The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-05-22

He gave the door bell a sharp pull
and waited impatiantly for some one to
respond. He had no right to be i'm
patient with any one but himself-his
heart told him that! but just the same
1t seemed that somebody was awfully
SLOW about answering that bell He
had time to walk to the end of the
porch and back again twice before the
door was finally opened by an old col
ored woman, who, after gazing at him
blankly for moment, gave a grin Of
recognition and began bobbing UP and
down, looking more like a cork on a
choppy sea than anything else that he
could think of.
why. Mr.. Jack! How you is chang;
mos didn't know you" she said,
working in the words between the
bobs "An' you had to wait till Chris
mas come round so you would come
back de same time you lef'. Thank'ee,
MI. Jack, thank ee'-closing her hand
over a new half dollar-"I suttenly is
glad you come I suttenly is. An Miss
Grace gWineter be glad, too. Yes sub,
come right in and mex yosef com
ftable, an I'll go right long am fell
er you come"
She went up the big winding stairs,
stopping at every third or fourth step
10 glance back at him over her shout
der with look of admiration. He was
good TO look at-tall and straight, with
shoulders broad and a graceful car
rage. Ills eyes We're his best features,
dark brown and clear, but the face was
cream cut and most people thought him
handsome.
Iie removed his top coat, which he
hung on the rack with his hat, and
then slowly made his way across the
vide hall, now beautifully dressed with
nolly ana mlStletoe, and drew aside the
neaVy portieres. Once more he was in
the gold and white room which he
knew so well. Nothing was changed.
There was the piano where it had al
ways stood. He went over and glanced
at the piece of music which was open
on It. "A Dream of Love-" he said:
That was my favorite; let me see.
what was hers-but oh well, what's the
use thinking about it anyway; it's all
over now and neither Of us cares, so
what does 1t matter"
The holly in the big vases on the
manteipiece looked just like that which
was there the day he went away pre-
served in it's freshness by some magic
power. He could almost swear it was
arranged just the same way, and he
went over and pulled spray of berries
to fasten in his coat. Then he remem
bered that on that Christmas, two
years ago, flower, a rose, had been
Plliiieu III MS coat and he put the bit
or molly back again, but just for a mo-
ment, and calling himself a fool he took
IT once more and fastened it roughly to
MS lapel, staring down into the red
Goals Which were burning so brightly in
the open CRATE.
If l hadn't felt positively sure, he
went, on, in his thoughts, never would
nave come; but then I didn't want her
TO think that we We're not good friends
ana as had to come south again, and
at Christmas, too, I thought I might
call Just for friendships sake. There
were some pretty high words but 7
reckon We've both forgotten them now:
at least know I have, and her little
note was very cordial. Let me see
how 1t Went-"You certainly must not
leave town without seeing me- for the
sake of the old days, and, besides. I
nave q Christmas surprise for YOU
our flowers were lovely"
Now that was certainly a friendly
little note. / wonder what the Christ
mas surprise is? We always did have
some little surprise for each other at
Christmas. see she hasn't forgotten
It,. Maybe she will suggest that we be
friends again, aye, and more. Maybe
she will be willing to forget the last
two years and we can be as we were
before Maybe
She say she be down in a few min
utes, Mr. Jack said the old darky
from behind the portieres.
All right" he answered; thank
YOU" 80