Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-03-24
'TWIxT LOVE
AND DEATH
By Martha
McCulloch-WilliAm<
Copyright, 1908. bu T. C. Mcclure

the story might have been different
Whether it was the color or the fluff
OF 1t or the way it chung to and nodded
her slim suppleness, nobody could say,
but the fact was patent, somehow it
transformed her from very pretty
girl into an eltland queen. Mile was,
you see, Spanish blond with velvet
dark eyes and hair of the palest gold.
Small wonder in the blue gown she
swept John Eustace Off his feet AMI
made him forget some things he ought
to have remembered.
His betrOthed, Alice Ellison, for ex-
ample. Alice was as good as her plen-
tiful gold. but stubby, dull colored and
on the surface dull witted. She was,
above all things dutiful. Duty was
indeed the early root of her love for
John. If she had not happened to be
born, the Ellison fortune would have
gone to Johns father, Ellison Eustace.
Her father had married in a fit of
pique when he was on the edge of sew
enty. He lived to see his daughter
nine years old and to impress upon her
that she must marry her second cousin
and so keep the money in the Ellison
blood.
John, five years older than Alice. had
accepted his fate philosophically. I'm
til chance flung Mile across his path
he had never repined. An only child
and motherless, he had grown up his
fathers intimate comrade. Thus wo-
men, especially young women, had new
err worn for him the roseate glamour Of
unschooled youth. Still his father had
| by no means tried to put an old head
upon young shoulders nor to breed in
his son contempt for womankind. 1t
was only that love and women We're
pushed to the background, reckoned
mere episodes beside the rush and
scurry Of truly manly pursuits. Mar
riage was honorable in all men-mar-
riage with Alice would be thrice hon
orable, safe and profitable. Thus when
she came to eighteen John had GER
tain satisfaction in putting the ring
upon her finger and even chafed a lit
tie over the fact that by her fathers
express desire she was to stay single
until she was one and twenty.
He honestly believed himself in love
and truly felt for her tender fondness
that had begun when, a sturdy little
lad, he had guided her lettering baby
steps. He meant always to guide
guard and cherish her as became gen
tleman. even though in his swelling
visions Of the future she was no more
than a dumb, submissive shade. II
she would never be a brilliant figure
still less would she be one of whom q
husband must needs be ashamed. In
deed he was altogether little more
than content with the ordering Of
things until six months before his wed
ding day he came under Miles spell.
He saw her first upon spring morn
ing full Of hot, shining and languid ruff
fling airs. Dew still sparkled on thu
grass, and overhead in the green golG
Of new LEAKAGE robins fluted delcately
the Joy of life and love. To his en-
chapted eyes Mile embodied the shin
ing, the bird song, the softness Of thu
south wind, the warmth Of the sun
What they said is immaterial. Fo
two hours they walked together owe
the ragged lawn turf or stood In rap
contemplation of newly open roses
And then in a safe seclusion Of green
est shade he drew her within his arm
and kissed her, not lightly, but as on
who takes what Is supremely his own.
Then followed heavenly fortnight
Eustace masterfully pushed out Of hi
mind all thought that might mar thi
new bliss He rarely spoke his low
and after that first kiss was sparin
of demonstration. There was no nee
of it when each understood SO perfect
ly what was in the others heart Ye
at the end Of every days cOmrader
Eustace had q sense of something III
pending ever drawing nearer. He RI
fused to let himself look further tina
the next days end, but somehow. somt
where, he knew he would be called
pay bitter scot.
His chefest care was for Mile. n
harm must touch her. however it fare
with him. She was so young, so il
nocently gay, so innoc - foolish L
was doubly bound to p.u,ect her, eve
against himself 1t as>heaven to sc
her bloom and sparkle at his approach
She left herself so artlessly undefende
now and again there came lump
his throat. A man who could speal
who could even think, lightly OF M
would deserve death twice over.
So the idyl drifted through hour
sunlit and starlit. Perhaps it was son
i'll star in its course that brought hon
Joe Cantrell, Miles brother, wi
lived out in the big world and kne
It's ways. He came unannounced 1u
a. dusk fell down, making HIS wa
through the devious side path all ia
! Rled with sweet shrubs. When Mill
met him a little later, her eyes we
! starlike. her cheeks Of damask bsooI
but sight Of her could not win hi
!. from icy anger. He never explain'
1t anything. "You will be ready to
N back with me two days hence" he sal
!. frowning heavily. Millie got We
+ white. but went silently toward u
ID stair foot As she was mounting