The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1903-11-07

alone knows how well / understand IT,
Il am glad you see it So the otAeI
replied. 1t might have been better
if you had seen it SO years ago. bu'
all that is of the past. All | have 10
say now is that she must Lot be dis
turbed."
"She shall neve- be disturbed-by
me-"
And 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;
But about Conard? Does she still
care for him?"
Yes. came to see him to exp-2Ia.
Where is he?"
He has gone
Gone? Where?"
81 don't know He said he was gong
away. Perhaps forever
The other turned aside with bJ"ed
head, his heart heavy with disappoilt-
ment. The cook watched him fer
moment in silence, then, with an air OF
greater manliness than he had ever
shown, he said:
Her happiness shall not be further
wrecked. Conard shall know and come
back"
But, how" the other asked.
q will follow and tel him.
"You!"
Yes. Great Heavens, man, don't
you know | love her? /"
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 the direction
Conard mad gone. 1t 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 a
young man again, with a promi ing
future, making ardent love to a 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 all that bad
happened since, OF his falling into
disso,ute habits, his neglect Of the
woman he had Promised to cherish,
and, worse still, his striking her and
driving her out into the night
Then he thought of what he was
doing at that moment, and, with a
groan of heart-wrung anguish he
cried:
For her sake! For her sake"
AS he galloped into the little town
and down its 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 go" he painted, she wants
you-here"
Conard turned and stared inqur-
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 calmer,
What do you know of herr" he
asked. Have you seen herr"
ME see her!" Then growing
strangely quiet: mo, ] have MOI seen
her But it is all right"
How do you know"
THAT doesn't matter. | know she
loves you, Go to her and make her
happy
Conards face flushed with Joy, Their
became deathly pale, The other was
offering him honey and NORWOOD
and he was tasting them alternately
Presently he said sternly;
"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-not 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" ho
said, "ile came and placed bis arm
about her"
"No, not her husband" the cook re-
piled. 1T was only her father"
"iler fatherl Then whore is her
husband?'
The cooks head drooEed and for q
long while he was silent Finally, In
low tones he murmured'
"ller husband, he-he Ia dead"
As Conard rode back across the pral.
RTE there was a new hope and new
Joy In his heart, but on the station
platform u man sat all alone, his lie
dark and barren, and his heart empty
Of everything save sorrow and regret
Looking after ConOrd, away out
across the level plain, the cook sIowly
shook his head and murmurod'
Dead 20 hcr-and soon 10 be dead
TO all the world"
The next day man was found doad
on the prairie,
Conard nor any Of the cowboys knew
the mans name, 30 they buried him
and set up At his head u board on
which was carved the single word