The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-09-21

~ penniless. John lost all my money
in some unfortunate speculation, and
his only ideas of atonement are to
assist me in securing a rich husband
and you were his first Offering"
"Lost-all-your %fortune?" STAN
mered Dennis. why, the colonel
never suspected this. He has repeat.
eddy explained to me what a solid
foundation your money would be to
our tottering credit. DO you know
that VIC are on the. v OF bank.
ruptcy?"
Then they laughed, these two, as II
this were the best joke OF the sea
son!
Miss Murray was the first to speak.
1T is too delicious" she gasped,
sweeping q hit OF 6lmy cobweb
across her eyes. Suppose they had
really succeeded in their plans
wouldn't the awakening have been
terriblel Whatever else fate has 10
store for us. we are fortunate in
missing that. But l must tell you
why l accepted the invitation here
simply for a change! Life was u
bearable at Brother Johns. and !
told myself that | would conceive
you my confidence II you we're worthy
of It (Which the first glance assured
me that you were), secure a few
weeks rest, and so have time to col
lect my scattered thoughts and de
eide ~pon soIae plan of action for the
future. Was not my decision a wise
one?"
Ask yourself that question at the
end of a week." answered Dennis
with an awkward laugh. Il am afraid
you have escaped Charybdis only tC
be wrecked at last upon Scylla! Our,
is not what would be termed n happy
family. The colonel and his wife were
never known to agree on any subject,
and they are always-conversing."
DO they-quarrel?" asked Miss
Murray. In an awed undertone.
"%Fearfully." answered Dennis,
grimly, rather enjoying his compan-
ions perturbed face.
Before people?"
Before people"
We'll" she said, re%fectively. ZEN
tering upon such a life will not be as
difficult as IL one had not served an
apprenticeship beforehand, and / am
already fortified, so you will have no
occasion to feel annoyed about me.
l hear you have a lovely place. ]
will enjoy that. while whatever others
think, You will know that | have no
designs upon you. But l shall X.
pect you to be my friend and make
my visit rs pleasant as possible; will
you?"
Il shall do everything in my pow.
err" he answered ~fervently, actually
smiling upon her in a manner that,
had they seen it. would have enraged
the feminine admirers who had vain
ly tried to make some impression
upon his obdurate heart.
Thus was their friendship estAb-
lished.
In the weeks that followed Dennis
CORTLAND fulfilled his promise
Gray clouds swept over the sky, and
o little chill entered Miss Murray's
heart as she made ready for her de
parture and said she was glad she
was going. She said it repeatedly
though 10 n had contradicted her
and added that gloomy weather al
ways had made her miserable, al.
waysl
And with this apology for an aching
heart, Miss Murray made a most be.
coming toilette and went down to
spend her last evening with the Court.
lands.
She was all alone and was singing
when Dennis entered, sweet, old-fash.
toned ballads that our grandmothers
knew and loved.
A dun red fire, a warm room scent.
cd with chrysanthemums, a young
girl singing-the face or the voice,
which was the sweetest? He. could
not tell. But that the song, the mel
} ody of which would echo down all the
years of his after life, had been made
for him and was now sung for him by
this lost woman OF his youth yet un,
possessed
He reused himself at last to realize
that she was going. He gazed long.
ingly into her face. He held her
/ hands with a mighty strength, then
pressed them gently to his lips.
why, Dennis, you don't"
But | do" he answered, with q
, laugh that was half a sob. Il love you,
, Genise! would die for you'll"
But Miss Murray remained silent
her hands resting passively in his, her
eyes fixed wonderingly on the hand
some, soldieTly figure. the pale face
and the glossy, cropped head.
+ That Dennis loved her-her! was
something almost beyond the youns
lady's comprehension. and that the
knowledge Of this fact should thrill
: her with such wild, strange Joy, wal
a something almost equally incompre
hensible.
i The man was waiting for an an
swer. She must speak.
Il want-you," she cried, desper
= ately. all Of her tact and graceful
8 aplomb DESERVING her at this crisis.