Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1880-11-03

changed satisaed glances and eagerly
welcomed him TO their house. After q
few words the young baronet spoke,
81 suppose" he said, with something
Of hesitation in his manner, "you viii
not be very much surprised to hear that
/ have come to demand an interview with
your daughter-in fact, to offer her my
hand andfortune, as / have already given
her oil my loveY
proud, indeed" said Sir Arthur,
clasping the hand of the other. "Have
you mentioned anything a yet to Edith
Miss Lechmere? I"
Ct said q little the other evening""
frankly responded the baronet, "but
Miss Lechmere seemed agitated, and
asked for time. until to-day"
"Oh!" said the baronet, 81 did
notice . little change in her manner at
breakfast She appeared somewhat
Hurried and agitated. Dear girl! will
ring for her"
A maid came and at once hurried Oh
to summon Miss Lechmere to her fathers
presence. She returned after q few
minutes, in a very agitated state, and
declared that Miss Lechmere was no.
where to be found.
The father turned crimson, the mother
was pale and agitated, the young bare
net cid, stiff and naughty.
"Did any one see her 70 out ?" asked
the elder gentleman, in o tone of sup
pressed passion.
AT this moment Edith's own maid,
her personal atten. liant, appeared on the
scene. She held a dainty little note in
her hand, which she handed to Sir
Arthur. The baronet opened the letter
furiously, and read it, waving the ser
wants to leave the room. He glanced ct
the beginning, and then read aloud:
"DEAR PAPA M MAMMA: Sir Richard Nor
ton is coming this morning to ask for NY hee7ft
and hand. ! do admire him very much, Ike
him almost ~ much Is any man / know. except
one, but I cannot be his wife. AN sure I am
A 1 am afraid you would wish me TO accept
your good friend and neighbor, I have thought
it better to render the union impossible. Be
fore you receive this ! shall be married by
special license to Mr.. Spencer Baker, whom !
love very much, and who will make me very
happy. Forgive your loving daughter,
"Spencer Baker, the audacious for
tune-hunter," cried the exasperated bar
onet. Courses light ON him and her.
Ungrateful wretcl-no money of mine
shall she ever have. Then she will zee
what it is to marry a beggar."
II will retire" said Sir Richard, in q
tone Of deep disappointment, not unac-
companied by anger. II think Miss
Lechmere might have been more frank
with me-"
"No, the hypocritical hussy," contin-
ued her father, purple with passion. 81
hope she may live to repent. But she is
no child of mine. May the malediction
Of"
"Hush," said the mother, said the
mother in an agonized voice. course not
your only daughter! Poor child! She
will be the most deeply punished. She
has chosen poverty and exile, for Lieu
tenant Spencer has, / know, been Or
dered to Canada"
"Ahr' cried the elder baronet.
But what further he intended to say
was cut short by the lea ve-taking of his
young friend.
Sir Richard Merton went out in n tow
ering passion. He had one idea. This
great disappointment in his life was due
to his mother. 1t was to her absurd
prejudice against the delicate young girl
that had induced her refusal; of this he
had not the shadow Of doubt.
His mind was made up. He went to
his club and sent for his man, to whom
he gave rapid orders.
"Pack up everything, he said, in a
cold, iron, "and bring them to Wright's
hotel. / am off to the Continent for
some time. Give this letter to my
mother"
That letter Lady Merton read with
pallid cheeks and fearful ewes:
"MoTAER: Yon have caused me to be re-
jected by the girl | love, o N the absurd principle
that she was In delisate health. Actlated Ay
fear OF your Judgment, she has eloped and
made q SILLY marriage. You can forgive your
self never can. / leave England. 1t Is i'm
possible to say whether ! shah ever return or
not. OAklauds Ia yours AZ long ~ you live.
NY interest in it has ceased forevermore.
RICHARD MERTON"
Nothing more, nothing less.
That evening the young baronet left
London, and to the time when we refer
to Lady Merton was alone ut Oaklands
Park. Twenty years had elapsed, and
DIX HUG ACAuAlCl cCLu uOI uCuIu HUH AlcI
son.
1t wants now q week to Christmas.
From habit and custom Lady Merton
will have Christmas festivities rs in the
olden time. George Merton is there,
the heir apparent, while Ellen and Mar
garet Denham, her sisters orphan chill
dren, are also present for q visit.
1t is morning, and breakfast Is Just
over, when q railway fly rattles up the
avenue, and . loud knock is heard at the
door. The mistress of the house can see
without moving from her seat. A young
lady, fashionably attired, alights with .
maid and ascends the steps.
Who can it be-" asks Lady Merton,
rising from the table, in a slightly agi-
tated way. IT cannot remember any
other guest who was invited.
"Some self-elected visitor" says
George, with q frown.
He is very Jealous Of any one getting
into his aunt's good graces.
The butler enters with o letter. He
looks very scared and puzzled.
Miss Merton to see her grand-moth-
er," he says, in a rather alarmed tone.
George Merton grew ghastly pale.
There is, then, q direct heir?
"Show her in" gasped the lady,
sinking into o chair, around which the
three stand, her nephew and two nieces.
There enters q tall, slight girl, who
advances to where the dowageris seated.
my grandmother, 1 presume?" she
said, in the sweetest Of sweet voices.
"Yes, my dear" il the answer, 'tfo1
] can zee at once that you are a Merton
"WiA you read this letter? ?" she con-
timed, taking it from the hand of the
butler.
Lady Merton adjusts her spectacles
and reads, while the other takes q seat:
"LAD1 MERTON: My husband, your son, has
gone ON an expedition TO Africa. have reason
to believe he has either been killed or wounded.
! nm about to start IN search Of him. Ny son
Richard h q school. I think It only right "a
send my daughter md namesake to your care
until my return. Yonrs. LUCY MEnToN.
~ am very glad you have come,'
said the old lady, tearfully and kindly.
=. -A 49,