn's voice was
a husky whisper. "No-no!"
Barriston stared ut him a moment.
Then he Went on.
That's all right. 1t doesn't really mat
ter what you say now. But you know
how YOU acted down there in Virginia.
The dissraceful scrapcs You got into-the
dishonor you brought not only upon your
w name, but upon that of the woman
who has been rash enough to promise to
marry you!"
Yes Thorn said slowly. Eyes, I did
all YOU s%ay-nlorc. l was young. I'm
not urging this in exclamation. But"
he paused, fumbling in his breast pocket.
and extracting one yellow slip from Il
package. Il wish you'd look at this. 1T ,
was after l had got this that L Hold
on! Have o linished?" I
Not quite. Then you went %home-you,
relnember? 1 staid away. l couldn't go
-,J nza A-.:. .-1
well, what then?"
"Then-Jack! DO you think I'm imbf-
cile-or delirious yet? Then you jilt{l
her-flung her over as hcartlcssly asf a
man filings aside the woman who has NV
ed him. There is no comparison tai be
made. Thu whole town was talking of
your conduct when I returned. Butfyou
had gone. You coward!."
Edward Thorn took one step Sthen
stood quite still.
Twill you listen now?"NAe dsk:d.
did love Annie-yes. And II did many
things 1 am ashamed of in those old army
days-that is true. But that I ever of
my own accord broke faith with Annie
no. John Barriston-no!"
Barriston %laughcd-a harsh laugh.
go on" he said.
"Perhaps.' Thorn rejoined. at would
be better if you We're to read this first"
He held the slip of paper toward him.
Harriston unfoldcd tread it.
Ned. dear, forgive me. You will. ! know.
I did encourage %yon-yes. did let you
speak. l was even so wicked as to answer
Il have never cared for you-in that way,
I only did so to make Jack Rarriston under
that he--O. l don't know what 1 want
ed him to understand! Anyhow, he never
spoke. And now that the war is nearly over
and you are coming back you must give me
1 can't give you up, because my father
well. you know how stern he is and how he
has set his heart upon our marriage. But
I'm afraid to oppose him-and I'll marry no
while Jack lives-so pretend that you
wouldn't have me: Q. do, Ned. And after
awhile. perhaps, lack-but, no-he doesn't
care ANNIE.
1t was a long time before either spoke
again. The procession had left the
church. and one could trace its sinuous
progress through the town. In silence
Bnrriston handed baci.. the letter.
II wish you had known it always.
jack murmured Thorn.
The pride of a woman muttered Bar
riston.
1.-The stupidity of a man, said Thorn.
There was the roll OF vehicles up the
hill-the tramp of feet. The veterans
filed III the gate. The little doctor came
forward i'll all his gay regalia. Della
Thorn knclt beside Barriston.
She comprchendcd the broken sounds he
made.
THE letter-with you? Yes-you shall
have it always"
The band played on. The doctor put a
professional foretinse. on the pulse. Of
the PROSTATE man. He rose-sp6ke. He
could not make himself heard.
Men of the Grand Army of the Rcpub-
lie" he cssayed again. Your %colnradc-
John Barriston."
The music swelled a!oft. martial. tri-
umphant. But John Rarriston did not
hear.
The Grave in My Heart.
They are covering the graves of orr heroes
With the loveliest flowers they can bring,
And the tender memories mingle
With the fragrant blossoms of spring,
For the graves belong to the nation:
She claims and makes them known
And she counts among her heroes
He who once was mine alone.
Yes. they cover the graves of the brave