Dixie Hart

shioned brick car-shed in the village, to see about a shipment of produce which had been incorrectly marked. A

irection from him and did not know that he was near. He hesitated for an instant, and then decided that he would not intrude upo

t. She may get a fair cut of the cards, and she may not. He ain't very promising material from the looks of his picture, but it wouldn't be fair t

lf between him and his task. She was his faithful friend. He loved her almost as if she had been a sister; she had confided in him; only he and she and her little family knew of w

train always announced with the locomotive's whistle his approach to Chester, and later there was a sound of escaping s

glad that Cahews and Pomp were busy in the rear, and he became conscious of the hope that no stray customer would interrupt him at what seemed such a grave and important moment. Time passed, and still old Bob and the ramshackle wagon were not in sight. Henley cautious

id in his tight throat; "they'll be out in a

ance Henley could see that she was pale, and he fancied that her hand and step were unsteady as she mounted to the spring seat and reached for the reins. Henley receded farther into the store, actuated by a vague

nd looked after the shackly vehicle as it moved slowly away in the beating sunshine. "She's bad hit by so

ut of sight. Old Wrinkle was singing "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord!" as he trudged back to the house, swinging his empty swill-pail. The door of Dixie Hart's cottage opened, and in a

to the store, and-well, I didn't think that was exactly the place, anyway to-to say what I had t

"What you said that day was as sacred to me as if it had

lfred; I'll get right after a while, but things are all crooked now. I've had trouble-I reckon

nd himself able to say, "not hearing any more, y

t to their fathomless lustre. "I had everything ready, and went to meet him, but he didn't come. I went to the post-office and got a let

d what there was for him to say, when she suddenly, and quite dry-eyed, looked up and said: "But that must be a secret, too. Nobody knows about

nsidered consolation as his knowledge of her rather questi

ecoming observable even in the starlight. "Why, you see, Alfred, I didn't get full particulars-a body nev

s so common now," Henley purs

outh with her hand and lowered her head to the fence again, and for a moment he stood staring at her

n't. You must make what allowance you can. You see, I never saw him in my life, and,

is bad enough, in any case, but to be called a

p this silly caper from getting out I'll be thankful. So far, I've got along by myself, and, outside of wanting to flaunt a husband in Carrie Wade's face, I don't know as I'll be particularly

oorway, and he stood overwhelmed w

rubbed off by actual acquaintance, as it has been off of me and most other married folks. I reckon my wife has put the gloss back on Dick Wrinkle, if it was ever off, and I've got a rival in the spirit-world that nothing earthly could ever hope to match. They say absence works that way, and when I get to Texas maybe s