The Red Cloud chief., 1905-03-10

brave little figure that had run so
straight to him out of the night shad-
ows. There was something about her
and In the moment that suddenly
touched him with u saddcning sweet
ness too keen To be borne. The forget
me-nOt finger of the flying hour that
could not come again was laid on his
soul. and he felt the tears start from
his heart on their journey to his eyes.
He knew that he should always rcmcm-
Der that moment. She knew 1t too.
She put her hand to her cheek and
turned away from him u little trcmu-
lousy. Both were silent.
They had been together since early
morning. plnttvillc was proud of him.
Many Il friendly glance from the folk
who jostlcd about them favored his
suit and wished both of them well, and
many lips, opening to speak to lIark-
less In passing. closed when their own.
ers. more tactful than Mr.. Bardlock,
looked II second time.
Old Tom Martin, still pcrchcd alone
OH his high seat, saw them standing by
the tent pole and watched them from
under his dusty hat brim. Il reckon
It's ben three or four thousand years
sencc | was young" he sighed to him
self. Then. pushing his hat still farther
down over his eyes. IL don't believe I'd
ort to rightly look on mt that" lie
sighed again as he rose and gently
spoke the name of his dead wife: MAR
JIG, | reckon you're mighty tired walt.
In for me. It's ben lonesome some
times
"Do YOU see that tall old man up
there said Helen, nodding her head
toward Martin. II think | should like
to know him. I'm sure ! like him."
"That is old Tom Martin"
81 know"
~ was sorry and ashamed about all
that conspicuousncsS and shouting. II
must have beer very unpleasant for
You. 1t must have been so for a stran-
ger. Please try to forgive me for let
ting YOU in for IT,"
But | liked II. 1t was all in the
family and 1t was so jolly and good
naturcd. and that dear old man was so
bright. DO you know" she went on In
a low voice, 81 don't believe I'm so
much Il strangcr-I think | love all
these people Il great deal-in spite of
having known them only two days"
At that n wild cXhilaratiOn possessed
him. lie wanted to shake hands with
every soul i'm the tent, to tell them all
that he loved them with his whole
heart; but, what was vastly more i'm
portant. she loved them a great deal
In spite OF having known them only
two days.
He made the horses prance on the
homcward drive. and once. when she
told him that she had read Il good many
Of his political columns i'm the Herald,
he ran them into n fence. After this
1t occurred to him that they were near
Ing their destination and had come at
a pcrvcrsely sharp gait, so he held the
roHnS down to Il snail's pace Or 1t he
true that q snail's natural gait Is not a
troU for tie rest Of the way. and they
telkr1 Of Tom Meredith and books ana
music, and discovered that they DIFF.
fered widely about Ibsen.
They found Mr.. Fisbee i'm the yard,
talking to Judge BriscOc. As they
drove up ana before the horses had
quite stopped Helen leaped to the
ground and ran to the old scholar with
both her hands Outstretched TO him.
He looked timidly at her and took the
hands she gave him; then he produced
from his pocket a yellow telegraph en-.
velope, watching her anxiously as she
received 1t. However, she seemed to
attach no particular Importance to It,
and instead of opening it leaned to.
ward him, still holding one of his
hands.
"Thcse awful old men, Harkless
groaned inwardly as he handed the
horses over to the judge. 81 dare say
he'll kiss her too" But when the ed
flor and Mr.. Willetts had gon it was
Helen who kissed Fisbec.
"They're coming out to spend the
evening, aren't theyI' asked Briscoe.
nodding to the young men as they set
of down the road.
"Lige has TO come whether he wants
to or not" Minnie laughed rather con-
sciously. "Its his turn tonight to look
after Mr.. Harkless."
II guess he won't mind coming said
the judge.
"Well," returned his daughter, glanc-
Ing at Helen, who stood apart reading
the telegram to Fsbee, II know II he
follows Mr.. Harkless he'll get here
pretty o after supper-as o as
the moon comes up. anyway"