The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-10-24

whom I could speak a few moments?"
Mr.. Byron asked.
MY mistress cousin is here; but she
does not leave the invalid's rooms Tor
anything just at present"
Then I'll write my message IN a
note"
He stated the case as clearly as he
could on paper, and dispatched the ser
want with it. In answer the lady sent
her maid TO inquire if search had been
made everywhere in the vestry-room
for a surplcie. He sent back that furth-
err search was useless.
After some moments OTTO hlm-
terrible suspense-for the time was al
most come for him to appear in the
chapel-the maid returned, and with
deep bushes and q nervous twltchIng
of her apron-hem began
my young lady told me to tell you,
sir, that if you would not think it any
harm, she would send you her Oh,
no. | don't mean that, sir! She sand L
was not to say WHO 1t belonged to, but
she would cut the bands off the sleeves
and the lace from the neck, and it
would be long. and nobody would mo-
tice that it was a nightgown, sir; and, if
YOU don't mind, sir, l would go and
fetch it at once, for there is no time to
lose"
The girls concluding words were on
ly too true and however much he might
have hesitated at her suggestion in
in cooler moments, he was thankful now
for any solution of the difficulty.
Tell your mistress that | shall be
very grateful for the loan she proposes,
if she thinks the deception will not be
discovered"
The servant vanished and was soon
on the spot again with a snowy linen
night-gown. The neck at the back had
been torn down to admit broader shout
ders, and a linen handkerchief had been
hastily stitched in to hide the rent.
Most of the ornamentation had been
cut away but enough remained to prove
that the garment belonged to a lady OF
very dainty tastes.
Thankful for this semblance of a sur
plice, and too hurried to feel muse
ment, Mr.. Byron arrayed himself, en-
tered the chancel, and the service be-
gan at once. He observed, with a sigh
of thankfulness hat the chapel was
very dark; and this enabled him to read
without much ervousness. Two gen.
tlemen came forward with the baby and
its nurse, and for n brief time during
the service the young clergyman saw
i%ndistinctly the slender figure of a lady
standing in the dimly- Lighted aisle. Be-
fore the end of ceremony her feelings
seemed TO overcome her, for she left
the church sitting what might have
been a sob, but which sounded strange
ly like a laugh.
What Mr.. Byron feared would be a
trying ordeal was soon over, and he re-
entered the vestry room with a much
lighter heart then when he left it.
While disrobing, . name e iHdeiibie
ink on the gown attracted his attention.
Perhaps he should have respected his
fair benefactress' wish to remain I'M
known; but the temptation was too
strong. He turned to the light and
read the name-"Miriam Douglas"-un-
der the tucks and embroidery of the
robe which he had just discarded.
Was If coincidence, or had a kind
fate led him tothe shrine of his idol?
The uncertainty was not to be borne.
will you ask Miss Douglas if she
can grant me five minutes interview
before i go?" he said to the girl who
came, in great trepidation, for the novel
surplice.
In a cosy little reception room julius
Byron was presently received by her
who had been the companion of his
happiest dreams during more than three
years. The blushing bashfulness had
vanished, leaving in its stead a graceful
womansssiignity. She was a sweeter,
fairer Miriam even than Of old, divine
" tall and most divinely fair
"Oh, Mr.. Byron, how Mortified you
must bel You signed initials only to
your note; and I little suspected to
whom I was offering that garment. ]
recognized you at once in church, and,
in spite Of the solemnity Of the occasion,
/ had to laugh. 1t was such an un-
commonly bad MT!
1T was agreat boon to me, and I shall
be eyerlastingly grateful to you for
coming to the rescue"
Asudden indifference as to the hours Of
departing trains seemed to take posses
sion Of Mr.. Byron, and he found him
self with q certain amount of equanimi-
ty accepting an invitation to spend the
night at the Hall.
Az tha conclusion Of her visit ko her
cousin, Mrs. NARROW, Miriam betook
herself to the house of q friend. who ex.
tended many informal invitations to Mr..
Byron as well.
One soft fragrant evening, among the
June roses, Julius Byron told his love
story; and Miriam listened with q lool
IN her eyes that told her lover that hs
| spoke not In vain.
1How provoked you, in your turn
unjust have been at finding my supplies
49,