The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1906-06-01
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AS she alishted from the bus she
paralyzed Bill by dropping dollar IN
his grizzled paw and declining to take
the change he reluctantly counted out
for her.
Then she tripped into the old tav-
ern and was assigned to her great,
barn like room from which she
emerged almost Immediately and took
walk across the old fields filled with
so many beautiful memories, and
away down by the creek where her
happiest moments had been spent
where she had won the one true love
of her life-and lost him. 1t was a
delightful and melancholy afternoon.
Somehow his presence had seemed to
be actually beside her and all the ten
der moments of the old courtship had
required over and over again as she
passed the spots where they had
taken place. Once or twice she had
turned and spoken to him as though
he actually We're beside her.
Arriving at back at the tavern she
into the old parlor from which there
was perfect view of the winding
river. The landlady was busy so she
went along by herself, knowing TIE
way full well-indeed how man,
dances she had attended al the Oh.
tavern and in that Identical parlor,
She was surprised to find the door
cloSed-she never had seen ii c'oaeC
before. Opening the door Ne steDpe I
in and nearly ran directly inJo q
casket standing in the middle OF -
room She recoiled with q cl'y--il
not before she had caught sight of the
face beneath the glass.
Merciful Heaven, it was His fsce-
the face of Duncan Mitchell the old
sweetheart she had won and lost. Eur
oh, how old and careworn and sad
and the locks on the temples, how
gray and thin. Involuntarily she went
down on her knees beside the Caskel
She touched the glass above the face
1t moved. She slid 1t to clear open
and leaning forward pressed her lips
Presently in came good Mrs Bling
ham, the hostess, and all full of con
triton that her aristocratic guest
should have run into such chamber
of horrors. No, the guest was not al
all offended or alarmed-only curious
VINO was the man in the coffin in a
public house? Had he no friends
How came him here?
All, the story is short. He formerly
had lived here but had gone away
many years ago and his people had all
died since. He had been a member
OF the Life Saving service on the
great lakes and had met his death in
a heroic effort to save the lives OF
others. He had ample funds for burial
put left the request that he be buried
in the old town where | felt the only
JOY | ever knew as the paper founC
upon him said.
And there's romance" Whispered
Mrs. Bingham, coming close to he1
guest and purring. The paper reads:
And ii there should be one who gave
me the one glimpse of Heaven | ever
had and then shut it from me-should
this one know of my death, want hel
to know that the girl she saw me with
in the. old orchard on that terrible
June night, and whose presence an6
whose kisses l could not explain, was
my sister. Had l explained it would
nave ruined my sisters life and thai
OF her husband. AS it was it ruined
mlne-and possibly Margaret's. But
was bound in honor-and afterwards
Margaret would not let me explain
l want her to know. however, that nj
other woman's lips have touched mine
and that die with her name on m,
lips and in my heart Amt it JUS
like a story?"
Was it a moan the landlady heard
She turned quickly, but the patricia1
face of the guest made no sign.
When they buried him the cof11
was literally swamped with roses
where they came from nobody knew
except that they came by express ane
bore the mark of great florist.
Did you enjoy yourself at the ole
tavern, my dear?" bantered Mr.. Man
son lew days later when his aristo
cratic wife appeared at the breakfas
table.
"Hilariously," replied Mrs. Manson
Tho Cocroto rr,1c uok