The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-01-19

Monsieur John, :ellns: NE things my
elder E-:"'her might have told me. liad
i had oncy''
: 49,! l. remembered: :s.il Z ~xs not
"Ar. YEA strong enough to stand III
that elder brothers place again to-
nisht?'
TRY me and see. dear lady"
Not whilst you say dear lady"
she pouted. Twas 'Margery' and
Monsieur John a year agone."
HAY 1t as you will: | will even call
you 'Madge' Ii 1T pleases o better"
NO" she said: that is Dicks name
for me; and-and 1t Is OF Dick that I
would speak. You love him we'll. do
o not. Monsieur john"
j said I could never make her. or any
woman. fully understand he bond there
was between us.
Truly" There was the mcrest flavor
ut playful sarcasm in the uphill of the
word. but 1t was gone when she went
Being % good a friend to Dick.
then, you can advise me the better.
Tell me. Ii you please, must | marry
him-when-"
when you ARE free TO do it," l fin
ished for her. Why should you not.
my dear"
She vas pulling The threads from the
lace cdging of her kerchief and would
not for Il kings ransom let her eyeS
meet mine
You used to say--in that other
time--that love should go before Il
marriage. did you not? Or do | re-
member badly
You remember we'll. | said it then,
and | say 1t again at this present. But
Dick loves you we'll and truly, sweet
heart. and YOU"
She looked up quickly with the little
laugh that used to mine me Of happy
children at play. o,
And l---now you will read Il wom-
ans heart for me. Monsieur John. Tell
me. do I love him as his mistress
should?!'
Nay. surely" said 1. gravely, for
somehow her laugh Jared upon me;
surely that is for you to say. But
you have said 1t, long since
"Have II" she aueried, with an arch
lifting of the penciled brows that came
straight from her French mother.
"Mayhap you overhead me say it.
Monsieur Eavesdropper?"
Coo help me. little one-so I did"
said I.
All in a tlash ncr laughing mood was
gone and she stood before me like an
accusing goddess.
You told me once the past was like
a dream to you; o must have
dreamed that part Of it, sir. And yet
you said a little while ago that I had
not failed in any wifely duty!"
THE time and circumstance were
their OWL best excuse. Sure I am far
from blaming you. my dear. But let
1t pass; tits enough that I know you
love him as he loves YOU"
Again her mood changed III the
twinkling of an eye. She sank down
upon the h%assoce. laughing merrily.
20, wise Monsieur John! how well
you read a woman's heart! It's you
should be the lover, instead of Dick.
He rides accounting as he would charge
a legion on n battlefield. But nothing
would eve tempt you to be so master
full rough, would it. Monsieur John:
You would look deep into your sweet
hearts eyes and say-Teli me what you
would say mon ani?"
All, my dears. I hope no II OF you
will ever be tempted as l was tempted
then. l forgot my dear lad. forgot hon-
Or, forgot everything save that l had
leave to tell her 10 l had loved he1
from the first; how I should go or
loving her to the end. SO for Il momen,
hung tlmebiins On the brink: and
then h pushed me over.
"Is this how you would do, Monsieur
Monsieur Ogre?-sit stock still and
glover at the Door thing as IL you were
between two minds as to loving her
or eating herr"
I bent quickly. took her face between
my hands inc kissed her twice-thrice
This is what l should do. Now that
you have made me what ! was not be-
fore. are o satfsfhed?"
Twas long before she gave me a
word. And when she spoke it was only
to say: Are you not most monstrous
ashamed. Monsieur John?'
moi" said /. Il am but a man, and
you have reused that part of me tina,
knows neither shame nor remorse. !!
love you. Mistress Margery; do you
hear? I have loved you since tina day
in June when l came back from deaths
Edoor to find you sitting here to bear
me company"
She locked her fingers across hel
knee and would not look at me.
But by your own showing you
What of the lear friend you would
give up even the love of your mis-
tress?"
you may nuy me as you Will;
shall neither finch nor go back from
my word. You are mine, and I shall
give YOU up to no man.. I know I have
not your love-shall never have it. Also
where ice l had a loving friend
Richard Jennifer may kill me il he
please-he shall have the chance to dc
1t; but you are mine and shall be whilst
I live to claim and hold you.
There was something less than an
ger In the blue-gray eyes when she lei
me see them; nay, I could have sworn
there was a flash of playful mockery
in them when she said: Dear heart!
how masterful rough you have grown
all in a moment, my lord" And Their
the beautiful yes filed and she said:
Poor Dick! in a way to make me suf-
fer all the torments of that old myth
king who could never quaff the water
that was ever rising to his lips.
aye, you may love him, If you mus
and WILL" l gloomed. God pity me
I know you do love him."
She looked up quickly. $50 you havt
said u dozen times befo:o. Tell me
Monsieur Oracle. h0w Ia ysR know It.
.''If l tell you. yea OIL kxr.- elors
than you do now"
That would be hard. indeed sh,
y murmured. yet I would hear you ga,
it"
Listen, then. Once, when we three
were at the very door and threshold o
death you wrote the cry Of your hear
out on q bit Of paper for a leave-tak
Ing and sem 1t to the man you loved
lIEYou said. Though you must needs be
: lteve my love, is pledged to your dea
friend II mine, tits yours, and your
a1one.. Were not these your yer,
: tworda..n
% ives was but the lightest whis
per. vAs I heard It and went on. S.-sTha
ID all. save this ..The Indian bearer o
. your letter blundered and gave It m
instead of Dick. Is