The Grit-advocate., 1903-06-26
The Bow of Orange Ribbon
& ROMANCE CT NEW YORK
BY AMELIA E.. BARR
o. and tbs On.
yrishti isa BY Aesd land
BY AMELIA E. BARE
CHAPTER x.-tContinued.)

Joris was so wrapped up in his
grief that he did not notice Bran was
suffering also. Bran got the brunt
O. the worlds wonderings and inqui-
ries. People who did net like to ask
Joris questions felt no such delicacy
with Bran. .Ioris 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-
Eectations The majority believed
that he was secretly little proud OF
the alliance. But Bran was atlame
with Indignation: first, If the mar
riage were at all doubted; second, If
1t 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. To
every bumper they read the marriage
norlce aloud, as a toast, and gave a
kline 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 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 it, 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 it long after ii had become MIN
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
ir they moved on lead. But after tea
he gathered a great noSegay OF mar
cissus and went to Isaac Cohen's. He
went into the store. and she seemed
to know his footstep. He had no need
to speak, she came at oEce 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 a 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
1y of passing events. Miriam leaned,
listening. against magnificent
Apostles cabinet in black oak.
Against its carved and pillarcd back
ground, her dark drapery fell in
almost unnoticed grace: but her fair
face and small hands, with the mass
of white narcissus in them. had Il
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 if 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.