The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-03-27

minute lltA ne HNANf
Il honor you. Miss Ellet. as I honor
my mothers memory For you, and
for any dear TO you, I would do any
thingr
He would not hurt her BY refusing
TO keep the watch "as security" and
she could not see how tenderly be
kissed It before locking Il IN the safe
IN his desk-f0r she was standing by
Leland Forsyth. and looking him quiet
~ in the face. as she said:
Here is the money. Lee. As for The
half Of it that was mine, / never wish
Il again. The balance you Will pay
some time. ] must 90 now. GOod-by,
LeeT'
She meant something more than an
everyday good-by. and the young man
knew H.
He took eagerly the hand she extend
ed. and drew her a little nearer to him.
But she released herself presently, and
stood looking at the spray OF the foun-
tain, seeing only the splendor Of a
dream. and the yastness Of it all.
III WAS a sweet. sweet life. but It Is
over now" she said. as II talking 20
her heart.
"What is over, Mollieg" asked For
syth.
Everything -between you and me, +"
she answered, lifting her eyes that had
only sorrow IN them-sorrow and a
deep. deep pain.
Forsyth's face blazed with anger.
$50" be hissed. seizing her by the
shoulder aud pressing his fingers hard
into the tender flesh. 1T means that,
does itg I might have known better
than 10 have trusted q beautiful face.
But really, he got you cheap"
If Leland Forsyth could have had
his words back By the loss Of his right
hand. he would have suffered that loss
gladly. Half-drunken though he was.
he knew that nothing could henceforih
bridge the awful gulf he himself had
fixed between his life and hers; and
the knowledge took his strength away.
lie sank upon the basins rim and
bowed his head In his hands, shlyerlng
from head TO feet
She looked at him for a moment, the
saints scorn" on her face fading out.
and leaving only pity there Then she
turned. and vent through the sunshine
and the singing OF birds TO her work.
that had in II now no hope Of anything
fair and sweet-no couleur de rose OF
love-no anything but the peace that
must 20 hand-in-hand with duty.
Six months later she redeemed her
watch.
She had worked so hard 10 do this!
She had gone without the actual COM
forts Of life. that she might meet the
obligation when Il became due-for she
guessed rightly that no help would
come TO her from Forsyth. aud she had
grown thin and pale and weak
Geonrey Blake had noted all this.
but a seal was on his lips. He could
not tell his love 10 the promised wife
Of another. though It wrung hIs heart
70 see the changes wrought by a few
brief months; and his voice was
chOked with tears when he said:
"And when am to congratulate
Forsyth He did not say you" He
could not be false to his convictions
even In so slight thing; and he knew
that Mary Ellets marriage with For
syth would be. 50 far as she was con
cerned. no subject for congratulation.
'When be makes himself worthy the
love OF a good woman's llfer she said.
quietly
DO you mean" be began. eager
~.
Il mean that for six months I have
not seen him. shall never see him
again! The old dream Is ended Do
not mention it any more; but do not
blame himl"
Her voice was low and even; her
eyelids were dropped. She did not see
the man cover his face with his hands
TO hid his joy. nor the light there when
the hands had sought her own.
"Molller be said. and something in
his voice assured her Of what she was
10 hear. ~Molllcl
II It might be
Appointed unto me
God knows how sweet to me-
TO plunge into the sharp surprise
OF burning battles. blood and cries,
And face the bltterest FIRE for you.
And fight the deadly fight for twog
think ! should be happier than any
other man on earthl have loved you
a long time, MOllie. butt could not say
50 until now. because you were not
free, thought Look up, dear one. and
tell me | may make all your life
smooth and sweet henccfcrthl Look
up. and say you viii be my wife my
honorcd, worshiped wife,
She did look up"-how could she
help it7-and IN an instant her head
was held close to the bosom that was
to be It's refuge evermore. and her hap
py tears were falling like the quick
rain outside and al her life was
budded for It's blossoming; and rain
bow spanned the heaven Of her new
born hope: and God had not forgotten
10 be graciousl
So she said. when she grew quiet and