Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-02-26
The Bow of Orange Ribbon
ROMANCE OF NEW YORK
BY AMELIA E. BARR
Author riend Other One. E,o
andco Company
BY AMELIA z. BARR
CHAPTER x.-(continued.)

CHAP En- N.-l ~OntiHuca'I
Joris was so wrapped up in his
grief that he did not notice Bran was
suffering also. Bram got the brunt
OF the worlds wonderings and inqui.
ries. People who did not 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
the alliance. But Bran was afame
with indignation; first, II the mar
rage were at al. doubted; second, IL
1t were 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
notice aloud, as q toast, and gave
kind 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. Nell
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 a few
sticks of wood burning upon 1t, but
they had fallen apart. He put them
together, and, tearing out the notice,
he laid it upon them. 1t meant much
more to Neil than the destruction OF
scrap of paper, and he stood watch
ing 1t long after it had become film
of grayish ash.
Bran would not read it at all. He
was too full of shame and trouble at
the event; and the moments went as
IL 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 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 1t
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 -psSsisg events. Miriam leaned,
listening, against a magnificent
apostles cabinet in black oak.
Against its carved and piliared back
ground, her dark drapery fell in
almost unnoticed grace; but her fair
lace ana small nanos, with the mass
of white narcissus in them, had
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 1t 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 Ike shadow into the darker
shadows beyond; and Br1m went
home, wondering to find that she had
cast out of his heart hatred, malice,
fretful worry and ell uncharitablc-
ness.