The Mena weekly star., 1909-09-09

head with it's crown of goldcn hair. end that voice could belong to no other. Had other proof been necessary, it was there. Brave lay at Elba $ side h close atten- dance was the monkey, one eye closed. the other blinking in the gas light. Only tho miner, and Baby Blossom, were want ing to complete the picture
 Now, as the Characters appear upon me magician 8 scroll, when sela to .he flames, Brent Lavrence saw It's mistake. He had thougat of the child simply as Blossom, nothing more.
 Stepping softly the man gazei at inc woman in the room, with ID thought of J.urette Devigney in his mnd He had forgotten her sNmmoas, hal forgotten her very existence.
 Brave s dog instinct told him of tres passers, he moved in the direction of the window, with short quick bark Jocko opened both eyes, and approached in that slow, half crawling gait peculiar to his race. 4 mixture Of cunning and caution
 Elba, thinking it dispute between the two animals, paid no attention but Aunt Debby stepped brskly forward, and with no show of alarm or surprise, dropped a courtesy, and with polite re- buke in her tone said; 'sarvent, Marster. Yves 'speetin uy you, but not by dc window, ez it's de custom in dis country, tor come in de doe"
 Expecting me9 Yes, certainly. '' He remembered that he had come in answer to the call of his bctrothed. The thought gave him pain. :" Miss Devigney. She is here2n
 No, sah, she gons, but she lief dis fur me ter gie you. Will you come in, my mistus is in de room.
 Mechanically, the man put out his hand to receive the letter which the col ored woman held toward him. Vaguely, the thought of thar other time in the lit tie mountain home, when note had been handed him, crushing his hopes
 Heating tho man s voice, Elbs turned as he had once professed to love her Tue drop that had sweeteued the draught was growing bitter from doubt
 esshe ain't CT chile no longer. :" The old woman shook her head wisely. HShe 5nicRly, at the moment he stepped through the window, and looked into the lace of Brent Lawrence It would have been difficult to say which was the ehiter, her face, or the one she met.
 Elba, how strange to find you here, aliye and well, when 'ye mourned you as lead, so longgn He went forward and held out his hands
 She tried to speak, bu. the words died away in whisper, she laid her hand in his and gazed at him in silence.
 Elba, why did you deceive mea Why let mo think you dead, when you knew how it grieyed me7 ! understand now You could not love me, and thought it best to make me think you dead, and stop my pleading Perhaps, as the song says, it WIS best for you, and best for me, but was it kindl'
 
 '' Not iove yon9 Oh, you wrong me so cruelty. Have not been desolate and utterly miserable without yous''
 Then why did you hide from me, and why did you let me go for years believing you deadlp
 e'I never knew you thought so. It was mistake, as my whole life has been, You have learned to care for anotherg"
 She rose and stood by him, with one hand on the piano, to steady her tremb- ling limbs, while she awaited his answer upon which she felt her life depended
 s'she told you, Lurettef" The color mounting again to his face
 ssI guessed hardness creeping into her tone. Her manner grew stiff. ''You came to see Miss Devigney. She is gone. I m sorry
 T came in answer to a message from her. Her departure can mean but one thing. She knows our secret, and-can you guess the rest2''
 She ba-f you conner The woman took hope again. The color came slowly back to her white face, and blue lipst
 fsshe did
 'sPremising to meet youq'
 eThat was understood. Perhaps this will explain He tore open the letter, until now, forgottcn which Aunt Debby had given him. There was only few lines
 stDear Guardy-G Goodbye, maybe for years, maybe forever. m bound for the land of my mother s birth, where, some day, God wiling, you will hear of me as great singer. You will be proud when you hear the world praislng my voice, won't you Guardyg The time may como when you and your wife will hear me sing in your own country. I know you will be happy, for she loves you, and I know what your love for her is. She is worthy of, even your love, for she is as good as she is beautiful. Do not think of me as being unhappy, for l will not be so. I shall give to my profession the love can no longer give you. Believe me, dear Guardy, when I say that if you are happy, I will be. Wishing you, and