The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-11-23
CHAPTER VIII

Tne 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 M drew over it's cloudy
forehead. The breath Of the lilies filed
the little o with delicate fragrance,
and mingled strange cen in the
dreams of the man 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 ARRAY, in which he carried
a bride in a gold pencil and was shot
for stealing a sandwich out of Mr..
Holman's vest pocket.
The morning light grew clearer. The
east had put on a vesture of gold above
her purple robe, r its reflection
shone softly in at h 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-
scious, as in many days past, Of her
heavy burden Of sorrow. Always at
first waking the realization Of 1t sat
upon her as though 1t would crush the
life from her body. Lying still with
bated breath, she fought back waking
consciousness as h had learned to
do in the last three months, yet knew
it to be futile while she was doing it.
The sun shot UP between the bar
Of 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.! 1t was
over-with the painful parting from
dear ones. She was off away from them
all. The new life she so dreaded had
begun, and how was she to face it
the life with one whom she feared and
did not respect? How could she ever
have done it but for the love Of her
dear ones2
Gradually she came to remember the
night before-the parting with her
mother and her brother; the little
things 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 eyes and see
ing mems faces about her. and George
could it have been George?-with a
kinder look in his yes than she had
ever thought to see there. Then she
must have tainted again--or had she ?
No. some n had lifted her into this
berth, and she had drunk something
and had gone to sleep. What had
happened? Where was everybody? 1t
was good to have been left alone. She
grudgingly gave her unioved husband
a fragment Of gratitude for not having
tried to talk to her. In the carriage
on the way he had seemed determined
to begin a long argument Of some kind.
She did not want to argue any more.
She had written tones upon the SUBJ
iAaN n-A ha1 aatl IN 49, - -
/ He was not deceived. He knew she
did not love him, and would never
have married him but for her mothers
sake and for the sake Of her beloved
fathers memory. What was the use of
saying more? Let 1t rest. The deed
was done, and they were married. Now
let him have his way and make her
suffer as he chose. II he would but
let her suffer in silence and not infiict
his bitter tongue upon her, she would
try to bear it. And perhaps-oh, per-
haps, she would not live long, and IL
would soon be all over ..,.
AS the daylight grew, the girl felt
an inclination to find out whether her
husband was near. Cautiously she
lifted her head, and, drawing back a
corner Of the curtain, peered out.
He lay quietly on the couch, one hand
under his cheek against the pillow, the
other across his breast, as If to guard
something. He was in the still sleep
Of the overwearied. He scarcely seem
ed to be breathing. .
Celia dropped the curtain, and pu,
her hand to her throat. 1t startled
her to find him so near and so still
Softly, stealthily, she lay down again
and closed her eyes. She must not
waken him. She would have as long
a time to herself as was possible, and
try to think OF her dear mother and
her precious brother. Oh, IL she were
just going away from them alone, how
well h could bear It! But to be GO
ing with one whom she had always
almost hated
Her brothers happy words about
George suddenly came to her mind
Jefferson had thought him fine. Well
Of course the dear boy knew nothing
about It. He had not read all those
| letters-those awful letters. He die
not know the threats-the terrible Ian.