Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-02-22

HEIR EYES WILL SOON BE OFF
ARTHUR"
hemmed, nor had l wished to. l was
hungry for a glance of her eye. Would
it turn my way, and. if it did, would
it leave a curse or a blessing behind
it? In anxiety for the blessing, | was
willing to risk the curse. and l follow
ed her every step with hungry glances
until she reached the doorway and
turned to give another shake Of the
hand to Mr.. Moffat, who had followed
them. But she did not see me.
II cannot miss it: l must catch her
eye" whispered to Clifton. Get
me out Of this. 1t will be several min
utes before they can reach the sleigh.
Let me see her for one instant face
to face"
Clifton disapproved and made me
aware of it. but he did my bidding
nevertheless.
had just time to see this sleigh and
note the rejoicing face Of Zadok lean
ing sideways from the box when l
beheld her pause and slowly turn her
head around and peer eagerly-and
with what divine anxiety in her eyes
back owe the heads Of those thronging
about her until her gaze rested fully
and sweetly on mine. My heart leaped,
then sank down, down into unutterable
depths. for in that instant her face
changed. horror seized upon her beau
ty and shook her frantic hold on Ar
thurs arm.
l heard words uttered very near me,
but I did not catch them. did feel,
however, the hand which was laid
strongly and with authority upon my
shoulder, and. tearing my eyes from
her face only long enough to perceive
that it was Sweetwater who had thus
arrested me.
She had never been told Of the in
eliminating position in which l had
been seer in the clubhouse. 1t had
been carefully kept from her, and she
had supposed that my acquittal In the
public mind vas as certain as Arthur's.
Now she saw herself undeceived. and
the reaction into doubt and misery was
tool much for her. aud 1 saw her sink
ing under my eyes.
-Let me go to her" I shrieked. utter
~ u~nconcerned with anything in the
world but this tottering. fainting gill.
But Sweetwater's hand only tighten
ed on my shoulder. while Arthur. with
an awful look at me. caught his sister
In his arms just as she fell to the
ground before the swaying multitude.
But he was not the only one to kneel
there. With a sound Of love and mis-
cry impossible tt describe Zadok had
leaped from the box and had groveled
at those dear feet. kissing the insensi-
bic hands and praying for those shut
eyes to open. Even after Arthur had
lifted her into the sleigh the man re-
manned %crouching where she had fall
en-. with his eyes roaming back and
forth in a sightless stare from her to
myself. muttering and grooming and
totally unheedeu! Of Arthur's com
mands to mount the box and drive
home. Finally some one else stepped
from the crowd and mercifully took
the reins. I caught one more glimpse
of her face with Arthur's bent tender
~ yer it; then the sleigh slipped away.
An officer shook Zadok by the arm.
and he got up and began to nov aside.
Then l had mind to face my own fate.
and, looking up. l met Sweetwater's
eye.
1t al quietly apologize.
Il only wished to congratulate you"
said he, "on the conclusion Of a case
in which l know you are highly in
terested." Lifting his hat, he nodded
affably and was gone before l could
recover from my stupor.
1t was for Clinton to show his in
dignation. l was past all feeling.
Farce as an afterpiece never appealed
to me.
Would | have considered 1t farce II
l could have heard the words which