The Red Cloud chief., 1901-10-11

vbo moved about Il with swift movements
and thoughtful pauscs was all In a white
gown with a few primroses In her belt.
She had a small, pale face overhung
with a cloud of brown hair. dark eyes OF
which the fire Uhere must have been hre)
appeared drowned I'm a shadow, a mouth
not always patient, as the natural curve
betrayed. but at present In a patient mood.
She made one of her pauses at the window
and looked vacantly across the park. was
that the yellow OF darfodils In the brown
distance? The door opened; a name was
announced; she crossed the room quickly.
Tom! YOU"
YES. Pippa, me-
She held out both her hands.
'Oh. 7 am glad, I am giad!'
The man smiled with a rare kindling OF
calm gray eyes. He was tall and large.
There was something In his face not TO
be exactly described as either strong or
sweet, but was both. and even more. I'm
possible to define. His right arm was In
a sling. with his left hand he held the two
smaller ones which had gathered them
selves into II.
She was too joyfufIy excited to notice
the slight tremble of the lips and the
eager gaze with which he was searching
in vain for the roses ne had left bloomin
on her face only two years before.
your wound" she said, with q
glance at the bandaged arm.
Nearly all right. And you? Have you
been very happy. happy ever since. Pip
par
Mot very, not very. Tom
Why? When I went away I thought
sou were eng
mo. not quite. And things happened
81 met Capt. Arkwright abroad and
they said he was Engaged
Not to me- said Pippa.
II must not ask you more. perhaps he
said. reading the rapid changes In her
co~untenance.
.tOh, do ask me. II you know how
have wanted to tell somebody. And there
was nobody l could dare to ask. l hushed
1t all up"
what did you hush up. Pippa? You
used to make me your confidant."
II have never had one since you went
away. VIII you sit down here and be
my father confessor? There. that Is like
the old times when l was young 1t was
to Amelia Dennis that Capt. Arkwright
was engaged to be married."
Are they married."
NO."
n nttle tOuCn OF nurnOT 1iteTeu tut
curves OF her houth.
II don't understand. How did II all
happen? | thought
That It was me. So did l.. That Is
just the point"
you
Cared for him a little. Yes. It was
all such a wretched blunder. But I re-
deemed my pride. Nobody except your
self has the faiutpst idea"
The fire was In her eyes now, n fire OF
Indignation.
Il am listening. Pippa."
"Ill tell you. Before you went away
you saw-I know you saw"
He nodded.
Then Amelia and he and I all met
at a house party. Amelia is beaati-
full
Tom saw before his mental vision a
fair, oval face, long. sleepy eyes which
were, however. v!gilant at the corners. "A
perfect nose and a mouth he did not like.
He said nothing. but his face expressed
dissent.
Pippa contradicted the dissent.
Yes, she is; or very attractive. at least
to men-"
Tom smiled.
''Or to a great many men. She made It
her business-that sounds vulgar"
Let 1t stand"
81 saw what was happening and stood
aside to let her work her will. I thought
he would bear the test. I said to myself
that II he did not l should not care.
Could you have believed me such a vain
fool? They left the house where We were
visiting. engaged"
'"Wel1?"
uV payor uh0ura1 >tthar 80 .ho,~ Sh.A 2
felt concerned. ! thought It all out with
myself one night between the stroke of
midnight and the sound Of the breakfast
gong. l was horribly miserable. Tom,
but fear OF being detected carried me
through. Amelia came to my room that
night 70 tell me Of her latest success.
She knew what she was doing. or what
she thought she was doing. II would
have been part OF her enjoyment to see
my pain, but she did not see II. 7 gave
her my lively congratulations. and a dia-
mond ring which she had admired on
my finger. At breakfast next morning
I looked. I do believe. as happy a girl as
could be found. Fortunately, they both
left the house where we were staying Inn
meGiately afterwsrd. and I did not sre
them for a month. There had to be a lS-
tie waiting on account OF marriage settle
ments before the wedding could take
place. And now I come to the wicked
part OF my proceedings"
go on. Pippa.'
"Oh It was simply this. knew they
would never pull together. and gave
them an opportunity for finding II out. ]
invited them both to pay a long visit at
Netherlands, and never had an engaged
pair more liberty for maxim. a thorough
acquaintance with each other. Weather.
lands is a retired spot. and they were
thrown a great deal on each others socl-
ETY.. They really made a very charming
group as they sat under the blossominp
pear trees. They are both 80 good look.
r Ing and she is always so exquisitely
dressed. 1t was quite suggestive of one
of Maud Goodman's pictures.
We'll. first the lines and movements OF
the living pictures were all expressive OF
poetry. but by and by a Hide too much
| fixed repose appeared In tho scene. Anne,
= LAS beauty Is rather OF the indolent or.
der. Long silences and airs OF ennui be.