Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1906-02-07

All that he now saw-heard-felt-
knew-was that it was she, Rosalie,
who, only half dozen rods away,
sloyely as ever in her dark beauty. yet
pathetically changed, had thrown one
arm about that scrawny, grizzled. equine
neck, and stood softly stroking the
lean old head, softly murmuring to the
unheeding ear and nesting the warm
velvet of her cheek upon that unre-
spcnsive jowl-all that sweetness
thrown away upon a superannuated
steed that, ignoring sweets incompar-
able, nuzzled about her rounded neck
and arms in guest of lump sugar, long
since a forgotten luxury. Rosalie's
back was toward the intruder in blue.
as, no longer hesitant, he went strid-
ing under the trees until almost with
in arms length of her, Pyramus. the
whiie.l regarding him with mute and
placid curiosity. with neither hope nor
fear. And here the soldier stood and
looked on hungrily moment at price
less caresses, for any touch of which
he could almost sell his soul, and lis
tening to low, murmurous words OF
tenderness and affection that. lavished
On him, would have turned grief or suf-
fering to instant ecstasy. The sight
thrilled him, even while it fired his
soul with envious greed. And then
and then came further murmured
words, at sound of which his heart
stormed at its heaving bars, and fairly
leaped in mad delight and passionate,
rejoiceful love. Gracious heaven, could
he believe his senses!
Dear old fellow-dear old fellow!
Did anybody think I'd let him be sold
to strangers, after all he'd done for
me and mine? Good old Pyramus!
Good old boy!" And all this with pet
ting, patting hands, with that soft
cheek still nestled against the long.
brown, bony muzzle. He'd do it all
over again, wouldn't he? He'd bring
him Blackjack to me-if only
hadn't" And then both white arms
were clasped about that preposterous
neck, and the dark treSseS of the girl
were bowed against and mingled with
the griZzled, tangled name of her one
confidant. The lovely face was hidden
from the worshipping eyes of blue, but
only for an instant. In daring and de-
light and overmaStering love, with eau
ton thrown, to the winds, and pride
and resolution totally forgotten, Ben
ton sprang forward, one low cry of
Resale" on his lips; seized: tore
loose the clasp of tine clinging arms,
and, despite amaze and struggle and
breathless protest, just as on that Won
drous night at the old stone house, he
strained the slender, painting, swaying
form to his breast; and just as he did
not then do, rained kiss after kiss on
the velvet of that flushed, tear-wet,
astonished cheek; yes, dared even in
his strength and glory and delight to
turn the now furiOusly resisting head
upon his breast until the wild, dilated
eyes were staring into his; until the
rosy, painting mouth was so close to
his quivering lips that denial seemed
| utterly in vain; then down he swooped
upon the prize. But with one superb,
supreme effort, she tore herself from
his embrace: stood one instant, pant
ing, speechless, with hands uplifted
against him, waving him back; with
eyes that flashed and commanded and
refused to melt even at sight of the
passion and pleading and bewilder
ment in his face.
ITO Be Continued