Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-04-20

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Il will wait for you till 1 die she
| had replied, and had questioned him not
at all.
| Then he had protested that this was
not an enga gement-that she was free
quite free Only he was bound.
Very WELL" she had agreed. "We
are not engaged"
But the understanding that existed
| between them was sweet TO both.
That was a year ago.
| And now she had to acknowledge to
| herself that she knew little more of his
| private life or of his personal affairs
than she knew then. She was unusually
| silent as she and Brunette descended
the steps and walked together to the law
| yer's office. Her errand there attended
| to, Mary Nane went with Brunetta to
see about the latter's Easter hat. Then
| the two walked down State street just
| as the matinee-goers were flocking from
| the theatcrs.
Brunetta paused suddenly before n
| florists window.
20. | had almost forgotten. Mamma
! told ME to order some flowers for to-
morrow Will you come in with me-
They stood few minutes admiring
the display in the window, the golden
daffodils, and shy blue crocuses, pure
lilies of the valley. Haunting tulips,
starry jasmine, and cool green ferns
forming tender background for them
all. The attendants were busy when
they entered The girls stood back of a
high rubber tree admiring some rare
chrysanthemumS when the door was
flung open and a gentleman came in.
He was of medium height and had a
kind, brown-bearded, thoughtful face.
Not noticing any one in the store. he
went directly to the counter. To man
at that instant disengaged he gave his
order
''Twenty-eight lilies he said. YES
like those Have them tied with broad
white satin ribbon. Send to this add
dress"
And he laid a card and 4 bill on the
counter An instant later he had receiv-
ed his change and walked ont
The girls stared at each other.
That" gasped Brunette, was Char
lie Everett."'
YES, l know" murmured Mary.
Before she could put out her hand to
stop her meddleSOme friend the latter
had stepped to the counter and read the
address on the card which lay there
Just as | thought" she remarked
few minutes later. when they We're ont
in the street together. The address is
IA Forest avenue, IdIewild. That is the
suburb in which his mysterious acquaint-
ance of whom l told you lives
That number. street. place. burned in
Mary's brain. She parted from Brunetta
and went home. y fierce fever OF jeal-
ousy possessed her. Who was this wom-
an to whom he sent Lenten lilies? Idle
wild was directly south of her own home
A cable car ran out to the pretty place.
She would go there She would call at
the house. She would ask the lady who
dwelt therein: What is Charlie Everett
to you:' When that was answered she
would know how worthy of continued
loyalty was her confessed lover But
not until the morning. She would not
go until morning
shame to doubt him. cried her heart
through all the sleepless night that fol
lowed. But her rigid will silenced that
assailng protest. So the morning of
the beautiful day that followed found
her at the gate Of q cosy cottage set
back amid a group Of bare-branched ma
pies. There were drifts of snow in the
little garden, but the air was warm
with the effulgent prescience of spring.
SO peaceful was the place, the hour. her
courage almost failed her. All the blinds
were down. The entrance she chose
brought her to side door. She rang
the bell A maid appeared.
May i" Mary Eane began. then
faltered. For whom should she ask:
Yes" the girl replied. Come in
Marveling. Mary followed her She
led the way into front room. The cur
tains were drawn. Tapers burned in the
dimness. At first Mary fancied that
There was silence. and nothing there
But silence. and scents of eglanterre,
And Jasmine, and roses, and rosemary
Then she saw that there was some
thing else. \ coffin, and in it lying a
white-robed form, with folded hands, and
lilies lying on the pulseIess breast.
Mary shrank back.
oh she cried. ''She is dead"
Yes, Miss. [ thought you wished to
see her. y good many of the neighbors
were in last evening. She had many
friends hereabout, for all her misfor-
tunes. Amt those lilies beautiful? Mr..
Charlie sent them. Twenty-eight for
tWenty-eight years"
Mary went nearer. looked down on the
dead face, young face which had once
been lovely, but bore the unmistakable
imprsas Of snrrow and suffering,