The Washington times., 1902-12-07

marry Muster Dick Lane. She lives In
the cottage down the lane. Her first hus-
band he went to foreign parts seven
years ago. and he was killed by the In
dians-scalped. they do say
Il caught at the gate and stared at the
boy. l couldn't say a word, something
struck me dumb
What's up. muster he said. eye
ing me uneasily. did you know poor
Muster Craven?
"Yes-no-at least. I've heard Of him,
1 said. pulling myself together under
the lads fixed gaze. SO he's dead. is
he?
'Yus. he's dead. right enough. His
widow, she waited 10 know for sure that
he was dead. and his mate brought home
some Of his things TO her. so they say.
So she's doing TO marry Muster Lane.
Some say he was her first love.
Maybe you'd like to see the wedding
muster They're coming down the street
now
Il turned and looked up the village.
toward the cottage by the cornheld,
where l had said good-by to Kitty. and
/ could see a party Of folk coming along
the highway, and felt something inside
me freeze into stone as I looked.
Il could have begun by knocking the
lad down when he told me that tale;
now Just felt dumb
I turned away from him AMI walked
up the churchyard path and into the
church II was full Of people, as it had
been for my wedding seven years be-
fore, but though many heads we're
turned as l went in. nobody knew me.
I crept into a place beside the door and
waited
Il could see my mother from far up
the aisle. She looked older. but there
was no sign OF recent sorrow on her
face. She had got used to my loss by
that time l supposed!
heard one woman say 70 another:
d" Poor old Mrs. Craven. this day Will
call her son to mind
Aye. poor old lady said the other.
twas sad, too. her son dying like that
among the sayages. But Master Lane.
he's as good as a Eon to her. takes care
OF her rarely we'll. and hos waited faith
fully for young mistress Craven, there's
no doubt OF that
And IT'S true she cared for him be
fore ever she married the other, so they
say for a fact whispered the first wom-
an. She only married young Craven be-
cause she couldn't fight against his WOO
ing. and because her father and mother
we're so set on the match. This time her
heart goes with her VOWS
THE freezing feeling inside me became
acute pain.
This time her heart goes with her
vows ! tell you those words rang IN
my ears like funeral knell l wondered
n they were true. ! tried TO tell my
self that they must be false-but when
saw Kltty's face as she came into the
door. I knew that / was wrong and the
women we're right
"Kitty's face had never worn that look
for me. I sat in the dark corner by the
door and watched my wife 10 up The
church. and that freezing feeling in my
heart Was like the torJures OF the lost
"She looked more OF woman-mY
girl did-she had grown taller. and Il
seemed 10 me that she carried herself
with a kind OF pride. as IL she vas going
20 a triumph. Her eyes shone like two
stars. the blue IN them called 20 nv
lind the blue of the summer saa Tbcra
was a smile on her lips-a smile Of such
love and happiness as made me feel ike
laying my head down on the seat and
Eobbing my heart out
she didn't wea. shining white this
time. Her gown was gray. and all soft
and flowing. II set OF her g1acefulness.
and made you see more plainly the bIuo
OF her eyes and the pink coIor that
came and went in her cheeks