Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-10-04
M1BEL'S IODER.

Under the shadow of q great fig tree
ayoung girl sat in a deep reveric. Such
tender light was i'll her eyes, such q
sweet smile of full satisfaction on her
face, that stranger would certainly
have said "She is thinking OF her
lover" But no lover hld Nj lbcl Rae
Her pleasure sprang from q far less dan
gerous sourcc--from the handful of
tuberoses in her lap. Their spiritual,
dreamy beauty and rare, rich perfume
always held her as in spell of meas
ure,ess content and the lovely waxen
flowers pale pure and white as NOON
shine, haunted her heart and imagna-
ton, and received from her a perpetual
love and worship.
There she sat until the hea. an ST IL.
ness of the tropic noon drove ner tc the
house. grand Old home il Il among
giant live oaks gray with the solemn
waving Southern moss. Sh, went to a
large dim parlor, intending to put her
fayoritcs among the damp moss Of the
hanging baskets, but the dreamy languor
of the room oyercame every desire but
that of sleep, and she lay down on thc
nearest couch, holding her flowers IN
her hauds.
Half an hour later Mr.. Rae opened
the door, and ushcrcd in gentleman
who had accompanied him from New
Orleans
"Sit down, Allan" he said. II will
soon arous> the house Nou see it is
the hour for siesta, and / believe all
take it at the same hour when am
away"
For n few minutes the young man b';.
leYed himself alone 4 subtle ,r.a,.t
full perfume was his first sensation
Then, as his eyes became accustomed
to the dim light Of the carefully closed
jalousies, he saw picture that he never
more forgot, n lovely girl, m the first
bloom Of maidenhood, fast asleep on the
silken cushions pied on a low divan
Her white robes made kind oi glory
IN the darkened corner, one hand had
fallen down, and the flowers ycnmel
the carpet at her side; the other lay
across her breast, rs if embracing tie
tuberoses which it had scattered there
Never in all his native mountains,
never IN any dream of love or fancy
had Allan Monteith seen woman half
so fair. He stool gazing on Mtbel as
his destiny asleep: he knew It hnd
opened his whole soul 20 vel. me
Loves young dream" But when Mr.
kae, followed by n negro valet, re
turned, and Mabel languid;, opened her
great pensive eyes and stretched nut
her arms for her fathers embrace, Al.
Ian almost thought he should faint
from excess of emotion, and it was with
difficulty he controlled himself to re-
celve the introduction and apologies
necessary.
Allan Monteith was young Scotch
'' 'hc oiilg Spu ot u Rchti'ii'h WIN
whom in early life Mr.. Rae had formed
most ardent friendship. He was rich,
and by nature and birth equally noble;
nor was he dos' itiits of the traaitiona!
business capacity of his house, as some
late transactions in cotton and sugar in
New Orleans had proved to MIR. Rae
And parity because he liked the
Young man, and partly as matter OF
Interest," he had invited him to his home
among the woods and lagoons of the
evcr-gresn n hayou. Mabel, in this trans
acton, had scarcely been properly con-
sidercl l; but to her father she was yet a
child, True, he recognized her beauty,
and was very proud of it, and she pos
sessed an exquisite voice and great skill
IN music, and the idea of showing his
pearl of price to the foreigner rather
battered his vanity than alarmed his
Tears. He did not dream he was intro
drcing q new claimant for its posses
sion.
Allan fingered az IL in an enchanted
castle. till he had no life, no will, no
hopes, but those which centered in Ma
bel Rae. And she soon returned his