The Red Cloud chief., 1900-02-09

the strokes. Then, with a sudden
sharp cry Of alarm and fright the
beautiful head disappeared. Mrs. Lar
ned looked about her with hot eyes
for the swimming instructor. but she
was not in sight. She had evidently
left the poOlrOom. Only two other
women were in the pool and neither
of them could swim.
Marie larned stood for a fearful
moment looking her evil angel in the
face-and the face of that angel was
lit with fire! The deliberate oifense
of the woman in alluring Marie Lar
ned's husband from her, her silly van
ity and the boasts she made of con
quest, saddening other women's lives
without a qualm. came to the tempted
woman like truths written large upon
the wall. In the distance Of the gleam-
ing pool the golden head rose and
sauk. Then the flaming face Of the
evil angel grew dim and blurred. and
seemed to fade away. and out Of a mist
of tears there came another face. also
lit with II fire. but the fire was white,
and about II was q glory as of a rain
bow. II was beautiful to see.
Marie Larned never remembered the
act Of %plunging into the tank. never
recollected the details of the swim the
length of the pool. never could bring
to mind just how that struggling form
came to be Clasped in her arms. 1t
seemed too simple and too natural a
thing to remember. 1t was no trick
for her. with her strong arms, to
carry the woman. large as she was, to
the steps and hand her up to the out
stretched hands of the attendants, and
knowing that medical help would be
summoned, Marie felt at liberty to re-
turn &c her diversions.
She was in the mood to indulge In
violent antics. She frolicked in the
water like a young porpoise for the
better part of an hour, trying, appar-
emily, to do anything rather than
think. But at length, worn out, she
sat beside the pool and clicked the
water with her toes like an idle
schoulboy.
She heard the rustic of silken gar.
ments behind her. and thinking 1t was
a guest. looked up. 1t was the WON
an, pale but calm. and gowned for The
street.
Mrs. Larned," said she, holding GU
q trembling hand, II am not going tt
attempt to speak my thanks. Words
would be an impertinence. I'm no
even going to insult you by making
an apology to you. II would be TOT
ahsurdlv awkward for both of us-an'
we should both hate it. I'm only go
ing to say that II | have certain fault
which | recognize just as well al
you'll have also a number of virtue
most of which | keep carefully con
Cealed. Not the least of these is a ca
pacity for gratitude. From this da,
on, in deed and word, you shall hav
nothing but fealty from me, which ar
/, the most serious words have spoke'
for several years. Please do not thin
|, me a bore. But | mean what | say"
Marie Larned got up and shook tn
woman's hand and the grasp wa
. hearty and warm. A color suffuse
her round face. She looked like "A
embarrassed boy. And she couldn
speak a word. She thought for a me
ment that she was going to burst int
tears, which would have been idioti
To save herself she shook hands ono
more, and. turning, ran from I'll
woman. up the spring board. an
plunged again beneath the green wa
i ers of the pool.
Come. Mrs. Larned," called II
swimming instructress. you've bee
: in the tank too long,"
: "All right" came back the vigoro'
. young voice, and a glowing face peer'
I ont of the water at the woman al
/ showed a smile in which the light
: true happiness beamed. 1t was "A smi
r left from the glory of the angel wi
the Countenance of white fire.