Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-10-08

sharply, a dim premonition of danger
chilling the summer air around her
What do you mean?"
"Only that l got my walking papers
last night-only that ! arm ordered to
India with my regiment--only- with
a sudden burst OF wrath, that | am
the most miserable wretch on Gods
earth today"
Through every nerve OF his listener
thrilled a vibrant. overwhelming shock
of pain. Every trace of color faded
from her face; II grew ungirIishly
white and rigid in the hot sunshine.
I'll do not think | quite under
stand" she said. slowly, like one in
doubt. "Will you tell me again."
II am going away" helplessly. Il
am going away from Cragton; am
going away from the cottage; de
sparingly--"I am going away from
youl"
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 tr~eacherous color still
truant from her cheek.
Then. with a great effort, she recov-
cred herself. and held out a little,
shaking hand.
II am very sorry" with a 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
TIL we meet again. Laurie-Laurie-
Laurie! | love you'll love you'll"
Into the pale, dropping face flashed
a glow, and a color and a light; into
the compressed lips a sudden scarlet
RIGHTEOUSNESS.
.Laurie!" he pleaded-'Iaurie!".
Slowly the bright head was uplfted
till her glance met his. And then he
knew his fate, knew 1t with a 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, lam 1 too
lightly won? I 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:
"sBut trust me, gentlemen. I'll prove
more " 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 half-terriied, gasping word.
For down the distant road there
came the tramp OF marching feet, the
sound of fife and drum.
Is there anything more h%umorously
pathetic, I wonder. than the change OF
a regiment in an English garrison
town? The detachment of happy
small boys who escort 1t, the many dis.
consulate maidens who follow it till it
steams out of the station, learning
too late that a soldier like a 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 iear-'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 1t.
II must. But I viii come back tc
you. Oh, be true to me, my darling
my darlingi The knowledge of your
love has softened the pain of depart
ure. 1t win help me, it will aid me.
till we meet again. For meet again
we will. as surely as there is a God
above us! Good-bye-oh, my love. my
dearest-good-bye!"
He caught her In bis strong, eager
arms. He kissed the sweet, tremulouf
lips overland 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 breathed softly. "Hear
what they are playing"
Closer 1t sounded, and more tri-
umphant. The regiment was passing.
Every HIND was lifted In a roachapicaI