Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1884-05-29

have the honor of entertaining her. ond
there Is no knowing what a weeks visit
y - ~ y 'AsAo
The young man thus appealed to slow
~ Knocked the ashes from the tin of bis
cigar and turned his head a little to hide
the sly twinkle that came into his dark
eyes as his mother suddenly checked
herself in the midst of her impetuous
speech. -
"Of course you can depend upon me
for that, mother" he answered pleas
antly. "When did you ever know me to
fall IN my duty to your guests2"
Never, my dear boy, that's true,"
said the handsome, silyer-haired old la.
dy, proudly. "But this occasion is some-
th.ng different, you see. We don't re
celye visits every day from heiresses of
such exalted position as hers, and and
u can't help hoping, my SON."
There, there, MOTHER" interrupted
Ashley hastily, ''L know what you are
going to say. Now, please don't go and
rear splendid air castles in that dear old
headof yours, that would only be doomed
to tumble into ruins. It's not at all
likely that the great heiress would deign
to wed your good for-nothirg boy, and,
even il she would, I'm sure should
never care to propose. I've met her sew
eral times, you know, and, upon my
word
"But half a million, Ashley !" cried
the old lady pleadingly. "Only think
what a grand thing for the family such
an alliance would be y
"And only think what mercenary
beings you dear, angelic women are /"
retorted Ashley, with laughing sarcasm.
"As if you haven't already money
enough, without sacrificing Your idol.
lied son on the altar of Mammon for a
little more! No, mother" he went on
gaily, taking his hat to so, but pausing
on his way out to drop an affectionate
kiss on his mothers forehead; sspIl be
as polite to Miss Maynard as you could
possibly wish, but don't ask me to bind
myself with her golden fetters. NV
motto is love or nothing, you know.
'All for love and the world we'll lost"
And, pinching her cheek, with boy
lsh, light-hearted laugh, he sauntered
qsout INTO the sweet spring sunshine to
escape further talk on the only topic
upon which he and his mother could
never agree.
Ashley Dane was not without his ideal
OF the woman whom he hoped some day
to love and marry, and he fancied that
he had already met her. Not Miss May
nard, however-oh, no but o shy.
sweet girl, with clear, gray eyes and
charming ways, whom he had met
while rusticating the past summer at
smaii New England town. He had not
forgotten the soft bushes that his ad-
niring glances had kindled in her cheek.
and he began to feel strong desire to
call them there agair.
III only she is as true and pure as she
looks, she is the only woman in this
world for me" he murmured to himself,
as he strode on with the soft April air
kissing ischeek and the songs of birds
falling on his ear, all reminding him of
that peacefnl country town 30 far away,
III could only be sure that I would
never be married for my money--that
Doris is not mercenary, like all the rest!
LII run down there again, and, if { find
her still free, Pll-I'll-- Well. we
shall see."
And, meantime, in the cosy breakfast
room, which he had just left, his lady
mother was shaking her silvery old head
over his folly, and murmuring despond-
emily:
Dear, dear! what romantic nonsensei
The idea of anybody perferring love in
cottage OF the heiress of half million!
But shan,t despair. They will be con-
stantly thrown together for whole
week, and then, as said to Ashley,
there is no knowing what may happen
But 1.-The heiress to half million. I"
with her consequential airs and artificial
graces, stcame" and 'saw" and went
again, but sue did not "Hconquer." She
had smiled dencouragingly upon our hero,
too, for he was a handsome fellow, and
by no means an undesirable parti, even
for an heiress of her great pretensione.
But oftener than ever his thoughts
had wondered back to thesweet, spirited
face and soft, gray eyes of the lovely vii
lage girl, and three days after the depart
ure of his mothers aristocratic guest he
was on his way to the New England
hills.
Pretty Doris Kennedy sat thiuking
deeply. All about her was the sunshine
and fragrance of q sweet spring day,
and the music of Joyous birds, yet her
heart was full of trouble.
She was gazing, with an expression
of horror and dismay, upon j. blazing
diamond ring which she had slipped on
and off her finger a dozen times at
least, and which she now finally took off
with shiver of disgust.
"Oh, 1 can't do it." she almost
sobbed. "No, not even for papa's sake!'
"What dreadful thing have you de-
cided you can't do, Miss Doris?"
The girl started in confusion. as q
manly voice uttered that question at her
very elbow; and, as she did SO. the
ring, in all it's sparkling beauty, fell to
the ground and rolled almost to the
speakers feet.
1t was Ashley Dane who mad opened
the gate and approached close to her
rustic seat under the large maple in the
sualit garden, unperceived by her. SO
absorbing was her reverie.
But his pleasant, handsome faco sud-
denly clouded over as he stopped to re-
store the glittering ring.
Is that an engagement ring. Miss
Doris?' he asked, with an abrupt. in
, tense searnestness that was fairly start.
ling, so much stronger was his passion
for this girl than he had known him
self until that moment.
90 1T was meant for that" she STAN.
mered, looking up at him in .hy sur.
! prise, and trying hard to keep back the
tears that would gather ON her lashes,
"Mr. Brennan sent it, aski5g me to &C
scept it as such, and papa has requested
mo, ordered me to dc 80"
And then followed series of eager
questions and hesi.ating half reluctan,
answers, until Ashley had the whole
story, and knew that MIR. Brennan, the
very richest man in the place, held 9
mortgage OH their pretty home, aud was
rs determined to take it from them unless
Doris would consent to be his wife, and
that Doris detrsted him, and would
rather die than marry him. in spite of ali
4 his wealth and bis costly diamonds.
What wonder, then, that Ashley
Danefelt an ardent and ohiyalrous wish
n to rescue her from such a dreadful fate
Z and marry her himself? Or that with