Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-05-05
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Ton :; ;:'',. 81 Graft


81 have-I have" she whispered,
vehemently at is all there in her
hand; l never saw anything so strong
ly marked"
But she is homeless wanderer,"
urged the boy. Glow should she be
rich? Besides, you say that other
lines in her hand contradict it.
"It is all puzzling, WILL" said Ly-
dia. I have never seen crowded into
any hand SO much as there is there;
so much death and ruin and disaster.
all in one little white hand. And now
you come to me and seem to suggest
that you, too. may have something to
do with her. Will"-she started to
her feet and caught him by the Shout
ders, and stared into his face with
wild eyes-"if thought that would
wake her now and send her away to-
night
you think too much about me,
LYDIA" said the boy, soothingly. GAS
mother says sometimes, there is
great Fate watching over us all and
deciding what our lives shall be. If
out of the great world this girl has
come to change our lives, or even to
bring death and disaster to usual
though | can't believe that we need
not be afraid. We come of race
that must not be afraid Good night"
He turned and sauntered off into
the darkness. A moment later he
came swiftly back again and gave
low, curious call, which Lydia an
swered at once by coming out of the
tent.
s'What is it, WHIP" she asked quick
ly, in whisper.
Don't move and don't cry OUT he
whispered in reply. Behind those
trees there is man standing; 1 swear
there is. I saw him move when. I went
across there. Look!"
There is nothing there Will" said
the girl, quietly. My eyes are as keen
as yours; there is nothing there"
Its very curious" he replied, I'M
easily. 81 suppose you are right.
Good night again"
1t happened that in sauntering
across the rough ground the boy
kicked up little dust, and kicked it,
by the mesest chance, straight into the
upturned face of Prof. Tapney, who
had his ridiculous head stuck out OF
the tent door The boy was gone by
the time the professor had turned over
hurriedly and sneezed softly, and
rubbed the dust out of his eyes; then
the professor, inwardly wondering
what had disturbed him, lay half
asleep and only dimly conscious of
what was going on about him. But
while he lay there he saw something
happen.
u The girl Lydia made slow, stealthy
movement toward the trees at which
she had been looking SO intently; but,
on a second impulse. drew back again
and waited. Then the professor saw.
emerging from the shadows, the tall
figure of man; saw him cross the
little patch of light made by the last
embers of the fire and approach the
girl. The professor wriggled himself
softly farther into the tent and, now
thoroughly awake, listened win all his
ears.
Why do you come here again."
asked the girl, in low voice
Because you seem to have DOW
er, my child to draw me as no one
else can, said the voice of the man
a light, careless voice, with something
of laugh in its tones. Because, also.
am of a poetic nature and love beau
tiful things; because, also, being not
too good for what this world can give
me, and being, indeed, by some. term
ed desperately wicked, love the
night. And you fit the night, my dear.
/ beautifully
II wish you had not come" said
Lydia, uneasily. i am half afraid of
you
And half in love with me, Ell 2.
suggested the man IF you were what
had hoped to find you, my Gypsy
maid. you would not have stopped to
Inquire as to your feelings or your SEN
sations; You would have taken every
thing for granted. You were thinking
about me, and stepped suddenly out
Of the darhness-which is intensely
dramatic to- begin with
You always come at night" said
the girl When you came to me first
| and told me you had been looking for
me all your life. I believed you; no one
had ever spoken to me like that be-
fore Who are you" So
AS the world goes, my dear, a
badly used man. There is great.
place not very far from here-ifsi 1t hap
pened to be daylight you could see 1t
L anrOSS the nv ,olls5i%t TT. ~ ~