Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1884-04-24
"A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE,
by MINNIE DOUGLASS.

by MINNIE DOUGLASS.
The walters watched his slightest
movement, and attended to his wants in
manner seldom Witnessed. Was he
not the richest American, or, at any
rate, the most liberal, who had taken
m up his abode at the Langham this year |?
Ihere Is some pleasure in waiting on a
gentleman who tips half sovereign as
freely as an Englishman does shilling!
Mr.. Jonathan Lee was evidentlya mill
aonalre, and man who understood how
to enloy himself. His wife was thin.
overdressed woman OF forty, whose face
mad once been pretty, but that was long
ago, and whose aim in life, being child
less, was the acquisiiionsof new clothes
and lewelry. She never tired Of chang
ing her dresses, and was rarely seen
wearing one 9 second time in public.
MI. bee ehadsa passion for sending tel
I egrams. He. seldom wrote a letter. but
bombarded his friends with messages on
matters OF no Importance always, to do
MN justice, prepaying reply.
One dayTit. was one of London's .hor-
rid days, and an east wind was blowing
MIS-. Lee observed:
Il can't see the use of paving shit
ling for o telegram that nobody cares to
get" '-e' -
"And what's the use OF giving forty
guineas for q dress that nobody cares to
see?" retorted Mr.. Lee, which caused
his wife to aounee the one she was then
wearing into the nearest armchair
where she devoted her attention TO the
last fashion book.
But one day there came telegram
which had crossed the Atlantic, and the
news it contained, whether it was good
or bad, caused Mr.. Jonathan Leo to
take an affectionate leave of his wife.
previous to starting on q short Journey.
The wording Of the message was this:
English gent has got the papers.a'
Among the woods and hills of Surrey
stands fine old stone mansion belong.
ing to Sir Andrew Gordon. In the
library of the house the members of the
family were assembled one evening.
and the family consisted of the old
baronet and his son Archibald, an anti.
quated aunt Of the latter, Miss Dorothy
Gordon, and Contance Gwyn, Sir An
drew's ward, beautiful girl Of nearly
eighteen.
'"There will be storm tonight.
Hark how the wind is risingl'' said Miss
J Dorothy, witha shiver. 'sIts a mercy
your travels arc ever, Andrew. ~
Yes, said the old man, holding his
hands toward the fire; sI am better
pleased with the safety Of my own stone
: walls thanthe best mail steame~ that ever
dressed the Atlantic. But now I'll ring
for lights, aud Archie, my boy, come
over and try to understand some of the
mysteries contained in these yellow pa
pers."
Archie, a handsome, fair-haired feI-
low Of twenty. three, hedbeen resting at
full length-and that wasover six feet
fascomfortable,sofa, watching lazily the
charming figure Of his fathers ward. who
persistently looked every way but
s.I'll come; but I don't suppose I
shall make anything out Of them he
answered, rising slowly.
MY boys it is importont-quite o
fortune for you! Your poor mother
never knew of ii, were the words Con-
stance heard as she sat idly in her low
chair near the fire. "The papers are
worth two Thousand yearl That rascal
who has kept them back would give
something to know where they are now, = .
chuckled the old baronet, as he spread
out the cracking letters and large
sheet OF parchment on table, the but
Ter meanwhile arranging reading lamp
to suit his master in 30 leisurely q man
ner as to call forth an impatient excla-
nation OF ''That vii! do! that will do!''
Simmons respectfully took the hint,
and now he busted himself with the
heavy curtains, having noiselessly closed
the shutters. f
There is a shocking draught," MUIR
INJURED Miss Dorothy. "Don't you feel
it Constance?"
'sNot bit, replied Constance, laugh
ing as she rose to get her working basket;
"but the wind will get in such night
as this"
Simmons retired, and Archie OBJ
erved: sf5s s.sssiS-s ~.
I'm awfully glad that fellow is leay-
ing-he walks like cas!'
"Iudeed," cried Miss Dorothy,
querulously, ~ think your father does
wrong to part with him. we have never
had 80 quiet servant"
mel" cried Sir Andrew. "You must
particularly try to remember this"
Archie only outwaraIy listening, was
exhibiting some of those provoking
symptoms which lover shows after
there has been cloud in the atmosphere.
aud the lady has managed to get the
best of it.
Constance Gwyn seemed to remember
something, and left the room. When
she returned, after quarter of an hours
absence, the butler bad entered with q
tray OF glasses aud the requisites for Sir
Andrews .'nightcap" Of whisky itoddy.
: The baronet folded the papers into a
neat bundle, and locked them in an old
fashioned cabinet.
sThey will be safe here tonight; to-
morrow Twill take them to the lawyers, u
he said, placing the key in his pocket.
Then turning toward his ward, he in
quired, "How is Gelert, fair lady?'
aI don't think he is we'll, Sir Andrew.
Two Just been to see him. +"
"Constancel" cried Miss Dorothy,
scandalized, s'haye yon been out to the
dog kennel at this hour, and on such q
sssV.s Misc nor,tbv and Il ia noucl,