The Red Cloud chief., 1901-12-20

nOtnlnG OF JOnn. somehow snc cOulu
not gather courage TO frame tho
words. And John had forgotten her.
He would never know. II was better
that he should not. Love Is ever
jealous, and he might upbraid her, or
think even while he had won her that
she might prove inconstant to him as
to her first lover. Some day when
she was his wife. his very own. she
would whisper tho story into his ear.
and then they would bury poor John
together.
Somebody has said Il was bad luck
for a bride to don her wedding dress
before the wedding day. IL was all
nonsense, Alice thought, as later. h
stood before her mirror and saw re-
white silken robes.
Poor John, She wished she had not
thought of him. AZ she stood in her
wedding dress. The air was very
heavy tonight. 1t was this which OPP
pressed her 80.
Come in," she called to the knock
ut her door.
, Tho little maid entered.
"On. Miss Alice! law. Miss, how
beautiful you do look. The gentle
man is downstairs and wants 10 sec
you immediate, Miss"
The gentleman! or course she
meant Dent. She had n great mind
to run down just as she was, to q
IL he would echo the little maids YER
dict. and say that he, too, thought her
beautiful. The impulse Of vanity was
not TO be resisted. and gathering up
her silken skirts she ran lightly down
the stairs. The room was In shadow.
the large, old-fashione ed lamp on the
table burning dimly; but sitting In a
corner on tho sofa she saw a mans
form, a man who rose impetuously to
his feet as she entered. - - 9
With a smile upon her lips and In
her eyes, and a bright spot of scarlet
In her cheeks. she tripped across the
floor and turned the lamp 30 that It's
light streamed full upon her, then
looked UP into Dents face to sec tho
look of love and admiration gathering
there-looked to find 1t not Dent, but
some one who. for q moment, seemed
q stranger-some one who's face was
bronzed and bearded, but with a
strange pallor gathering on 1t as he
looked In vain for the words OF love
and recognition which did not come
looked from her own paling face. from
the dying spots Of scarlet In her
check. TO the silken train which
swept the floor In its purity. and the
orange flowers she had fastened In hor
breast. Yes, she knew him now. II
was John, come home to claim hei
for his very own His voice was very
hoarse when he spoke.
II came for my bride" he said. "I'
she here? Is this dress for me
Have pity" she walled, In answer
Two years were such n long while
, For six months ! had not heard.
thought you were dead, or had forgot
ten me-"
Men do not forget" he answcret
4 w leave that to the women who un
, do us. Six months! And IL scenes
, to you a long time : O wait. Child. d.
, O know what ] have endured 70
. the reward of this moment? VIVA
WAS hunsar. toll, privatien, homesicls
ness TO me- alfir.st welcomed them
far ever behind Tiers ala wu- a.
thought that all were for you, for tn
dny which was slowly, Slowly creepin,
on. when ] might stand before yo,
and say: Alice, ] have proved m,
love with a price. You may accept ~
darling, without fear. Ii has beet
purified through fire. And when. ST,
] months ago. my browning success
came, / STARRED in search of you; blu
he long hardships had done the,i
work. For months ] was mt Death.
door. unable TO write, or to let other,
write. Then. when ! grew stronger
i said: i will wait until ] can 20 t
htr.' You were sheltered. cared for
happy-aye, ! was SO mad as { thinl
praying tor mel even thanked Goo
that your prayeIE had restored my lifS
and reason. ! am rs the man who
toiled all his life In search of a gilt
terdng diamond, and when at length
he picked it up triumphant. he discov.
cred 1t to be a pietc of shining glass;
John. John! Forgive me-" she
pleaded. clinging with both hands &c
his arm, her face %upturned in it's pale
beauty to his. / loved you then. Be-
lieve me, / loved you then"
Through the open window stole her
words, paralyzing the form of an un.
seen listener. who had at that moment
appeared upon the scene. What did II
mean?
He heard not the mans answering
~ "---i-.- -~.,7 Neyer,o-but
saw only his last, mad, passionate GU.
brace as he snatched her unresisting
form in his arms and covered her face
with kisses which seemed half hatred
and half love, then released her and
went out into the night.
The mex day a little note was puI
into John Maxwell's hand. and, as h,
tore 1t open. the strong man tremble,
like a child. He had grown calmel
sinca the night nravinua thn,toh aI