The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-11-23
CHAPTER VIII

The man slept, and the train rushed
on. The night waned The dawn grew
purple in the east, and streaked itself
with gold; then later got out a fllet
OF crimson and drew over it's cloudy
forehead. The breath of the lilies filed
the little room with delicate fragrance,
and mingled strange scenes in the
dreams Of the nan and the woman SO
strangely united.
The sad little bride grew restless and
stirred, but the man on the couch did
not hear her. He was dreaming OF
a shooting affray, in which he carried
a pride IN a gold pencil and was shot
for stealing a sandwich out of Mr..
m vest pocket.
The morning light grew clearer. The
east had put on a vesture of gold above
her purple robe, n its reflection
shone softly in at the window, for the
train was just at that moment rush.
ing northward, though it's general
course was west.
The sleeper behind the thick green
curtains stirred again and became con-
sclous, as In many days past, of her
heavy burden of sorrow. Always at
first waking the realization of it sat
upon her as though it would crush the
life from her body. Lying still with
bated breath, she fought back waking
consciousness as she had learned to
do in the last three months, yet knew
1t to be futile while she was doing it.,
Ihe sun shot up between the bar
or CRIMSON, like a topaz on a lady's
gown that crowns the whole beautiful
costume. The piercing, jewelled light
lay across the white face, touched the
lips with warm fingers, and the trou-
bled soul knew all that had passed.
She lay quiet, letting the torrent
sweep over her with it's sickening real
%ization. She was married! It was
over-With h painful parting from
dear ones. h was off away from them
all. The new life she so dreaded had
begun, n how was she to face it
the life with one whom she feared and
ala not respect? How could she ever
v done it but for the love Of her
dear ones?
Gradually she came to remember the
night before-the parting with her
mother and her brother; the little
Kings that brought the tears again
to her eyes. Then all was darkness.
She must have tainted. She did not
often faint. but it must be-yes. she
remembered opening her ayes and see
ing mems faces about her, and George
could 1T have been George?-with a
kinder look in his eyes than she had
ever thought to see there. Then she
must have tainted again-or had she?
berth. and she had drunk something
and had gone to sleep. What had
happened? Where was everybody? H
was good to have been left alone. She
~grudgingly gave her unloved husband
a fragment OF gratitude for not having
trled to talk to her. In the carriage
on The way he a seemed determined
to begin a long argument of some kind
she did not want to argue any more.
She had written tones upon the sub
5ect, and had said all she had to say.
He was not deceived. He knew she
y not love him. and would never
have married him but for her the
sake and for the sake of her beloved
fathers memory. What was the use Of
saying more? Let it rest. The deed
was done, and they were married. Now
let him have his way and make her
surfer as he chose. If he would but
let her suffer in silence and not inflict
his bitter tongue upon her, h would
try to bear II. And perhaps-oh, per-
maps. h would not live long. and n
would soon be all over.
las the daylight grew, the girl felt
an inclination to find out whether her
husband was near. Cautiously she
lifted her head, and, drawing back q
corner OF the curtain, peered out.
He lay quietly on the couch. one hand
his cheek against the pillow. tha
other across his breast, as il to guard
something. He was In the still sleen
OF the o~verwearied. He scarcely SEEM
ed to be breathing.
Celia dropped the curtain, and out
her hand to her throat. It startled
her to find him SO near and so still
Softly. s~tealthily, she lay down again
and closed her res She must not
walen him. She woul have az long
a time to herself as was possible, and
try to think OF her lear mother and
her precious brother. Oh, il she were
Just going away from them alone. how
we'll h could bear it! But I'd be gc,-
ing with one whom she had alwaNs
almost hated--
Her brothers happy words about
George suddenly came to her mind.
Jefferson had thought him fine. Well.
OF ourse the dear boy knew nothing
about 1t. He had net read ali those
aetters-those awful letters. He did
not know the threats-the terrible Ian