Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1901-12-26

nonsense, Alice thought, as later, shs
stood before her mirror and saw re-
nected there her own form clad in It's
white sllken robes.
Poor John! She wished she had not
thought of him, as she stood io her
wedding dress. The air was very
heavy tonight. Ii was this which t,p
pressed her so.
Come in" she called to thu Laocls
at her door.
The little maid entered
On. Miss Alice, law, Miss. how
beautiful you do look. The gentle
man Is downstairs and wants to see
YOU immediate. Miss"
The gentleman! OF course she
meant Dent. She had great mind
to run down just as she was. to hear
IL he would echo the little maids yer
diet, 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-fashioncd lamp on the
table burning dimly; but sitting in
corner on the sofa she saw mans
form, a man who rose impetuansiy to
his feet as she entered.
With smile upon her lips and 10
her eyes, and a bright spot of soarle.
In her cheeks, she tripped across the
floor and turned the lamp so that its
light streamed full upon her. then
looked up into Dents face to sec the
look of love and admiration gathering
there-looked to find 1t not Bent. but
some one who, for Il moment. seemed
stranger-somc ono whose face was
bronzed and bearded, but with
strange pallor gathering on it 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 iu her
cheek, to the silken train which
swept the floor in its purity, and the
orange flowers she had fastened In heG
breast Yes, she knew him now. 1t
was John, come home to claim her
for his very own. His voice wns very
hoarse when he spoke.
Il came for my bride" he said. ia
she here? IL this dress for me
Have pity" she walled, in answer.
Two years were such long while.
For six months | had not heard.
thought you were dead. or had forgot
ten me-
Men do not forget" he answered.
1--WE leave that to the women who I'M
do us. Six months! And il seemed
To 70 I.,
you know what | have endured for
the reward of this moment? Wha,
was hunger, toll. privation. homesick
ness to me? | almost welcomed them
| for ever behind them all was tho
thought that all were for you. for thu
day which was slowly, slowly creeping
on, when l might stand before you
and say: Alice, l have proved my
love with a price. You may accept It
darling, without fear. 1t has been
purified through fire. And when, six
months ago. my browning success
| came, | started in search of you; but
the long hardships had done Their
work. For months | was at Death's
door, unable to write, or to let Others
write. Then, when ! grew stronger
! said i will wait until / can go tt
her. You were sheltered, cared fo,,
happy-aye, i was so mad as to think
praying for mel even thanked GOD
that your prayers had restored my iifJ
and reason. | am as the man whc
toiled all his life in search of a gilt
tering diamond, and when at length
he picked it up triumphant, he discov.
cred it to be piece OF shining glass
John, John! Forgive me-" she
pleaded, clinging with both hands tG
his arm, her face upturned In It's pale
beauty to his. l loved you then. Be
lleve 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 il
mean?
He heard not the mans answering
words" Forgive you? Never!
saw only his last, mad, passionate EN-
brace as he sn3tched her uBresisting
form in his arms and covered her face
with kisses which seemed half hatred
ard half love, then released her and
went out into the night.
The next day little note was put
into John Maxwell's hand, and, as he
tore it open. the strong man trembled
like child. He had grown calmer
since the night previous, though all
the joy and lightness had died out OF
his life.
"fou have had your revenge" sh,
wrote. THE man | was To marry saw
YOU take me In your arms, and hcarC
me say that | had loved you. Perhap,
| deserved my punishment. but IL is verJ
bitter. You left me two years. IL you
had loved me you would not have don,
so. ! was child, and l forgot you an
learned to love another. l no longcI
ask you to forgive me, since you hay,
wreaked upon me your revenge"
His own life stretched bare and
blank and desolate before him. Flo.
a moment he felt a wild JOY that s.
hers might prove. The next, after q
brief struggle, his manhood con.
quered. His revenge should be some
thing nobler than a girls wrecked life
something which, after long and
lonely years. he might recall without
a blush of shame.
Dohe beAter was dione III the COT
tage he had prepared for his bride
sitting with bowed head. when joins
Maxwell sought him out. The inter
view between them was very brief
but for an instant. as they parted
their hands met in a long, silent clasp
One man had given happiress-ont
had renowned it. So the wedding
day was not postponed, but Alice's
fingers trembled as she again fastened
her wedding dress, and tears dimmet
| her eypa "a sha hant IN faofeu Tn.