The Red Cloud chief., 1901-05-17

OI me anu DIinS me mere, anu Ohc "
the natives, who drove "A very dilapi-
dated animal that may yet, In the
course of evolutionary processes, be-
come n horse, has promised to bring
over my trunk some time In the course
OF the evening"
Clare Nelson was seven years young.
or than I, and just now In the full
bloom of her beauty. had first
known her as a mere child. In the
school where I had been so long en-
gagged. and she had loved me-not as
her teacher merely, but as her friend.
and when she had removed with her
parents to a distant city she had writ.
ten to me constantly. and our friend
ship, instead of l%essening. had grown
fonder and stronger with years.
And now to have her entirely to my
self, and to pour into her willing ear
all the secrets of my unevcntful life.
secrets so innocent and delightful
and which n certain old.maidish shy
ness had kept even from my mother.
I felt half afraid to be SO happy. In
the cool mornings and evenings we
gardened together, Clare and |. pulling
Off the dead leaves and flowers, roofing
up weeds. raking the paths and keep
ing my pretty bit of ground n model
of neatness and beauty. and In the
heat of the day we sewed and read. or
swung In the hammock that Oscar has
swung for us between the peach trees,
and after 'ea we devoted ourselves to
our visitor, for Oscar had fallen into
the habit OF coming to us on every
| night of the week. This had come
about so naturally that I had not no
ticed II, and 1t was my mother who
first drew my attention to 1t.
SIS Oscar here tonight, too?" she
asked one evening. He had come in
late. and when / chided him for not
coming to tea, he answered, almost
pettishly. that he had taken some
thing In town. and I needn't bother
about getting him anything to eat"
Eyes. mother, dear" | answered,
he comes almost every night now
indeed. every night. I think, of late
A half audible sigh escaped my
mothers lips.
II thought l heard his voice" she
said, presently, though | haven't seen
him yet"
Hes in the garden with Clare" l
answered. 'She Is so charming. and
he enjoys her company so much"
II have observed It,"
My mother spoke almost bitterly,
and again she sighed, this time deeply
and audibly.
A sharp pain went through my heart,
and l dared not ask myself the reason.
AS the evening shadows deepened, and
l moved about to place the lamp on
the table and then to find n match to
light it. Oscar and Clare entered the
room together. merry and laughing,
We all chatted and laughed, In y
somewhat forced manner, and then Os'
car got the backgammon board and
challenged Clare to n game. l could
not but remember how | had learned
the game merely to please him, and
that he now never asked me to play 1t
The evening passed quickly, but not
happily; II cloud seemed to be hanging
over US. Oscar put off his good
night" till the last moment, then sud
denly looking at his watch he started
to his feet. declaring that he would
have to run to catch his train, and II
the next moment, as 1t seemed,
heard his hurried step crunching the
gravel on the pathway, and then thu
sound of the gate closing after him.
That was Il wrctched night to me
and when ut last l slept my dreams
were troubled. Clare looked pale an,
sad when we met ut breakfast In TIT
morning, but | thought she had neve
seemed so l~ovely-her pallor. her dew.
eyes. her sweet and tremulous tone
and plantive mouth. prettier than eve
with the gentle baby-like pout on tn
delicate lips, had IA peculiar fascina
ton. | loved the girl, and though 4
some underlined way | felt that sh
/, had brought darkness into my life.
could not hate her for it-at least-no
yet.
Oscar did not come that evening
| three days passed and he did not com
but In the evening received a littl
note from him. II was kind and al
+ fectionate, anu like himself. l read
Y more than once, and wondered whG
I could have made me feel unhappy-l
1 was, as always, my own true love-
$ Could it be possible that | had been,
ADMINISTRATIONS? l rated myse
Soundly in my own thoughts, and wei
gayly singing about the house. Whe
q Glare talked, next morning, at breal
fast of going home, | would not liste
n to her, and compelled her to promi
me At least another month.
II BY this time we were well into Jul
and the cherries Were ripe, Oscar Ia
been very busy, and came only Nv
Vt evenings in the week, and as | remeI
1t bered afterward, Glare contrived to
occupied on these evenings in her ow
=, room. But on IA certain Wednesd,
h evening | had begged them to pick
ID basket of cherries for me that | mig
II make a cherry pie for tea on Oscar
10 next visit, and though Clare had begl