The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-07-23
touches Of her maids deft fingers.

all rang the written words-"There
will dawn a day shall not wait your
summons!"
Would he keep his word? Should
she welcome him among her guests
tonight?
All, the color was not wanting now!
That thought brought II In quick Grim
som tide over the snowy neck, above
the white silk dress, softened by lace,
over the throat on which cleaned the
flawless pearls, up even to the she'll
tinted ears, until she turned away to
hide 1t from herself
II had been her dead fathers last
wish. She had sworn obedience to his
commands; she had ever looked upon
her life as a consecrated life That
| she should wish 1t otherwise had
never crossed the horizon of her fancy,
| until the morning of the day on which
1t was to meet with its fulfillment
Was there some fatality at work, that
this face that was bent over her as
| she swooned, the voice whose musical
utterance still lived within her mem
| DRY, should refuse 10 be banished from
her thoughts, should suddenly have
! lent new sweetness TO her life so mi
raculously saved-the life which be-
longed to another?
But her guests already were arriv-
ing. BY her brothers side she stood
in the spacious and elegantly appoint
ed salon, receiving her congratulations
and extending to themsher welcome,
until, at a given signal, music clashed
NOUS summons to the dance.
1t was a gay. brilliant scene. Flow
ers, light, radiance everywhere, and
the girl, standing upon the threshold
OF this new and bewildering world,
thought how glad thing 1t was to live.
"Avice!"
II was her brothers voice which ar.
rested her attention as she stood for
moment alone. Turning, she saw him
A happy light danced In his eyes as
his hand rested Familiarity on the
shoulder Of Could she fail to recog.
nize that handsome face which only a
few short hours before had been her
last waking consciousness ere she
| swooned away? 1t was the man who
that morning had saved her life.
"Avice!" Travis repeated, This Is
Mr.. Lennox. Surely you have not for
gotten him."
Mr.. Lennox. How blind she had
been not to have remembered him!
Now she could trace each feature.
But what had brought him here to-
night? Was it love or duty? This I'M
solved question, the obligation under
which she rested TO him, the con-
seriousness of the bond between them,
lent an almost GOODNESS to her manner
as she shyly outstretched one little
gloved hand and murmured a few
words of greeting.
Think of it,. Travis interrupted,
Milton has been in Paris nearly
week without letting us know"
81 could not intrude upon Miss Mere
dith," Lennox answered, his eyes
searching the beautiful face, on which
the bushes came and went.
Her heart beat so fast, so loudly, 1t
seemed as if his ear must catch its
throbbing. A something thrilled her.
It was as though the king had come to
claim his own; but such a grand, a
noble sovereign! Must he not bend
very low his kingly head to seek this
little blossom another's hand had
plucked for him.
"Avice, have you no word of vel.
come for me?"
They were alone now, her hand rest
ing on his arm, as they stood within
| the dimly lighted conservatory, where
| he had led her. The notes of the mu-
sic came to them family; t, ere was
the sweet odor of many plants, the far
off ripple Of falling water from some
| far-ofr fountain; but sweeter than any
music were the deep, rich tones of his
questioning voice.
Welcome" she s6.1, "pturning her
| radiant eyes to his. Have | not to
thahk you for my lite? oh, Mr.. Len
pox, how can ever repay the debt
owe you"
"That I>saved II is my richest, rar-
est reward. But had hoped you
would not remember me as the stran-
ger, fortunate enough to avert such a
calamity as threatened you. Avice, do
you not know how gla&ly l would have
laid down my own life Eather than on
this day one hair of your head should
be harmed? For three Long years l
have had but one hope, onA dream
that the day might come when IN spite
of the vast gulf of years yawnMg be-
tween us, might teach you to- love
me, might win your promise to become
my wife, might pillow your head again
on my heart, as had pillowed it, when
1t was boys true, earnest heart, with
your sunny, baby tresses. have
longed for one word from you to short
en- the weary time OF my waiting
hours. None came. When reached
Paris my first impulse was to seek
you out; but had waited so long,
would wait until the appointed time.
To-day recognized Travis, myself un-
seen, and knew at once who rode so
fearlessly and gracefully by his side.
In that terrible moment of your peril,
one prayer only trembled on my lips
that might be in time. God answered
It. The unspoken words reached his
great, listening ear Avice, darling, will
you redeem your childhood's pledge?"
Was 1t love? Was II duty? Again
this question thrilled the girls heart.
Could IL he that this man urho ~ ~