Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-07-02

and as q young physician OF bis AGO laint
anco had Just commenced pracncnP
there. Il would be good opportunity Tor
them TO 10 over the building. To this my
aunt made no objection, merely propoe
ing that Ada, too, should go Afterward
l remembered the peculiar look IN Her
bert's eye ne ne replied, "Oh, fy! moth
er, Ada's nerves are not strong enough
70 endure II She can go with me SOME
other timA~"
Accordingly, when breakfast was over
Anna went up to her room to make the
necessary preparations for her ride, WINE
/ stood by and gave her whatever assist
ance she needed. observed that every
article which belonged to her was put IN
Its proper place, but gave 1t no further
heed. though did wonder why che KISS
ed ma 30 often, turning back even after
she had reached the door to bid me an
othas goodbye, Slowly the DAY pssseu
away and night came on, dark, coid anu
stormy. listened to the sound OF the
Bleet and hail. which drove past 'the
window, whore had watched so long
for their return Seven, eight, nine, zen
had yung from more than one church
dome, and then we gave them up, Tor
tho shrill whistle of the last train on
which they would be likely to come had
long since sounded in our ears,
"rhey must have stayed somewhere;
dont you think so2' said my aunt, ad-
dressing her husband, who, man-like,
was not in the least alarmed, but bat
coming bis evening paper, nearer asleep
than awake"
"of course they have" said he, look
Ing up Mt his wife's inquiry. Il wouldn't
come IN this storm, IL were in their
places"
That night watered my pillow with
tears, scarcely knowing why l wept,
ave that felt oppressed with a sense
OF desolation, as If Anna was gone from
mo forever. The next day came and
went but It brought no tidings Of the
missing pair, and half unconscious of
what abe was doing, my aunt went from
room TO room, sometimes weeping end
again Frightening mp, rs she enumerlt-
ed the many things which might have
prevented their return. At evening Ada
came in, and my aunt Immediately be
gan urging her to spend the night, This
she did willingly, seeming very anxious
CONCERNING the absence of Herbert, and
feeling, was sure, little suspicious
that ! might know more of his where
abouts than ! chose to tell, for once,
when we were alone, she turned toward
me and very haughtly asked IL Il had
any idea where they wereT
"None whatever" said |, and she con
tinued;
HAS It never occurred to you that
this Anna Lee manifested altogether too
marked a preference for Il gentleman
whom she knew 20 be engaged?"
''The preference was mutual" re-
piled Herbert liked Anna, and Anna
liked Herbert"
"And they have gone off to consum-
mate that liking by marriage" inter
ruptsd Ada
Il do not know that they have" re-
turned; but such termination Of affairs
would not surprise me-"
She was very pale, and there we've
tears In her eyes; but ! thought they
arose more from a sense Of modification
than from any real love which she bore
for Herbert Langley, and so l did not
pity her ne l should otherwise have done
The next morning at breakfast both che
and my aunt looked weary and worn, as
If neither had slept at all during the
night My uncle, on the contrary, seem
ed unmoved. He probably had an opin-
Ion Of hjs own. but whatever it was he
kept II TO himself. merely saying that If
the Eastern mail brought no letter he
would go In quest of them himself.
knew ] could not study in my present
excitement. and so ] asked permission 10
remain at home. Stationing myself at
the window, l watched anxiously for the
feturn OF Herod. who, as usual had been
sent to the office. He came at last,
bringing his pocket full OF letters, TWO
of which were for me- one postmarkcd
Sunny Bank and the other Albany With
trembling hand ! tore open the latter,
which was in my sisters handwriting.
Glanclng Mt the signature, my fears were
confirmed, for there stood the name OF
Anna Langley" in Herberts bold, dasA-
Ing hand. hs
The letter contained no apology from
either for what they had done, but mere
ly informed me of the fact that instead
of stopping in Worcester, they had gone
straight 10 Albany, where in less than
All hour they were husband and wife
Herbert's old comrade, Ton Wilson, nc
companying them, and being witness Of
the ceremony, What affected me more
unpieasAnty than all the rest was thu
derisivo manner in which Herbert SPOKE
of Ada
Give her my love-" he said, "and tel
her not 10 feel too badly. I'd like wei
enough to. marry her, too, but under IL,
present laws man can't have two wives
unless he joins the Mormons. Maybe
shall do that some time, and then III re
member her." 'bt
OF his mother he wrote differently, an
though there was no cringing, no &C
acknowledgement Of wrong, he spoke Of ne
kindly and respectfully, saying ''he hope
she would love his Anna for his sake"
OF course could not tell Ada whA
he said of her, neither was II necessary
for guessing the truth from my facC
she came mp softly behind me, and look
ing over my shoulder. read every wor
until abe came b the message intende
for her. Then stamping her little foo
she exclaimed pnssionately, 'SINhe villair
to insult ME thus! AS il |, sprung fsor
the beet blood Of Georgia, would stoop /
become IiVal of that lov-horu countr
girl! No! BY this act Herbert .Lsngle
has ahown that he is all unworthy OF IN,
and l rejoice In my escape while l Civ