Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-12-03

cat distance. did not know, bui
she said it was him"
The cooks face REDEEMED. then paled.
Hanging his head lower yet, and sink
ing his voice almost to whisper he
said:
"Then she is there with you?
The other nodded. He stood for q
moment silent and thoughtful. then he
said:
THE past IL q thing Of the past and
1t must not be revived. There shall be
no step backward undoing Of that
which is done. You had your chance,
and, you failed; and it was all your
own fault. You should understand it
So" r n.
81 do. the cook murmured. God
alone knows how well understand it"
II am glad you see it So" the other
replied. 1T might have been better
If you had seen it SO years ago. But
all that is Of the past. All have to
say now is that she must not be dis
turbed"
"She shall never be disturbed-by
me-"
'tAnd she must never see you again"
'.She never SHALL"
"She is free. You have no right
now"
Il know"
There was a long pause, then the
cook added: 49,.
'But about Conard? Does she still
care for him?"
Eyes. Il came to see him to explain.
Where is he?"
HE has gone ~.
"Gone? Where?"
II don't know. He said he was going
away. Perhaps forever" ..~.
The other turned aside with bowed
head, his heart heavy with disappoint-
moment in silence. then. with an air of
greater manliness than he had ever
shown, he said: - s.'.
''Her happiness shall not Re further
wrecked. Conard shall know and come
back"
But, how?" the other asked.
II will follow and tel him."
"You!" @. ~
''Yes. Great Heavens. man, don't
you know I love her? l."
He tore himself abruptly away and
ran out to the corral. Five minutes
later he emerged on horseback and set
Off across the prairie in tho direction
Conard nad gone. It was ten miles to
the station and only an hour till train
time, so there was no time to lose.-
During that ride he recalled many
things Of the past. He saw himself .
young man again, with a promisi ling
future, making ardent love to young
and beautiful girl. He recalled an
evening in June, when, with the roses
in bloom about him, he and she had
plighted troth, and sealed the sweet
compact with their first kiss. Then
there was that day when they had
stood together before the old minis
ter and had been made one. How he
had thought that event the browning
one of all earthly bliss!
Then he thought Of what he was
doing at that moment, and, with
groan of heart-wrung anguish he
cried: an.C~.
'For her sake! For her sake!"
AS he galloped into the little town
and down it's one street he saw Conard
standing in front of the station and
the train pulling up. Springing from
his horse he ran along the platform
and, just as Conard was stepping on
the train, laid his hand on his Shout
der.
Don't co." he painted. 'she wants
you-here."
Conard turned and stared inquir-
ingly at the cook. The train moved
on without him. "She." To him that
could mean but one person in all the
world. After awhile he said eagerly:
What do you mean?"
Mary" the other replied. "She
wants you. Go back to her."
Conard grew calner.
what do you know of herr" he
asked. "Have you seen herr"
me see her!" Then growing
strangely quiet: mo, have not seen
her. But it is all right
"How do you know"
'That doesn't matter. I know she
loves you. Go to her and make her
happy" ,A.-
"You have no right to say that. She
has a husband"
The cook shook his head slowly.
"You are mistaken" he replied. 'She
has no husband-n0t now"
Conard looked quickly up, wonder
ing not more at the cooks words than
at the pathos in his voice.
II saw her husband with her." he
said. "He came and placed his arm
about her"
mo, not her husband" the cook re-
piled. ut was only her father"
"Her father! Then where IL her
husband?''
The cooks head dropped and for
long while he was silent. Finally, in
low tones he murmured:
"Her husband, he-he is dead"