The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-07-17
ELAINE OF THE ORCHARDS
By MARTHA NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

In a minute they would be upon her. In
stinctiyely Elaine swung herself TO an ambush
of thick green leaves. AS she crouched, shak-
| ing all over, the nearing hoofbeats stopped.
| Clear across the silence she heard Allan sayt
you'll have to marry me, Madge, unless you
| can think of some other way out Oh, no! i
am not committed, except morally. 1t waa
| the music laid hold on me- Elaine can make
piano keys say the most beautiful things.
| really forgot she was woman until Theirs
are things one cannot put in words!'
| Evidently a rich voice answered. "But
| since you have spoken SO much you must tell
the whole truth. Did you draw back the very
| minute you found out your mistake? II you
did, you are not wholly despieable. Other
| wise -e---
! Elaine, gasping. felt the tentative pause
A rufiing wind let her see through the leaves,
A 1.-the young goddess, yellow haired, with
straight brows and unsmiling mouth, looked
full in Allan's face. Her bride hand lay
easily on the reins, but the other, hanging at
| her side, WAS so tightly clinched the whip
| within it bent. Love may be blind; jealousy
has eyes that see far and deep BY the tense
clutch Elaine understood. Madge loved her
| cousin, yet had strength to sit in judgment OF
| him. -s
.sYou are silent. That is answer enough"
| Madge said after a long minute; then, with
| the least hard breath: The way out is the
| right and true one. You have taught WON
an to love you; now teach yourself to love
| her as she deserves
'It is your fault after all, Madge," Allan
said, signing. "You ought TO- have made me
| love-O, I know you could have done it
but chose instead to laugh me out OF senu-
ment, because, forsooth, you wanted your own
| way. I don't love you as matters stand, outs
on my soul, when I look at you do not TN.
| derstand how ever kept from 1T
| go to Elaine!" Madge commanded, wheel
ing her horse.
Allan kept doggedly beside her. ''To-mor-
row will be time enough" he said 'tPoor
| Elaine! She is O million times too good for
me-so much too good tremble to think OF
| taking her happiness in my hands
! AS they galloped off Elaine crept from her
covert and sank beside her basket, a hud-
! died. moaning heap. She lay there until SUM-
down, love fighting hard with woman's pride.
| And love won out. That night all her prayer
was, Lord, Lord, let him love me or else
| let me die
ALLAN cams to her next day as she knelt
beside the peach basket lifting up pink
| flushed beauties from their nests Of cool
green leaves. His whisper in her ear made
| her cheeks outfush the pinkest peach, but
| she shook her head when he made to raise
| her hand and lead her away. II will come
| presently she said. Mother cannot get
through dinner without me-" Yet when ne
left her she got suddenly white, and her
| hands trembled so she almost let fall laden
| dish.
Time ambIes withal in spite Of heartaches.
Somehow dinner got itself over and left
Elaine free. She slipped away toward the
spring in the edge Of the grove.
Half way Madge overlook her and said,
with no pretense OF greeting, 'You must not
mind about anything to-day, only being
happy ,rv-Fzs 81
For a minute they walked in silence down
the sun-hecked path. It bordered the road
by which teams were taken to water. There
: was sharp turn in the road where the path
> crossed it to reach the we'll As the
two came to it a thunder Of hoofs bore down
| on them, cut through with weak terrified
screams. Wild jamie Lee had ventured Il
drive the wickedest pair upon the grounds
3 They had taken the bits in their teeth and
were running away.
r Madge sprang back to let them pass, tripped
on loose stone and fell forward almost
t Under their feet. Elaine darted. caught the
2 leaders bit and swerved him sharply aside
E He reared, striking out with both boots, but
2 she chung fast until stronger hands stayed
2 the maddened beasts, then slid into Allan's
t arms, with blood gushing over her lips. Be.
tween the spurts she whispered to him: Ell
has all come right, know. I had to SAVE
: ker-beeause she gave you to me You nus
q grieve for me-a little bit. But God kneE
best. He heard my prayers