The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-07-31

toIlI W duotueI DIS poOplc VIII w WHO
have been long separated. Three dis
tinct time did Mrs. Harrington essay
to give an extended dissertation on the
evil deeds and ! puiation of Jasper
Holt, and each t.a,e the subject was
as summarily closed, and quietly set
aside by Jean as il she had no inter-
est whatever in the young man. 1t
the women almost an uncanny
feeling, and actually disturbed her
seriously, so that she was threatened
with n of her nervous headaches;
and after lunch, having had to confess
to her husband that she had made
no Roadway in doing his bidding about
enlightening her sister with regard to
his enemy, she retired to her dark
ened room to sleep. Jean, glad to es-
cape to quiet, fled to her roses.
Broodingly, as a mother would touch
her little child while it sleeps, Jean
lowered over those flowers. The door
was locked safe from intrusion, and
the children SEN to u ue;ghbor's that
the house might be quiet. She drew
the little table neal the great window
chair, and placed the bowl of roses
upon it.
They filled the bowl, lying heavy
In great sheayes over its rim
on their cool, luscious leaves, those
leaves Of that peculiar green touched
with burnt sienna on tips and veins,
that speak Of a high state of cultiva-
ffnp onl ~ nro nto~1r OLo InsI 1~.
cheek against the cool yellow of the
flowers, then her lips, then her closed
eyelids, while she let her thoughts rove
back to the yesterday and the time
when their giver had been at her side;
the words ne had spoken, the way he
a looked. the sca3d of his voice. aud
the firm clasp OF his hand. It all
rushed over her in a tumult Of JOY and
sorrow. This was the man she knew,
SO kind, SO tender. SO strong, so true;
and that other was the one they
thought he was! She could never feel
that way about him no matter what
people told her, for she had seen what
they had not. II they had been there
in her place and he had been that
strong companion and friend they
night have understood. She would,
course, respect their wishes, and
lot do anything to trouble those who
loved her: but she would trust him al
ways.
And now there stirred in her mind
the remembrance Of that paper, the
disposition of which she must decide
at once. How should she get it to
him? 1t would not do to send for
him. He could not, probably would
not, come il she had. Even a letter
which did not explain too much would
be a difficult thing to manage, at least
until she knew the way to the post
office and could mail it herself. II it
carried by a servant or a member
Of the family 1t might be subject to In
snection- Yet the paper ought to go to
him at once Still. OF course, in her
it was at least out Of his enc.
mics hands, IL enemies they were,
these dear people OF her avn family.
Oh, why were things at n ce so bitter
and SO sweet In this hard, bright
She buried her face in the
again and let their sweetness
rush over her. AS sic did so a slight
rustiiiing sound startled her, Ind VIXEN
she lifted up her face and then pressed.
close again she heard It once nor
Curious, with a fleeting hope floating
through her brain, she ,sat up and be-
gan to touch the buds and blossoms
eagerly, ~searchingly with her.
fingers. Yes, there 1t was, that sound
of cracking paper!
She folded back the petals OF ,he
largest bud, and there, laid deaftiy in.
like another flower leaf, she found a
tiny bit Of folded paper. Eagerly she
took 1t out and opened 1t, for 1t Was
very thin and folded close. ana there
writing. small md fine. but boldly,
distinctly clear:
4 have to go away. For how long
l do not know. l shall not forget my
promise. You may trust me. I hope
70 uhaye a happy time"
The tears were In her eyes as she
read the brief message 9 and over
again. and laid her lips upon IL. Bright
drons fell upon the roses and stood
like dew drops.
She searched the other b lessons
carefully, but there were no more gaes-
'saSes, and she had known there would
not be. He would not think II square.
to write more OF the things that were
In his heart, and she loved him the
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