The Washington times., 1902-12-07
: :, HOLD YOUR PEACE. :, :,
A TALE OF A MODERN ENOCH ARDEN,

''The sunlight came through the win
dows in purple splashes and fell across
her dress. the same as it had fallen on
our wedding day. and one sunbeam
struck on her hair and turned it 20 gold
Il only know I walked I'm Heaven
those days Sometimes we went over
the fields in the evening. after the corn
was cut and Il stood in sheaves among
the stubble. and a great red moon came
up over the eIms The world was fairy
land 20 me-then.
we we're 20 be married I'm October.
and then l was TO go out West to a
ranch that was waiting for me. In the
spring 1 was to come back and fetch
Kitty. That was the plan. But plans
don't always pan out right. any more
than other things do" His usually gem
tie voice suddenly sounded hard. but it
softened again at once.
We'll. we we're married in October
Kitty and land I was the happiest chap
in the British Empire that day. She
looked can't tell you how she looked
on her-weddlng day. Her white gown
shone as she came up the church to my
side. and the sun came in through the
.colored glass OF the windows. and made
great purple splashes over It's white
ness.
An old chum Of hers and mine-Dick
Lane. I'll caIl him-was my best man. ]
never guessed-not then-that he had
felt for Kitty something Of what 1 felt
for her and that she
Never mind about that. She and /
were married. We walked down the,
church path together. man and Wife
and the yellow leaves Of the chestnut
tree made a carpet for us to walk on
TO the lych gate.
There WAS cottage down the lane.
Kitty and I went there. and Tor "a month
was as happy as a king. Nothing came
to spoil my happiness. Life seemed to
stretch before me like path Of gold.
And then ] went away. I left my
wife there. in our little home. where
she had old friends about her. and my
mother just up the road TO take care of
her till I could fetch her in the spring.
Her own people, too, were close at hand.
felt she would be safe. It gladdened
me TO leave her as my wife; ] had had
hard work TO persuade her 10 marry me
so quickly. but she had agreed at last.
and thought that she was as happy as ].
But the parting was bitter-the parting
was bitter"
He was silent again after those words
"a long. long silence.
II went West" he resumed abr,JtIv
and got started with my ranch. I pros
pered nightly. Nothing has prospered
so well with me since. Perhaps I have
never had much heart for it. when I
was getting ready Kltys home every
thing went well. l felt myself Just the
luckiest chap alive ! could have sang
all day for gladncss. I counted the days
tin spring should come. ana 7 planned
out just how everything would be when
she and / drove up 10 the ranch to-
gether.
That didn't all pan out the same as
j meant either There's a funny sort
.Of muddIe sometimes about this bust
ness we call Life
Il built my house. mostly with my own
hands. my mate on the ranch giving me
a help now and then. 7 tell you I made
that house coy place for my little
girl. and the room that was 10 De her
sitting room was the one ! spent most
thought and time over. ] tried 10 see il
all with her eyes-the eyes of a girl
fresh from the old country-and I don't
believe she'd have been dissatisfied with
n she'd got there.
Blu, she never came-she never
came"
Life out West was wild in those davs
wilder 10y a long chalk than 60 is now q"
ne said az last. You've heard my tales
about the times We had with Indians.
But you never knew before that when