The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-06-05

| good-ft's so good
1t seemed douhsy so to her because there
was no one else In all the world for whom
she cared deeply. There were those 70,
whom she felt affection. but not one
whom she really loved. Now that the
food gates were down. the long represset
emotions OF her impulsive nature swept
riotouaiy through.
sound In the outer hall brought heI
back to earth and ahe rose hurr!ediy from
her knees, trying to free her hands with
out disturbing Alien. He only frightened
his hold.
You are not goingc" ne said plalntively
81 nust--I think the doctor has come
back, Please let go my hands-dear"
He kissed them again, then reluctantly
did as she asked.
Try not to worry about the Office" she
begged; 1--WE will make things go right for
you, If you only do Just as the doctor tells
! you
"Oh, I'll be good" he promised. "1ust
| so as to get rid Of this fever and be able
to kiss you, my Natalie"
| With this promise to comfort her, Ma
| tale went home. tired and oVerwrought,
with some work still to do; but happy,
happy, happy.
During the days of anxiety and uncer-
| taInty which followed Natalie vainiy
wished that they would send her to him
| again from tfe Office. II Wd5 80 iidIu ~
| CLEAN tidlngs Of him only through the re-
| ports of others, to have to show only
moderate solicitude In his progress.
When they said that he was to sit up.
she decided after some hesitation to send
| him a note by the next person who went
| to him No one who saw It would ever
guess what a precious little missive 1t
| was-they would fancy 1t some dry old
business communication.
How was Mr.. Allen?" Natalie asked,
when the bearer returned.
II did not see him, because the nurse
said that his wife had just come home
and was with him. and
But the sentence remained unfinished
for, at that point, Natalie suddenly drop
ped, a dead weight, into the astonished
reporters arms
When she recovered consciousness they
| urged her to go home to rest, for she had
done much extra work during Mr.. Aliens
absence She refused steadily, with
white, miserable face, that they could not
understand.
Fully she reasoned to herself that some
time she must take up the awful burden
of life again, so she might as well begin
at once. Through the recurring waves of
despair that swept over her one fact alone
seemed clear
His wife was with him."
His wife!
Slowly another thought disentangled it.
self from the chaos of her mind-ahe had
made Some mistake that night. Her king,
which, being interpreted, meant her edi-
tor, could do no wrong. Delirious, after
ALL he must have been, thinking her per-
haps this very wife.
my Natalie" seemed to echo back
mockingly to her. Well, that must be his
wife's name, too. They had quarreled
perhaps--the marriage was not happy
one. All he had said seemed to indicate
this, II there were any reason at all in
his utteranceg Those words that she had
treasured 80, that she had repeated to
herself SO often, so ecstatically! The note
she had sent him! A horrible surge of
shame brought the blood back to her pal
lid cheeks as this thought smote her.
What, what would he think? There
would be no room for doubt-he would
know.
Thus her thoughts ran riotously, tumul-
tuously, without sequence, one thing only
repeating itself--he had meant no wrong.
Hard as 1t was to reconcile all Of his ut
lerances with the theory Of deIirium the
mistake was, must have been, hers alone.
Slowly the day dragged on, till Natalie
began to think with dread Of the time
when her work should be ended, and she
alone with her tortured miserable
thoughts. She was illfltted to bear an
ot ..,au s oiom anas ca a,l e. nei
We. VIZ A Ila, wallis " see aiss SPENCE,
81 oalos 10y aiiiouiceu otuptsy' coliiiis
- iiei uesh
The room began to whirl again. The
NOTE she thought. Ihat dreadful, tell
tale note. Bracing herself as best she
could Tor the ordeal, she went TO the wait
ING room, where very beautiful woman
met her cordially
"Ah, he has not told her" thought Ma
talie. THAT Is like him. But why Is she
here?"
Miss Spencer, Mr.. Allen wants to see
! you particularly. He told me to stop and
ask you to drive homo with me-" Mrs
Allen SAID.
Poor Natalie was at bay This was
practically command from the editor.
which she could hardly disregard.
cannot come Just at present, Mrs.
Allen she managed TO answer but will
! you say that VIII pc there soon Z"
The idea of driving In his carriage be-
side his lovely wife was quite unbearable,
Then will call for you again, say. in
half an hour. There are one or two err
4 rands that shall be glad to do.''
Even this browning pain was to be
heaped upon her, 1t seemed. so with
prsllk 'gls heart, Nataile enoeaFored 70
consent srheiousiy.
~ .i,ey uroNe away losetner MIS-. Alier
sialte s sntiy, Arequentiy speaking O.
4 3lersi HuSpauu, WINE Nataile ~ 1nWardly