The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-15

here worshiper. because risk was a mat
/ ter or every day 20 his mind But he
stated quite impersonally that as the
/ bridegroom was more than commonly
strong and rash and the nights work
! extra hazardous the odds were against
. a wedding on Saturday Il was unfor-
/ tunate. he thought. thar No. Z East had
/ TO be retimbered just at this time.
Anionina listened. and q cold fear grew
/ upon her. Jonas or no Jonas. America
/ with kalixta dead would be a dreary
place
/ Thursday morning broke yellow and low
ering. with thunderstorms 20 keep one
! under roof. From the wet outer world
came no visitors. no word. and only an
empty dinner can from Kalixta
/ Toward o'clock IN the afternoon An
/ toaino had finished her fourth fitting and
/ conncd her dark wooden f-Oc1 for the
/ fifth time. She was very tired, and more
! than little lonely. Oracle was out and
The men busy over game. Life was
/ desert.
! How IS the dress?" inquired KaIixta's
voice. cheerful as usual A hand fel upon
/ his shoulder
! You, Oh-you-'
I Antonina turned half about to look at
/ him; but failed TO see more than a mist,
a blur and sleepless, bloodshot eyes. be-
cause aer own tears blinded her
| Eailxta saw and conquered. He was
! Up beside her on the table, crushing her
/ head 10 his breast with tired, tireless
arms.
Don't cry. little em!grant."
They told me you would he killed"
We'll. they lied" averred the miner
with conviction.
Antonina leaned upon his shoulder. half
dazed, half comforted, but wholly yield
ing. Endurance and stolid strength she
had seen from her childhood; but IN
wearied vitality such as this mans was
another matter. To work for sx-and-
thirty hoUrs-to work as the boy told her
men had worked that day in No. and
still 10 keep & smile, a CHEEKY voice, 20
dress and brush ones hair and call the
effort nOthingi BY chance she thought OF
josef, OF Jonas IlarveHs, of others; but
In the shadow OF this strength they
/ seemed to pale so that she remembered
them like shadows. Quietly, wondering
little whether she herself were drifting
into mere dream. AntOnina raised a
hand to stroke the fingers pressed upon
her forehead.
Then are you glad I am alive? An
swer it," asked Kalixta.
Alas for fidelity And woe for the vows
Of Jonas! She hid her face. but laughed.
Are YOU YOURSELF" asked Antonina.
Friday was a day OF crowds and bewil-
derment- The celebration began at noon.
The very yard was thronged with we'd
ding guests. eating and drinking. The
greenhorn danced for half the night anG
found no lack Of partners. till warning
spark grew IN Ralixta's eyes. Antoniau1's
triumph was complete She was radiant
~ happy No one she thought, would en-
Joy haliNta's wedding more than she.
Oracle, too was we'll pleased. for the blue
plate upon the dining table brimmed with
coin and paper money. and moro than 500
had been gathered from the table by II
o'clock.
JOSEF and his boarders stayed at home
on Saturday. wearing their best clothes.
From S o'clock onward wedding guests
came and went as their fancy led; but the
house was given over 20 Oracle and
woman caterer to prepare the great din
ner.
Antonina, in a Bingham apron and with
1leeves rolled up. busted herself perfume
torily. Kalixta would have helped her
PASS the slow hours. but she fed from
room to room ct his approach. At 10
O'Clock she went 10 her room TO dress
1t was plain. bare little place. nearly
empty. The bed. freshly made UP and
gay with its while pillows upon red
blankets held her wedding dress and veil.
and a new white petticoat loaned b. era
Gle. Kalixtas trunk stood IN the corner,
his overcoat hung on It's peg behind the
door, kalixta's own private mirror a