The Red Cloud chief., 1902-04-04

Even the clinging hand on his arin ana
the soft voice of Isabel, as she rippled
out the events OF her day. failed to
rouse him. II was only n short dis
lance to- the thcater and they walked.
II would be over by eleven. Their ne
would take her home. then to his W
rooms. then? Would he sleep? How
would he pass the night? How would ,
II seem In the morning? lie shivered
a little. The girl pressed his arm
close to her side.
Are you cold, dear" she asked;
what is IT."
No, Jack Holloway was not cold. not
tired c~xactly-iust "a little upset-it
was nothing. lie laughed and the
sound seemed hard and tangled to MS
ears. He glanced at the happy face by
his side and n wave OF awful reproach
swept him. She must never know. HIS
brain whirled u bit-if h did learn
what would II be to her? lie had seen
her when the dreadful news or her
fathers sudden death was broken 10
her. The memory of the stricken race.
the agony In her eyes, had often risen
before him. Then he had comforted
her. Now? He must not think
there must be some way out OF the
dreadful tangle. He made an enort
and began TO talk business, gossip,
anything.
The orchestra was playing n medley
as they walked to their seats. The mel
ody broke into THE Old Kentucky
Home" as the usher slammed down the
chairs. Holloway took Unnecessary
time I'm taking of his overcoat. was
It fate? That air of all others! Gould
he sit there and smile and talk? lie
must, Occasionally the melodrama
dulled his sense of unrest and he for
got. Then the quick, sharp pang or
remembrance to sting and horrify him.
He kept looking ut his watch-would IL
never be over?
Isabel chatted happily during the In
terludes and pressed close to him dur
ing the emotional scenes. 1t was 30
comforting to have Jack all her own.
Her young heart throbbed In sympathy
with the woes OF the heroine and tears
came to her eyes. She could feel Jack
so near her and his presence stilled
and helped her. He was so handsome
and strong. and how intent he seemed
on the play.
The walk home seemed 80 short to
her-so long to him. He kissed her
mechanically a.3 he left her and apollo
gized for being such poor company.
Isabel did not mind; beyond the fact
of his rather unusual silence she had
noticed nothing. Only a few months
now and she would be Mrs. Jack-that
was happiness enough. And. of course
she must not expect him to talk wher
he was tired. Happy, b~lue-eyed. sun
, ny-haired Isabel! How little she knew
!. Of the black despair Grazing her lover'
brain.
In his own rooms at last with tn
: doors carefully locked the man turnet
on the lights and threw himself into
chair, tore a letter from his pocket ant
read 1t over and over again, while hi
face grew white and great beads o
Precipitation gathered upon his brow
= my W Jack!" the letter ram. "
am not dead after all-it was all a mis-
take. ! left the company the very da
h OF the fire and have been abroad wit
Maxey's troupe. Just returned las
Saturday. jenkins told me where 20
a were and that you thought l had bee
cremated with the other girls. Ho'
oil dreadful for you, love. Won't you b
10 glad to see little Maudie? No wonde
you have buried yourself in Milwaukee
Well, l shall reach there Friday an
will tell you all about 1t. Good-by
until then. We will make up for goo
this time. Your devoted wife,
MAUD"
Holloway sat looking at the letter.
His devoted wife!" Back. baC
travelled his thoughts. How did 1t q
begin? Where? Could It have bee
but a year ago-that short. mad ep
sode? Oh, fool. fool! what had po
sessed him! He saw as in a dream Il
gay lights Of a southern theater.
graceful dancing girl. an i~ntroductit
behind the scenes: q private room