Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-08-17

N the church so perfectly lovely that
no other would be looked att
Whose is that" asks May, abb
sently.
| Carrie stares.
Oh, mine, of course" she says.
Fhens he looks at Mays dreamy eyes
with covert earnestness. You seem
very busy, May?"
May starts.
Yes, was thinking. What is there
for me TO do? Give me some Of those
rosettes?"
Nary one" says Carrie, putting
them ont Of her reach. Finish your
letter"
81 have" says May. Poor sgd!
What would / give If he were here!
And we don't know even whether he
will get this for months"
Carrie pauses for moment.
Are you going to fret about Syd,"
she says, when we have just heard
that he Is safe and sound and was
never happier in his life? Besides,
who knows how soon he may be here.
That stupid fort can't hold out forever,
and then he will get leave and come to
us like an arrow from bow. Fancy,
May! Captain Dalton!"
Mays face lights up in moment.
Dear Syd!" she murmurs. Il knew
we should have TO be proud of him
All" and she sighs, IF he were but
here
"Then there'd be fight between
him and Mr.. Boxall who should give
you away. Dear old Boxall, I'll be
bound he is enjoying himself tonight
at the vicarage. I told Graham to be
sure and get him plenty of cigars and
some whisky It's the best
fun in the world to see them together
Graham so meek and eager to be
friendly. and old Boxall so anxious to
impress him with the idea that, in
marrying poor papa's daughter he IS
contracting an alliance with a princess
of 1htDb lood. And the best of it is
Graham quite falls in with that view.
If ever man was in love that unfortu-
nate man Is! May, If you don't
worship him, II you don't adore him
passiOnately, | will never forgive you!
Graham's the best man on the earth"
May looks w, a faint color coming to
her face.
eyes" she says, simply.
There's the last" says Carrie, fling
ing the rosette into the basket Now,
what next? What's the tie? Half-past
eight. They will be here in half an
hour. Oh" and she stretches out
her hands in dismay, there isn't such
a thing as cigar or drop of whisky
in the house"
May arises and pushes her gently
out of the room, with a little laugh.
"All right" she says; TN explain
to NJ. BcXall that you We smoked and
drank them all"
Carrie GOES out and bound. mp the
stairs singing. and May goes back to
her chair and falls Into her old attf-
tide.
Tonight as the hours fly by and
carry her toward the all,important day.
4 sense of mreality takes possession
Of her, which not even the mass of
white satin en- the chair beside her
can di,pCl.
Try as she will, her thoughts, like
hoe lying birds, speed back to the
woods of T.ctchford Void; the hand
Some, haggard face Of the man who
loved and left her arises before her
like a haunting vision; his voice rings
In her ears.
Once or twice tonight, as the dreamy
abstraction grew strong upon her, she
could almost feel the touch Of his lips
upun hers, as they chung in that first
passionate kiss. And it has needed all
her strength of mind to keep her from
springing up with a wild cry of sor-
rowfnl despair.
1t is only by repeating to herself the
very words Carrie has used that she
can dispel the haunted phantom OF the
past:
"rhe best man on earth" Yes, and
/ the noblcst, Is the man she is to mar.
~ on the morrow.
I For all her outward calm, her heart
beats fast, her head burns, and her
hands would be restless If she did not
keep them fastlocked.
With an effort she rises and takes
up the we1diug-dress
Yes SHE will have done with the
past and all It's haunting memories!
Safe i'll the love of such a man as
Graham Gordon she will be happy
happy!
With nervous hands she folds the
dress mad smiling at The litter on the
table. makes an attempt to put il
straight.
Overhead, Carries light footsteps
patter chcerfuliy, her voice floating
down to the tune OF Young Lochin
var"
In few moments her lover will be
here, handsome and eager and de,
voted What i fate is hers To bs
worshinAd by such a man