The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1908-01-30

he could do no more than stand and
gaze. his heart IN his Dyes, And Il
was a vision 10 cnchain. 10 hold lips
spoochlcss She was sealed with I'M.
studied grace on the edge OF the bank
her hands olaspel about enc knco. her
sweet face eobered by Thought her
eyes downcast the long lashos plain
" outlined against the clear cheeks
To draw back ~uuohserved was impos.
slhie. even had he possessed strength
OF VIII sufficient to make the attempt.
nor would words OF easy greeting
come 20 his relief. Tie could merely
Worship silently as before a sacred
shrine. Il was thus she glanced up
aud saw him With startled eyes, her
hands %wnclRsplng, her checks rose.
colored.
Lieut. Brant. you hereg" she ex-
claimed, speaking as Il his presence
seemed unreal What strange mir
acles an idle thought can work.
Thoughts. ! have heard. he re
Piled. coming toward her with head
uncovered, will sometimes awaken
answers through vast distances OF
time and space. As my thought was
with YOU I may be altogether to blame
for thus arousing your own. From
the expression Of your face, I sup
posed YOU dreaming.
She smiled. her eyes uplined for a
single instant to his own. st was
rather thought just merging into
dream, and there are few things IN
life more sweet. know not whether
II is the common gift Of all minds. but
my day-dreams are almost more 10
me than my realities"
First II was moods. and now
dreams. He seated himself comfort
ably at her feet. you would cause
me to believe YOU a most impractical
person, Miss Nadia.
III that were only true. ! am sure
/ should be most happy, for it has
been my fortune so far 70 c%oniure up
only pleasure through -day-dreaming
the things / like and long for be
come my very own then. But IL you
mean as I suspect, that / do not en-
JOY the dirt and drudgery OF life, then
my plea viii have 10 be guilty. Back
o. what you term practical some one
has said there is always a dream. a
first conception. In that n !
choose 10 be a dreamer
Ard not so unwise a choice. n
your dreams only tend toward re
suits. He a looking into her ami
mated face. deeply puzzled by both
words and actions. Il cannot help
noticing that you avoid All reference
10 my meeting with SIR. Hampton. Is
this smother sign OF your impractical
mind?r
Il should say rather the opposite.
for l had not even supposed Il con
cerned me.
Indeed, That presents a vastly dlf-
ferent view from the one given us an
hour since. The distinct impression
vas then conveyed to both our minds
,hatdyoh were -Ereatb aditrsssed re.
garding che matter Is Il possible yod
can have been acting agalng
Il? Certainly not" and she made
no attempt TO hide her indignation.
What do you meau?'
lie hesitsted an instant in HE re.
ply. feeling that possibly he was
treading upon thin ice. But her eyes
commanded a direct answer and he
yielded to them.
we were informed that you expe.
rienced great anxiety for ear We
might quarrel-so great. Indeed. tina,
you had conhded your troubles TO an.
other"
TO whom?"
Miss Spencer. She came to as o.
tensibly in your name. and as a peace
maker"
For a moment she sat gazing direct
ly at him. then she laughed softly.
Why. how supremely ~rIdieulous; 4
can hardly believe Il true. only your
face tells me YOU certainly are not
In play Lieut.. Brant. ] have never
even dreamed OF such a thing. Yor
had informed me that your mission
was one OF peace. and he pledged M,
his word not 10 permit any quarrel
had utmost confidence In you both
How. then. did she even know o
our meeting?
II am entirely in the dark. as mss
iined as you. she acknowledged
frankly. FOR Il has certainly never
been a habit with mF to betray IN,
confidence OF my friedds. and ! learn
ed long since not 20 conhde secrets &,
Miss Spencer.
Apparently neither cared to discuss
the problem longer yet he RENAME,
silent considering those question:
whlcNmight decide his fate
Yon speak OF your confidence n
us both he said. slowly. ITO m,
the complete trust you repose In Sir
Hamfson Is scarcely comprehensive
Do you truly believe IN his reformg
Certainly. Don't you?'
The direct return question serve,
TO nettle and confuse him "It is
perhaps. not my place 20 say. as ml
future happiness does not directly De
pend on the permanence OF hii
reformation. But N HIS word can b,