Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1878-05-01
it was after the sudden mention of your

it was after the sudden mention of your
name."
Painted" cried Ralph; II never
heard of that. Why didn't you tell mel"
81 never talk of those things" said
Miles, coldly; but as corroborative tes-
timony it is, of course valuable"
"What am l to dot" exclaimed
Ralph. "She mustn't perish, Miles; that
would be terrible. Wouldn't you 20 to
her at once if you werein my p~lacef"
A smile of icy bitterness touched the
lips of Miles Van Dorm. eyes" he said,
coldly, "if were in your place, /
should 90 to her."
Ralph started to his feet. "Will YOU
60 over, Miles," he said, "the first thing
in the morning, and ask Jane-Miss
Fairfield-to go down with me? I'm
afraid the shock might be injurious to
Dora: Jane al tell her, you know.
You'u 80, won't you, Miles?"
1t was q matter of wonderment to
Miles afterward how he was induced to
do such a thing; but certainly he did
find himself, after a sleepless night, at
the door of James clearinghouse, and
actually sent up his card by the servant.
Jane arose early that morning because
OF anxious thoughts that also drove
sleep from her eyes. Slowly and plod-
dinghy she went on hith her toilet, a
look of despair shaping itself in her
face. For the first time in years a pray
er forced itself from her lips. "Let
this cup pass from mel" cried Jane.
"Don't let Dora die!"
And at that moment q servant raped
at the door, and put a card into her
hand. Sane startled and turned pale As
she read, " Miles Van Dorm" She went
down stairs firmly persuaded the whole
thing was q dream.
Miles got upon his feet when she came
in, with the awkward conviction thai
his presence there was an intrusion, and
his errand an impertinence.
81 am sent here by MI. Peyton," he
said, briefly, "to ask if you will accom-
pany him down to your house in the
country, this morning. He proposes to
start as early as possible"
CASA minister" cried Jane. "Does
he dare to think of fastening the poor
child's doom by telling her she is going
to die? Great heavens!" said Jane, be-
coming more and more excited. "He
can do her no possible good. There is
only II person in the world that can"
Jane paused abruptly.
The s~lumbering heat in the eyes of
Miles Van Dorm leaped into a blaze.
"And that personis not, then, RalphT"
he said, eagerly.
"Why, the monstrous egotism of the
fellow!' said Jane, laughing with the
air of one to whom laughing is so famil-
lar. "Of course it isn't How could
he dream of such a thingT
1t is natural sometimes to fall into
error" said Miles, a gradual agitation
betraying itself in his ordinarily cold
and measured tones. 81 have myself
been driven to think of this subject; it
has, entirely against my judgment, alb
s0rbed much of my time. Since that
night Miss Dora tainted, / have found it
impossible to keep her from my thoughts.
You will pardon my determination to
discover this party who can be of benefit
to your young sister if I confess to you,
Miss Fairfield" Miles paused; sud
den impulse of passion swept away all
his rhetoric. He went over to Jane. al
love Dora,' he cried, al love her with my
whole heart and soul. Now tell me, who
is this party of whom you speak,
Why, then, God bless you, Miles
Van Dorm" said Jane, the tears burst
ing from her burning eyes: that party
is yourself"
These tears, seemingly wrung from an
unwilling source, melted the heart of
Miles Van Dorm. Miss Fairfield
jane" he said, sit has not been my fault
that Dora has suffered. Ihave not dared
to think of love: it has not been a part
of my plan of life. 1t did not seem pos
sible-I did not know"
"But you know now" said Jane.
" Hasten back to Ralph, tell him the lit
tie mistake he has made, and meet me at
the train"
Needless to tell of the interview be-
tween Miles and Ralph, or strive to paint
the rapture of Jane when she was able
to give into her darling stands the elixir
of life in the old shape Of love.
Jane had the felicity afterward to see
Dora, dressed in a marvellous mixture of
lace and illusion, singing to.thousands of
people who hung entranced upon her
voice. But it was not as q ~cantatrice
she sang, nor altogether to further the
delight and ambition of her good sister
Jane; it was at a charity concert, as the
wife of the eminent judge and jurist,
Miles Van Dorn.--Hdrper's New Monthly.