The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-09-06

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Duvaps companionship a relief. As
the years passed, she began to Won
der If she could care for him in the
way he evidently cared for her. Some
times she told herself the image OF
her faithless lover was fading from
her heart. And then a chance recol-
lection would tear down the building
Of months.
1t was so on that Sunday morning.
She was about to convince herself
that she really loved the tenor with
the rich full voice, the changing smile,
the distinguished lift of the head, the
man who had been true to her while
she had offered him no hope of re-
ward. And wondering If this were so,
and half-believing he might bring her
happiness, her yes wandered to an
obscure corner of the little church,
and there found the face of her girl
hoods romance. Her heart stood still,
and she grew cold from head to foot,
but her face did not alter. She turned
her eyes upon the open song book, but
oil during the service, though she
looked intently at the minister, she
saw nothing but the pale face of Nor
ton Summers. How much older it APP
peared! and yet so like the old face,
her heart ached miserably.
When the congregation was dis
missed, he waited to greet her. His
manner was very quiet: his hand
| COO roo tnttnhnI hnrc Tn nnSyynr 70 hn-
conventional question he said he
would be in town only till the NOR
row.
She did not ask him TO call, but
swept past, her hand upon Edgar Du-
walls arm. And now in the afternoon
this letter had come from the morn
ing's escort, asking her to be his wife.
She wished it had not come to-day.
Presently she picked it up. and read it
slowly through. Again it fell from
her listless fingers. Suddenly she
shuddered and stirred the fire. If it
had come yesterday!
At last she rose hurriedly and going
into the next room, returned with n
small ebony box. She unlocked 1t, and
drew forth a bundle Of old letters and
a few queer objects, whose value lay
only in the associations Of past
thoughts and feelings. She united the
faded ribbon and began to read the
letters. They were all from Morton
Summers.
mo matter how long 1t may be-"
they ran. mo matter what happens,
| will always trust you, you will al
ways trust me-" Perhaps all lovers
have written so. The tears presently
hid the words. Through the blur, ten
der epithets shone, "Darling-Sweet-
heart" She never tired Of gazing
upon them. 1t was as IL his voice still
called her thus. She dashed away the
tears, and caught sight of the letter
upon the floor. She held 1t up in one
hand and seemed to weigh it against
the bundle Of old love letters. How
much older they were than the love
Of which they spoke!
(Which shall I Destroy" she asked
aloud, stepping to the fire. 81 cannot
keep both. Poor Edgar, he loves me
so faithfully! Poor Morton-he loved
me once! And land 1? God help
me! / love him still! I KNOW
know she faltered, the tears again
rushing to her eyes, that / shall love
him always"
She cast Edgar Duval's passionate
appeal into the flames and sinking
back into the chair, buried her face
among the letters Of long ago., kissing
them wildly. She had made her
choice; the choice Of a lonely life, a
life Of privations and toll, but a life
which could be lived true to its ideals
and its girlhood's faith.
Eyes, she is at home,' said the maid
to the tall, pale stranger, "she is in the
parlor. Will you walk INF"
She had not heard the doorbell, nor
did she notice the opening Of the door.
She did not live in the room, just
then, but in a fairy wood with golden
splashes from the sun. and fragrant
perfumes now vanished many years,
and a gentle voice-yes, she lived with
ii, and with eloquent eyes, and a cling
Ing hand. Her mind was so far away
she could not hear the footsteps draw
ing near, nor see the startled gaze riv-
eted upon the old letters heaped in
her lap.
A sudden exclamation Of surprise
and pain brought her, with a violent
shock. back into the present.
Thinking Edgar Duval stood near at
hand, she glazed down with dismay at
the love letters, while her cheeks, still
damp from tears, grew crimson. Then
seeing 1t was Morton her confusion
and distress sought relief in anger.
She hurriedly dashed the letters into