Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-08-16
C1IApTER XTR.-fContinued.)


Poor Miss Jane had felt her nephew's
death acutely, more .han anyone would
have believed. The cew days he had
spent with her had entirely reinstated him
in her good graces She liked him for
himself; he was gentltr. more consider
ate, and more manly, than the old, trou-
blesome Teddy and he evoked mem
Ory which endeared him TO her especially,
for he seemed TO link old memories of the
past TO realities OF the present. n mem
Ory, notably, Of a smart young officer OF
light Dragons, whose presence she re-
called by his sold;erly figure, his clink-
ing SPURS and his oF-hand manners and
his handsome face. This officers epis-
ties, on large letter paper. written in fad
e1 ink. were treasured up, llong with
miniature, IA the most secret recesses OF
Miss James bureau; also a lock Of brown
Aair, the very self-same shade as Ted
dy's. G'he smart young dragoon might
have been n burly, stout, red-faced squire
by this time, discussing shorthorns and
turnips, addicted to snubbing his wife,
had be tived. But he had not; he had
died, saber Al hand on a far-away Sikh
battlefield, and a halo of romance and
regret forever enshrined his memory.
Time works wonders. Who can stand
against him2 Esme has bowed to fate
at last. She has even, liz way, become
reconciled to Teddy's death. She can
speak of N now quite calmly; for have
not three snonths elapsed since the day of
that fatal Coray, and as yet no letter has
come from Captain BrabaZCn, and she
feels more drawn to him than ever now
L, = hot
them Did not Teddy de in Miles arms,
with him SiODe beside him? She makes
every excuse that fertile brain can con-
triye for fis unlooked-for silence. low
eagerly does she sean the mail news. How
early she Is down the morning the South
African post is due, and she is always
disappointed. Even ruthless Mrs. Braba-
Eon herself feels little pang Of remorse
as, in answer to an unspoken appeal, she
says, with a smile, Nothing for you, my
dear, this morning." and then there is an
other long week to get through; but 1t
will come, will surely come" she tells her
self, bravely. There are so many things
that may have happened The mails have
been lost, stolen or seized by the Beers.
The camp may be now beyond postal COM
munication She reads with blanched
cheeks of the battles. Miles was there;
but Miles is safe, his name is not among
the killed or wounded. Still he may
be H. And with thoughts and specula-
tons OF a more or less gloomy complexion
does she torture herself through seven
days more.
Then the house is full of q subdued,
but busy, bustle, for Gussie is going co
be married. 1t is to be a very quiet we'd
ding, she tells everybody, apOlogetically,
and Erred o. so anxious to be back for
the cub-hunting." The trousseau is mag
nifcent, though many Of the dresses are
Of a mourning type-the pretty laven-
ders aud grayS, and black and white
stUlles. The presents are numerous and
costly, as has been previously stated. The
wedding taEes place without the smallest
hitch in the program, one lovely Septem-
Der morning. There was no waiting
bride. no missing bridegroom, this time.
Mr. Vashon, looking very red, and very
nervous, was awaiting his extremely self
possessed little bride for fully a quarter
Of an hour. She came at last, escorted
by Flo, and followed by Esme, who was
nearly as white as her dress-Esme, who
should have stood at that altar herself
GUST one year ago. Her face was thin,
haggard and woe-begone, her eyes had
lost their brlliancy, there were dark
marks under Them, and her lovely color
had entirely faded from her cheeks. Truly
people were beginning to whisper that the
beautiful Miss BrabaZon was now a posi-
tive wreck, and almost piain-being moth
ing more than a very thin. pale, defect
ed looking girl. Augusta made a charm
ing bride and beamed and smiled gra-
ciously on all her friends. as she walked
down the aisle on the bridegroom's arm.
She drove away from the church to By
ford, and travelled by the mail up to Lon
don. Mr. VashOn, who had 4 shrinking
horror of being recognized as a bride
groom, Indignantly rejected the coupe
which was rendered by an obsequioUs
guard, and plunged, along with his Au
igusta, into Pullman car full of other
passengers. Alas, poor ostrichi little did
your off hand manner, or 4 newspaper,
avail YOU At the next station tae beam
ing Miss CEppertons were in waiting,
with an enormous white bridal bouquet.
iGussie saw them eagerly searching The
icarriages, and shuddered; she closed her
eyes, to shut out, if possible, what was
coming. st was this: Hatty Clipperton's
bmiling face at the window, saying, "Oh,
Ehere you are, Mrs. Eashon. We brought
.5ou this bouquet with our best, best
wishes. BE sure you send us a piece of
cake"
Over MIR. Vashon's face and the faces
of the other passengers, permit us to drop
a kindly veil.