The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-07-19

musingly, II am going t. tell yon Sc
cret. Don't get angry and bark, viii
you? l haven't told you before be
cause there wasn't time before went
away. But l met her at Mrs. Man.
toms ball three weeks before / sailed.
Yes, her, her. Jess; just think Of it; the
embodiment of our dream-blue eyes,
womanliness, grace, ah, everything
that you and / had yearned for all
these years.
81 knew her three weeks, and just
think of it. Jess, she said she loved me,
and she promised to come and sit at the
ether side of the fire and to tease us
and Kiss us and make tea for us. All,
little woman, / began to believe that
our dream was coming true" The col
lie lifted herself with a quick spring
and stood upright on her knees and
pricking mp her ears to listen began to
bark furiously at the farther door of
the ROOM.
You are nervous, little woman"
Bentley said. Now settle back and
let me tell you the rest. 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. l 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 had worked
and studied and fitted myself for 20
years. She wrote to me. Jess. yes,
grand letters: and, lame minded dog
that am, L didn't know how to an
swer her. In the way she wanted.
couldn't even grasp what she was drfv-
ing at. and / used to think >at times
that she was aiming at a sssmashup.
Well. then fell iii and Couldn't write
at all. But she wrote and kept on writ
ing for months, but i didn't get the let
tiers. l don't know what they were
thinking of down there to hold them
back. Here they: are, Jess, In my
ter; yes. awfully bitter, little woman.
and / guess the Jig Is up. Cad, l. 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 furionsly. Then Mrs.
Blossom came in and asked him If he
would not go and look at his room and
see whether or not everything was all
right. SIS
II think there Is something which
annoys the dog" he said. as he got up
to do her bidding. But she had disap-
peared again
Bentley went to his room and stood
at the door and looked in. 1t seemed
dreary to him. He did not have. the
heart to inspect Mrs. Blossoms ar
engagements He turned again to go
back to the fire. AS he reached the
door Of his den he glanced toward the
chair at the other side of the hearth
and then stepped back suddenly and
steadied himself against the door
frame. For a moment he felt dizzy.
He ran his fingers across his hot eye
lids to shut out the vision. "A slender.
giriish figure leaned back In it's dreamy
depths. Bentley looked again. and the
vision seemed fuller to his tired. sur
prised brain.
"Louiser 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
fngiy. The collie sprang at her skirts
and barked Indignantly. A strange
being filed 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 it was occupied.
Bentley watched her curiously. She
smiled again and dropped her head in
her hands and watched the fire criti-
-cally.
Louise, Is 1t you. dearestY
Eyes, 1t is 1, she answered calmly.
''The newspapers said that you had
been mortally wounded. but the sur
geon cabled other news, and I. 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 me?~
THAT Is not the question we ought to
consider. ] have proved my love-" she
said firmly. i,
Louise. love you. and you know
itr' he. erted out wildly. Wont you
come and occupy. that armchair al
ways?,'
!, Some time." she laughed exultant-
b. with sudden eayety. a. she rot M