The Red Cloud chief., 1913-12-11
, I grew bold In the presence Of her

I grew bold In the presence Of her
despair.
There 10 one way out"
"One way 10 enough"
, III you are willing to take It,"
Anything would be better than 60
ing back"
You would have to marry me-"
"Oh!"
A look of horrifed surprise swept
over her countenance and then she
laughed.
! Il should not want you to sacrifice
yourself"
: please don't hesitate on that &C
count. I have always longed for Q
martyrdom to which might be re-
signed In q sanity manner"
} Then we both laughed. from sheer
happiness, for ] knew that she had
seen all these weeks how things stood
with me. and did not approve-at
least. 40 compared with Mr.. Brace
'brook-and she-well. I don't know
why she laughed unless It might have
been with the hope OF escape.
We'll have to run away between
my carrying you OF and your rostora-
tion to your sorrowins friends at the
end Of the play"
That evening when I captured her
we went out into the street. There was
q little church OF at the far end Of
the town, the pastor Of which was q
friend Of mine. He often exhorted me
to forsake the evil Of my way. He
had promised to marry us at the altar
of his church at ten o'clock.
l called a cab aud In a moment we
were rafting along the street. We
had proceeded about half the distance
when l observed hanson following
us around the corner.
AS We stopped at the church door
and l assisted Lois to alight the other
cab drove up and an old gentleman
stepped out. I needed no word to tell
me who he was. He came hurriedly
toward us, his gaze fixed earnestly
upon Lois. She turned her face to-
ward him. the light from the street
lamp falling full upon 1t and her coils
Of shining black hair. He drew back
and bowed ap0logetically.
Il beg your pardon. In me you see
q broken.hearted father who seeks
his daughter. Something l heard at
the theater made me think that this
might be she. am wrong. She is fair
and has golden curls."
You need not apologize. ! SAID
Much as l love the oriental coloring
wherein this lady walks In beauty like
the night could almost wish that she
rivaled the lily In fairness and was
crowned with a wreath Of tresses like
the golden food OF Pactolus. Not only
that you might be pleased with q
daughter, but that she might have the
comfort of a fathers presence at this
time"
"If there ls anything can do for an
orphan maid it will be comfort to
my own heart to be permitted to do
It,"
You are very kind, sir. We have
come to this church to be married. II
you, a kind.hearted stranger. with a
daughter whom you love, would give
her away In marriage. 1t would be a
pleasant thing for her and I should
feel less like robber."
Il do not know you. but suppose
i she does, and II she is satisfied why
should j refuse?"
Il am Oswald Svensen Of the Gloria
Aheater. a player Of many parts on the
stage, and only one. that OF honest
man, off the boards. The lady Is Miss
Elsie Marchmont of the same com
pany."
| That really was her stage name. SO
1t was true enough.
i trembled lest he should interrupt
the ceremony at the name OF the bride,
but he only startled slightly and then
seemed to reflect that he had not heard
Alright The preacher was wretchedly
hoarse.
On the church steps the old gentle
man turned to US and said:
Il wish you young people all the
happiness that ! could wish Of my
own daughter In like circumstances.
must 60 elsewhere to find her"
The look Of sadness in his face
struck to the heart of Lois.
do not seek her farther" she said
pulling the wig of her head and let
ting the waves Of gold fall around her
Il cannot wash on the paint until
finish the play, but then you will see
the same little white face that has
worried you all my life.'
&Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. ca)
Presence Of Mind.