Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-02-01


take every cent any time, foi she al
ways liked him better than she did me,
frcm child. But you see if You cut
him out"
II see--I see.
"Well, for heavens sake, get ou a
little fasteri'' grieved the fat honorable,
who was privately in misery lest certain
liberties he had taken with BRIDES
money should be discovered by MIR.
Auhrev Mordaunt.
hathburne Thought he was getting on
a little next day. A happy smile dimpled
Brides rosy cheeks all day. Though
shs s9cn,ed ioss IN ,h~g own slopehts
and bid not pay very stiitt attention TO
her companions conversation, she al
lowed him TO walk with her, and was
far less thorny than usual.
cts going to be fine night-moon-
light remarked Mr.. Rathburne, when
they went in to tea. .........s
Birdie assented.
"It's cooler out of doors, and the
fountain will look very pretty by moon.
light" she said. 4~<E II ~
There's a very comfortable seat
that rustic one, by the fountain"
I Mr.. Rathburne's heart rose with a
bound when Birdie, with dazzling
smile, replied:
"Wait for me there"
At tea he refrained from eating his
iavorite salad with onions. He rushed
up 10 his rooms, after hurriedly whis-
pering his hopes to his uncle, and
drenched his handkerchief with Ger
man cologne. Then hastily scribbling
letter to a pressing creditor, to the
effect that his. bill should be settled
soon, he went down and sought the
rustic seat by the fountain to wait for
Birdie.
He waited until the fountain had flung
up and the basin caught hundred gal
Ions of water-until the whip-poor-
wills had whistled themselves hoarse
and gone to bed. Sleepy from sitting
posture, weary and stiff from the damp
ness of the heavy dew, Mr.. Rathburne
rose, at last, and abandoned his post in
despair. &s..
Birdie had not come--certainly was
not coming, for (Mr. Rlthburne looked
at his watch in the moonlight it was
past ten o'clock. E
lie moved stif'iy along the path,
entered another, stopped TO pick MP a
letter which lay there. 1t was addressed
10 Bride. Mr.. Rsthburne thought it
looked familiar, somehow. He had no
scruples about reading it: IL t..
Ny Dean BIRDIE know now where you
are and / am near you. Don't grieye any
more. Be happy; all will soon be vol. As
soon as have taken Soma stops 70 ferret out
wrong which is being done you, viii take
YOU out Of Brudenels care. carriage viii
wsit inst beyond the south gate at Ashdon, at
10 O'Clock, on the night Of Aug. 80. to bear you
awav with me 10 become my own beloved wife.
i will place You safely in my own homo with
nv snotheT; while return 10 light Bludenel
hls own den. shall tako my own chances
Of getting this to you by asking the favor Of
his gool-for nothing nephew to place !. in your
hands. He comes counting you. l think he
will do il. In haste! .& ArnRES.
There came before Rolfe Iathburne
a vision Of the fine-lookiag man with a
big blonde beard. He looked mp, and
stood staring blankly ct the open gate
of Ashdon. There were the marks Of
carriage wheels without, and hRnaker.
chief of BRIDES in the dust.
He rushed into the house--to tthe
honorable's bedside. and pounded him
awake. Pell-mell they tumhled up.
stairs to Birdie's room. The cage was
empty the bird had flown.
"The Ietter--how did she get isg'
yelled the honorable. al have not a
servant who dares accept II bribe y
81 suppose" confessed Brides
would-be suitor, "that brought it to
her when I came. He was business
like looking man with big blonde
beard"
at was" yelled ths. Hon. Christie
pher. We are lost.
Az. indeed. they were.