Courier Democrat., 1904-12-01

heart wrote me happy letters. should
have known. for there wan one who
did and who saved him. When at last
I came to see my father he told me-he
had written Of his idol before. but It
was not till I came that he told it all
to me. Do you know what I felt?
While his daughter was dancing CO
tillons stranger had taken his hand
and-and"- A sob rose in her throat
md checked her utterance for a mo-
ment. but she threw up her head proud
". "Gratitude. Mr.. Harkless" she
cried. Il am James Fisbee's daugh-
terw
He fell back from the bench with a
sharp exclamation and stared at her
through the gray twilight. She went
on hurriedly, still not looking at him.
81 wanted to do something to show you
that could be ashamed Of my vile
neglect Of him-something to show you
his daughter could be grateful-and 1t
has been such dear, happy work. the
little have done, that 1t seems, after
all, that 1 have done It for love Of my
self. 1t is what had always wanted
to do-to earn a living for myself, to
live with my father. When came
here, my aunt and uncle were terribly
afraid would stay With him. 1t was
to prevent this that they determined to
20 abroad. and my father said must
go back to them. Then you were
were hurt, and he needed me so much
he let me stay. When you-when
you told me'-she broke of with a
strange, fiuttering, half inarticulate lit
tie laugh that was half tears and then
resumed in another tone-'wlien you
told me you cared that night-that
night of the storm-how could be
sure? 1t had been only two days. ;ou
see, and even IL I could have been sure
of myself-why, couldn't have told
you. Oh, l had SO brazenly thrown my
self ut your head time and agar. those
two days in my-my worship of your
goodness to my father and my excite
ment in recognizing in his friend the
hero of my girlhood that you had ev-
cry right to think cared; but if-but
il l had-if had-loved you with my
whole soul could not have-why. no
woman could have-1 mean the sort OF
girl am-couldn't have admitted it
must have denied it. Do you think that
then l could have answered Yes even
If 1 had wanted to-even If had been
sure of myself? And now Her
voice sank again to whisper. "And
now
"And now?" he said trcmulously. She
gave hurried glance from right to left
and from left to right, like one in ter,
ror seeking n way of escape; she gath
cred her skirts in her hand rs If to run
into the garden, but suddenly she turn
ed and ran to him. She threw her arms
about his neck and kissed him on the
forehead.
When they heard the judge calling
from the orchard they went back
through the garden toward the house.
It was dark. The whitest asters We're
but gray splotches. There was no one
in the orchard. Briscoe had gone in
doors.
Ibid you know you are to drive lie
into town in the phaeton for the fire.
works." she asked.
"Fireworks?"
eyes. The great Harkless has come
home" Even in the darkness he could
see the look the vision had given him
when the barouche turned into the
square. She smiled upon him and
said, "All afternoon was wishing
could have been your mother"
He clasped her hand more tightly
"This wonderful world" he cried
Yesterday had doctor-a doctor tc
cure me Of lovesickness!"
After time they had proceeded 6
little nearer the house. I'VE must
hurry" she said. II am sure they have
been waiting for U.S." This was true
they had.
From the dining room came laughter
and hearty voices, and the windows
were bright with the light of many
lamps. BY and by they stood just out
side the patch of light that fell from
one of the windows.
"Look" said Helen. "Aren't they
good, dear people?"
1.-THE beautiful peoplew he answered