Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-02

had been there for forty years. I will
be honest. l did not do this of myself,
my own free will. In my love for you.
and desire to have you with me always,
l almost committed a crime. / was
tempted to conceal the discovery l had
made; 1 knew that II l cleared Mortimer
you were lost to me. 1 struggled with
temptation and fell asleep, still not con-
quering it. In my sleep l dreamed-I
don't think 1t was a dream, It was like a
vision-you came to me, and when / said
that Mortimer was innocent you kissed me
on the forehead. 1 woke then, and the
struggle had ceased-the temptation had
passed. I came down here, and Cass has
confessed that he took the money"
Would you like it-would you think It
wrong-it seems so little for me to do
may 1 kiss you now, as 1 did in your
dream, and thank you from the bottom Of
my heart for making me so happy? 1t all
seems like a dream to me now"
For answer Crane inclined his head. and
Allis, putting her hand upon his shoulder,
kissed him on the forehead, and through
him went a thrill OF great thankfulness, of
Joy such as he knew would never have
come to him had he gained through treach-
cry even this small token Of conquest.
There" he said, taking Allis by the
arm and gently drawing her back to the
chair; now / a IN repaid a thousandfold
for not doing a great wrong. You have
beaten me twice within a few DAYS,
fancy I should almost be afraid to be your
husband. you master me so easily"
The girl laughed; not that Crane had
said the most brilliant thing she ever
heard, but because she was happy. II he
had said Frogs are queer creatures" Il
is quite likely she would have laughed IN
just the same happy way.
That's Mortimer coming" Crane said
suddenly, as a step with more consistency
in its endeavor than pertained to the
hostler's, sounded, coming up the stairs
Il sent for him. he added, seeing the
look of happy confusion on Allis' face.
Come In" he called cheerily, in answer
to a knock on the door.
You sent for me-" Then Mortimer
stopped suddenly and stood staring first a
Allis. then at Crane. alternately. bacl
and forth from one to the other.
Crane turned his back upon the youngel
man and busted himself wondrously owe
the manipulations OF a chair. A stranE,
dread crept into Mortimer's heart; 4
smothered him, he felt dizzy Why dlt
Allis look so happy-why were Their,
NAAAN' ~ " " Wath az hnuN
that there were ashes of gloom in his soul
Why was she alone there with Crane? Wa
IL but another devlish trick OF misfortune
that pursued him?
Good afternoon. Miss" h worI
stuck In Mortimer's throat and he com
pleted his greeting with a most DREADFUL
formal bow
The girl laughed outright How drol
1t was to see a man trying to make him
self unhappy when there was nothing bu
happiness in the worldI Through the opel
window she could hear the birds singinl
and through 1t came the perfume Of clover
buried fields; across the floor streame,
warm, bright sunlight from a blue sky, II
which there was no cloud And from thei
lives. Mortimer and her own. had bee
swept the dark eloud-and here in tn
midst Of all this Joy was her lover with
long, sad face, trying to reproach her wit
a stih, awkward bow
Her laugh twirled Crane about like
top. He saw the odd situation; there wa
something incongruous about Mortimer
stih attitude. Crane had a big cloud o
his own. not quite driven from his sky, bu
a smile lowered on his thin lips. This hap
piness was worth catching.
Mortimer noticed the distssteful mirt
reflected In the other mans face and h
repeated with a dreadful asperity. oh. 8
dignihed, you sent for me. sir-may
ask"
For a chair-certainly." said Crane. an
he pushed the one he had been toytn