Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-01-22

broke up the monotony of u lives.
Then came one from Hastings, in which
she told Of her introduction to . Mr..
Neville.
think my pulse stopped ~ Winnie
read out the name. l know aunt asked
me IL ! was ill-if the heat was too much
for me. But l drew myself together,
said I" nothing" was the matter, and tried
to convince myself that the name was a
common one
Again and again We heard of this
same Mr.. Neville, and my heart began
to be torn with doubts and suspicious,
and a very demon Of jealousy seemed to
take possession of my breast. | felt as
sured that Bella was in love with him,
and that he was the Edgar Neville of
my alteration; all that she stated Of his
appearance and family were convincing.
At length a letter came, addressed in
q manly hand to Uncle Ritson, with
Edgar's well-known crest upon the
seal. 1t was a proposal for my cousins
hand.
My head swan round, but I summon
ed courage to ask Mr.. Neville's Chris
tian name. He had merely signed j. E.
Neville.
All, that wa it, SURE enough-Johp
Edgar.
l had my back towards my uncle,
standing in the doorway, as l asked.
No one noticed how I staggered into
the hall, or how l snatched my hat
from the stand and darted up the noun
tain side to cool my fevered brow and
still my throbbing pulses. How l went
or where l went I could never remem-
Der. l had some recollection of falling
Is I bounded across a beck, of old
Elspa's face bending over me, and then
no more, until / found myself in my
own snowy bed, with Winnie watching
me and Al array of physic bottles on the
window seat.
Elspa had found me where / had fall
en-, half in half out of the stream. Una
BILE to drag me thence, she had summon
ed help with q peculiar whistle she kept
suspended to her girdle, the shrill note
of which no shepherd dared to disobey.
1t brought a couple of shepherds to the
spot. My limbs we're lifted out of the
stream-she had already bathed nay brow
and plastered up my t~emple-and then
was carried slowly down to interrupt the
answer Uncle Ritson was sending t.
Bella and Mr.. Neville.
My tall and the immersion were &C
credited with the prolonged fever which
almost bafled my uncle's skill. If any
one suspected otherwise it was old Elspa
but she wa too "wise" to revert to tn,
subject when she came to see me ere my
convalescence.
Very slow was my recovery, retarded
no doubt by the scraps Winnie read Il
me Al pleasant news from her sisters let
ters. 1t was nov" Eddie" this, or ED
die" that; and as l shut my eyes ant
ground nv teeth, the better to endure
I felt indignant that my noble-fronte,
Edgar should have a pet name like
baby. To me he had the majesty of
monarch. How could she address hin
so?
I was down stairs before the Christ
mas came, able and willing to assist m,
aunt in her multitudinous preparations
and tried to smile and look gratifet
during the Christmas merry.making.
l heard, but hardly seemed to realize
that Bella was to be married early il
the new year, and that she and her hus
band would come to spend the honey
moon with us, and I was doing my bes
to nerve myself for the meeting.
The old year was closing in. Elspa-
who else?-came up to the house with
letter she had found lying in a by-road
It should have been delivered some day
previously; and it was supposed that tn
pOstman had taken more drink than wa
good for him during the Christina
F" cardings," and dropped it by the way
Goodnessl how that letter stunned
me! Bella was by that time married
She and her husband we're to be with u
on New Years day, and they shoul'
bring with them a New Years gift TO
Cousin Adela, a a thank offering 70
bringing them together. Their photo
graphs we're inclosed.
l only saw one. Yes, it was EDGAR
There was no mistake.
The house was at once in a hustle O
preparation. Again l slipped out t
hide my agony and prepare myself fo
WAAo ~ AA"A
Dreamily l went along. saw moth
ing before m but that meeting on tn
morrow and the revelation it was sur
to bring. My mind seemed a chaos, i
which thought was lost.
All at once / found myself on tn
reedy margin of the lake, as the silve
circle of the moon was rising above tn
mountain-tops. And there l stooc
looking on the dark waters, while som
thing seemed to whisper to me ths
there was peace; that l need not NEE
the proud bride and my iuconstant Low
unless l choose; that l might hide m
sorrows and secrets there, and non
be the wiser.
Ny foot was on the brink. There wa
. step on the stones behind me.
turned; and l think my half-forme
purpose was visible in my face, as
once more confronted old Elspa, weir
and witch-like in the moonlight, a war;
ing finger held up.
Sharp were her words, sharp as m
need. She babe me 60 down on m
knees, and thank God that he had sen
her tD save me from my third peril
the peril of body and soul. What Wa
I pulling ver3 What right had l t
fling away the life that was given fo
the service of others? How dared
tempt death, loving the creature MOT
than the Creator? She had heard m
raving to the winds when I thought my
self alone, and had kept q watch upo
me. And she babe me go back home
and pray to be forgiven, and to "trus
the Lord to make his dark ways plain.
She took my hand and led me bac
like q penitent child; said to my aun
that she thought l was not well, and, b
her leave, would watch me through tn
night. Something, too, she gave M,
and ] slept.
When 1 awoke . chaise was at the gats
and before l could fasten my dress wit
my trembling fingers Bella had burst il
radiant with happiness, and flung he
arms around me.
"Come, Adela, make haste!" said she
Edward is all impotence to see you an
show you our New Years gift"
"Edwsrdl" ! gaspel.
"Yes, my dear Edward! Did you nc