Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1880-11-03
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mERT0n's ~vEMeEAMcE.

mERT0n's VENGEANCE.
The dameM areAretM Merton, and widow
" the latsa Sir Phillip, lived il statelyre.
Arements y QaklAnds park. and had
lived thcse ! lar longer time than she
cared ~ romSmber.
She had been for nineteen years an
utterly solitary woman. save on rare oc-
casions, when she had admitted several
near relatives to the honors OF q short
visit The only Q relations which she
had ware : nephew and two nieces,
George, Ellen and Margaret.
Lady Merton had ; son somewhere
about the world, but che had neither
zen a. heord from him directly fornear-
y twenty long years. Richard Merton
was, and always had been, an eccentric
young man.
AT ihe distant date Of which we speak
he was : very good looking, hearty, will.
ful youth 81 nearly five-nnd-twenty.
He Ind been to college, had travelled,
had sown his wild oats broadcast. He
then returned to Oaklands park and
joined in the festivities Of Christmas, the
dowager mistress OF the house GATHERING
round her many friends to do honor "a
his long wished for but unexpected re-
turn.
Sir Richard Merton was very kind and
polite 10 al collected together. A very
6ne county collection il was, with many
wise men and beautiful women. But
soon Sir Richard had eyes for none o
Edith Lechmerc, the daughter Of q
wealthy baronet, who had only one 9TH
or child, the son who was to succeed him
ii the family estate and honors.
Both he and his portly wife, a woman
81 tender heart, saw with c~omplacency
Richard Merton, the best match in the
county, looking with admiration on their
lovely daughter.
Lady Margaret Merton liked the girl
~ : girl, but certainly did not approve
Of her as the future mistress OF Oaklands
Park.
The day after the festival Sir Richard.
ct breakfast, Indicated an intention OF
calling ON the Lechmeres to pay his
respects. His mother looked sharply at
him a he spoke.
81 hope you have not been struck by
that Lcchmere girl, Edith 2" she said,
II 0m0HHEV. H4Ey 54a
Why not ~ he asked. rather sharp
y. s6he Il, indeed a mort charming
creature
"Becaaae IL would be 4 most I'M
fortunate and ~iniudicious selection" she
answered.
Inlay I ask why?" was the rather
quick reioinder; .sthe reason why, moth
er mine."
because, though amiable, she is ex-
ceedingly delicate. Her health is my.
thing but satisfactory. Walking il
Agreat exertion TO her. while horse exer.
else il ont Of the question" she went o.
"6uch . girl is mot = ft person to be the
mother Of the Mertons. We have alwayr
bean : stalwart and comedy race. Nc
puny children eve endangered our d.
ret succession.
An yet believe" said Richard. rath.
q hardly, that / lost two brothers aud
! sister-my only one-becanse Of thei,
Lady Merton turned very pale. Thi,
dist panied her v now to think Of.
" Those deaths were accidents," she
aaid, and in . half mournful, half angry
one. 1T ID because / would g1lary
against any more such contingencies
that I would have gaided by reason in
your choice"
~ shall Be guided solely by love ani
affection ID my choice Of ! wife, va.
Ibis calm and naughty reply, and ther
dropped the subject.
Altar breakfast the bAronet dressed
suitably - the season, and then startes
Tor Lechmere Hall Oh horseback. II,
was most cheeTful1y and hospitabl,
welcomed By the barouet and his wife
while Edith received him with shy salts
factipu.
Richard Merton va not . young maj
Tor any young lady to treat with any
thing else but attention. Handsome
highly accomplished, brilliant in con,
versaticn, = great traveller, he was alst
"A adhniraisle talker.
Edith laughed ~ her sallies in q ouiel
way, smiled ii his quaint way Of tefline
adyenfureG, and VA highly interested II
hi description Of foreign courts.
She thought him certainly 4 very &C.
O0mpl1shed, nne young Engliah gentle.
man. bnt Whethsf 10 would wv h;m
ii the light her friends wished her Il
regard him - wholly another thing.
But &ir Richard was mot . hasty OF
fArdent loves. He wiahod to do things N
they ahcud be done, according 10 ruiz
and order, md was quite prepared TO e
Through Tho ordinary process OF court
ship, fhe pleasant nower.clad lane which
leads ~ mat1im0ny.
Edith me4 his aG4entiOus With eentll
indiAerencs though she appeared q
wayn e5ad ~ - him, and epparentl,
ptefeG1edhim % I'll other open and mors
s1aabxi0ne suitnrA
Tho bnrouet ana his vile looked on
with nuniIine satisfaction. and already il
Their minds 90 NV their aughter Lady
41Eton, = oae 81 The finest positions il
III Gcunty.
Tia tinne wore on, and the period
come ~ the London season. Sir Rich.
nd hAd ! town house, which was kept
up a ne Oh stylss
III yuung hatunet was nothing II mol
hn1pltsble, md Hked b go his table
G00Nfng under Whist he called good old
&nG61h hxe-n0ne ~ your French
dssdEMhnNuv md nonsenses
Ihcn66 ~ had tenve3od he vas purely
80 EneiiGh = n taates. All
reidad ks5self q this. md con.
1sgsMI hia At1snticn % how httle
~ htlle ~, - loved
M de6eAou - c6ered
eua1 egineoe q lnsetgn park.
l111l Hnr9lh ono1ornn.
~ q ~ ho,ilpJI
-. 49, 4.