Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-03-17
The Wotr,an's
Part
Bv NELLIE CRAVEY GILMORE
Copyright, 1903. by Daily Story Pub. co.,

TT WAS a poor little house in itself, to
be sure-once white with green blinds
the paint now almost faded out by the
rains and suns of decade. But the trim
box hedge that enclosed a garden OF scar
let creeper, snapdragons, hollyhOcks
and innumerable blooming roses; the
well-kept gravel walks with their pur-
pie and green border Of violets; the
tiny pond, dappled with silver-white
ducks: and more than all, the sweet
faced woman who stood at the window,
redeemed it in one minute from absolute
plainness, TRANSPORTING it the next into
positive beauty.
Presently man rode hastily up to the
gate, threw the bride rein over the pom
mel of the saddle, and dismounted. He
lifted the gate latch with impatient fin
gers, and passing hurriedly through,
Strode briskly up the walk.
At the foot of the steps the woman met
him with outstretched arms.
"Oh, Dick" she cried, flinging them
about his neck, "the waiting has been
an intolerable pain. could almost cry
for Joy now that you've come, even if
If it isn't true, after all. Is it true?"
She Gained suddenly and held him from
her tensely, her eyes clinging to his IN
a sudden agony of questioning.
1T is true" he replied, and his glance
fell away from hers abruptly.
Her arms dropped in limp, nerveless
fashion, to her sides. For the moment
the power to move seemed to desert her.
But in little while, she pulled herself
together, and a beautiful smile, such a
one as Harrington had never before seen
on a woman's face, crossed her features,
changing, rejuvenating, illumining
them.
A silence fell between them, and pres
emily she drew him after her to one OF
the twisted-oak benches that stood
here and there among the flowers. They
sat down, still in silence, the sun on
the grass making dappled carpet Of
green and gold at their feet.
The woman was the first to speak.
''When did it happen?" she asked, in a
vain " appear NtAAAA'
Some months ago; he was hunting.
The shot that killed him was purely &C
cidental."
"And the man"
II did not learn his name"
"But you are sure-sure that 1t was
he? There can be no ,mistake-no-noth-
ing?' e..
II am as perfectly sure as you could
wish me to be, Alicia" he returned.
She glanced at him quickly, little
furtively, and some of the color faded
from her cheeks. why, Dick" she
cried, her voice breaking bit, you
don't seem glad, dear; not half glad
enough-not, oh, not hundredth part
Is glad as II"
Harrington shifted his position a
trifle; his arm went, with the old habit
of caress, about her shoulders. He bent
swiftly and kissed her.
my darling" he said, gravely, words
are the poorest expression of ones feel
ings. Don't you know that?"
After he had spoken another silence
followed. Pink sunset faded into dusk,
and gradually the stars, a million points
of blue steel, stippled the black back
ground of sky above.
''We've been very happy together,
dear, in spite of all, have we not?"
The man drew her closer, so that her
head rested quite naturally in its old
position against his shoulder. Every,
very happy" he responded. his voice
low.
Alicia stirred little uneasily, and
presently looked up into his face with
a sort of strained eagerness. do you
regre:-nothing? she asked, tenta-
lively.
Nothing"
~Home-friends-no even your fam
Ey?"
He shook his head. ''They do not
know" ae said, after pause, that an,
here They think"
"And if they did know"
He started; the movement was quite