The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-04-27

cause OF any good they lad round III
me, but because my money had thrown
luster on them and on the whole estab.
lishment. This was when was
twelve, and it was on account of this
reckless escapade that | was sent west
and kept so long from home and all
my tlatterers. My guardian meant
well by this, but In saving me from one
pitfall he plunged the into another.
grew up without Cora and also without
any idea of the requirements of my
position or what | might anticipate
from the world when the time came
for me to enter it knew that had
moncy-so did those about me-but |
had little or no idea Of the amount nor
what that money would do for me
when returned to Washington. SO.
in an evil day. and when | was Just
eighteen. fell in love. or thought did,
with n man (oh. Francis. imagine it.
now that | have seen YOU'D Of sufii.
cient attraction to satisfy one whose
prospects were limited to contracted
existence In Il small town. but no more
fitted to content me after seeing Wash.
mon farm hand or the most ordinary
Of clerks In country store. But was
young. ignorant and self willed and
thought because my cheek burned un.
der his look that he was the man of
men and suited to be my husband
that is, If | thought at all which Is
not likely. for | was In feverish
whlrl and just followed the impulse of
the moment, which was to be with him
whenever | could without attracting
the teachers attention And this, alas,
was only too often. for he was the
brother of one of our storekeepers.
visitor in Owosso, and often in the
store where we girls went.
eve would not have been married in
the way we were If he had not wanted
to go to the Klondlke for the purpose
of making money and making it quick
ly, so that his means might match
mine
II do not know which of us two was
most to blame for that marriage. lie
urged it because he was going SO far
accepted 1t because it seemed to be
romantic and because it pleased me to
have my own way in spite of my hard
old guardian and the teachers, who
were always prying about, and the
girls, who went silly over him-for he
was really handsome in his way-and
who thought TAT least many Of them
| that h1 90 .ln,, In
cared only for me.
II have hated black eyes for a year.
He had black eyes.
II forgot Cora, or rather. | did not
let any remembrance of her hinder me.
She was very shadowy person to me
In those days. had not seen her since
we were both children, and as for her
letters-they were almost bore to me;
she lived such different life from
mine and wrote of so many things
had no interest in. On my knees ask
her pardon now, | never understood
| her.
1T was all planned by him-I have
no head for such things. Sadie helped
hlm-Sadle was my friend-but Sadie
had not much to say about 1t, for he
seemed to know just how to arrange
1t all so that no one at the seminary
should know or even suspect what had
occurred till we got ready to tell them.
He did not even take his brother into
his confidence, for Wallace kept store
and gossiped very much with his
customers, Besides, he was very busy
just then selling out, for he was going
to the Klondike with William, and he
had too much on his mind to be bother.
ed, or so william said. All this must
tell you or you will never understand
the temptation which assailed me
when, having returned to Washington.
/ awoke to my own position and the
kind of men whom could now hope
to meet. | was the wife-oh, the folly
of it--but this was known to so few,
and those were so far removed. and
one evening" friend Sadie-being dead
why not ignore the miserable secret
ceremony and cheat myself into be-
lleving myself free, aud enjoy this
world of pleasure and fashion as Cora
was enjoying 1t and-trust? Trust
what7 Why the Klondike That
swallower-up of men why shouldn't
1t swallow one more? Oh, l know that
1t sounds hateful. but was desper,
ate; had seen you.
II had one letter from him after he
reached Alaska, but that was before I
left Owosso. l never got another. And
never wrote to him. l rode and
danced with you and went hither and
yon, lavishing money and time and
heart on the frivolities which came In
my way, calling myself Veronica and
striving by these means TO crush out
every remembrance of the days when
was known as Antoinette and An
toinette only. For the Klondike was
far and Its weather bitter, and men
were dying there every day, and nc
letters came q used to thank God fol-
this, and ! need not think--not yet,
whittier was tending, One thing only
made me recall my real position. Thai
was when your eyes turned on mine
your true eyes, so bright with conf
dence and pride. wanted TO meet
them full, and when ! could not sud
denly knew why and suffered
! II did not accept your attentions MOI