Gilpin observer., 1903-06-25
The Bow of Orange Ribbon
AROMANCE OF NEW YORK
BY AMELIA E. BARR
o. and the otheso I'M
BY andC Company
CHAPTER x.-(continued.) -
A ROMANCE OF NEW YORK
By AMELIA E. BARR

JOris was SO wrapped up in MS
grief that he did not notice Bran was
suffering also. Bran got the brunt
OF the worlds wonderings and fnqui-
ries People who did net like to ask
Joris questions felt no such delicacy
with Bran. Joris could, in some de-
gree, control himself; he could speak
OF the marriage with regret, but with
out passion; he had even alluded, in
some cases, to Hyde's family and ex-
pectations. The majority believed
that he was secretly little proud OF
/ tho alliance. But Bran was afiame
with Indignation; first, IL the mar
riage were at all doubted; second, II
lit we're supposed to be satisfactory
one to any member of the Van Heems-
kirk family.
Hyde's brother officers held high
festival to their comrades success. 10
every bumper they read the marriage
nOrIce aloud, as a toast, and gave a
kint of national triumph to what was
a purely personal affair. Joris read 1t
with dim eyes, and then lit his long
Gouda pipe and sat smoking with an
air OF inexpressible loneliness. Lys-
bet read it, and then put the paper
carefully away among the silks and
satins in her bottom drawer. Neil
Semple read it and re-read it. 1t
seemed to have a fascination for him,
and for more than an hour he sat
musing, with his eyes fixed upon the
fateful words. Then he rose and went
to the hearth. There were few
sticks of wood burning upon 1t, but
| they had fallen apart. He put them
together, and. tearing out the notice.
| he laid 1t upon them. 1t meant much
| more to Neil than the destruction OF
a scrap of paper. and he stood watch
| ing II long after it had become a film
| of grayish ash.
Bran would not read 1t at all. He
was too full of shame and trouble at
| the event; and the moments went as
| II they moved on lead. But after tea
| he gathered a great nosegay OF mar
cissus and went to Isaac Cohens. He
went into the store. and size seemed
| to know his footstep. He had no need
| to speak: she came at once from the
mystery behind the crowded place
into the clearer light.
Their acquaintance had evidently
advanced since that anxious evening
when she had urged upon Bran the
intelligence of the duel between Hyde
and Neil Semple; for Bran gave her
the flowers without embarrassment,
and she buried their sweet face in
their sweet petals, and then lifted it
| with smile at once grateful and
| confidential.
Then Bran told her all the little
things that had grieved him, and they
talked as dear companions might talk.
| 1t was not more than an hour ere
Cohen came home. He looked quickly
at the young people and then stood
by Bran. and began to talk courteous
ly of passing events. Miriam leaned,
listening, against magnificenc
apostles cabinet" in black oak.
Against its carved and pillared back
ground, her dark drapery fell in
almost unnoticed grace; 9ut her fair
face and small hands, with the mass
of white narcissus in them, had a
singular and alluring beauty. She
affected Bran as something sweetly
supernatural might have done. 1t was
an effort for him to answer Cohen;
he felt as II it would be impossible for
him to go away.
But the clock struck the hour. and
the shop hoy began to put up the
shutters, and the old man walked to
the door. taking Bran with him.
Then Miriam. smiling her farewell,
passed like a shadow into the darker
shadows beyond and Bran went
home, wondering to find that she had
cast out of his heart hatred. malice,
fretful worry and all uncharitable-
| ness.