The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-10-07
The
Curse .. Carrington
By X. TEMPLE MOORE.
Fourth, But your furlough is not half

| sharply, dim premonition OF danger
chilling the summer air around her
what do you mean"
! "Only that got my walking papers
| last night-only that | am ordered tc
India with my egiment-only-"w with
a sudden burst of wrath, "that / an
the most miserable wretch on Gods
earth to-day!"
Through every nerve of his listener
] thrilled vibrant. overwhelming shock
OF pain Every trace of color faded
from her face; it grew ungirlishly
white and rigid in the hot sunshine.
IL do not think ! quite under
stand" she said, slowly, like one in
doubt. Twill you tell me again."
II am going away" helplessly. Il
| am going away from Cragton; / am
going away from the cottage; DE
sparingly-'T am going away from
you'll"
A bit of gold lace on his coat caught
a stray sunbeam and blazed brayely
against the scarlet
"You are going away!" she echoed,
blankly, that treacherous color still
| truant from her cheek.
Then, with great effort, she recov-
cred herself, and held out little,
shaking hand.
81 am very sorry" with wan smile;
we have had such pleasant times. Bon
voyage!"
He thrust open the gate and stood
before her. He caught the hand ex-
tended in his own fierce grasp. His
eyes-those black, lustrous eyes In
herited from his Italian mother--were
lurid and passionate as he bent above
her.
DON'T" holly. We must not part
like strangers Give me a promise
give me a memory to keep me strong
till we meet again. Laurie-Laurie-
Laurie! I love you'll love you'll"
Into the pale, dropping face flashed
glow, and color and light; into
the compressed lips a sudden scarlet
tremulousness.
LAUREL" he pleaded-"Laurie!"
Slowly the bright head was uplfted
till her glance met his. And then he
knew his his fate, knew it with fierce,
exultant throbbing of his heart.
For flushing the soft cheeks, touch
ing the lovely lips, kindling the lumin-
GUS eyes, was "the light that never lay
on land or sea-"
He put one strong arm around her
and drew her to him In swift. word
less ecstasy. He bent and laid his
first kiss on her lips-love's sacred
| seal.
| She glanced up at him, her exquis-
lite, childish face hot with bushes.
"Clive," she whispered, "am | too
lightly won? fear so; but" simply,
Il love YOU"
And then there flashed to her mind
the memory of those tender, womanly
words said long ago in old Verona.
She laughed and quoted them, softly:
But trust me, gentlemen. I'll prove
rocre trre than those that have more
| cunning to be strange"
but suddenly she started and stood
trembling from head to feet.
"Hark!"
He smiled strangely at the sound OF
the halfterrified, gesping word.
For down the distant road there
came the tramp of marching feet, the
sound of fife and drum.
Is there anything more humorously
pathetic, wonder, than the change OF
regiment in an English garrison
town? The detachment of happy
small boys who escort 1t, the many dis.
consulate maidens who follow it till IL
steams out of the station, learning
too late that soldier like sailor has
"a love in every port"-are all worthy
of curious. If half-cynical. regard.
! Tramp, tramp, tramp, came the
sound of many feet And tramp
tramp! went the pulse of many a
heart.
"you are not going now?" Laurie
Lisle cried in sudden fear-"not
now?"
Already the regiment had come in
sight, a brilliant scarlet phalanx, with
brass buttons glistening, colors flying
bayonets bristling. He took the love
ly troubled face in his hands and kiss
ed It,
II must. But / will come back ts
you. oh. be true to me, my darling
my darling! The knowledge of YOU
love has softened the pain of depart
ure. 1t will help me, 1t will aid me
till we meet again. For meet ageir
We will, as surely as there is Goo
above us! Good-bye-oh, my love, my
dearest--gocd-bye!"
He caught her in his strong, eager
arms. He kissed the sweet, tremuloui
lips over and over.
my Lowell" he whispered, my wife
my darling!"
Nearer and nearer down the smooth
hard road came the crash OF the mu
sic.
'Hark!" she hreathed softly. "Heal
what they are plxying."
Closer It sounded, and more tri
umphant. The regiment was passing
Every hand was lifted In q mechanics
salute to their officer as they marched
by. One man. leading great, blacl
horse, paused beside the gate.
A moment more. and Give Caring
ton was riding rapidly away to thu
braying music of "The Girl Left Be
hind Me-" He lifted his cap reverent
".