Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1884-06-12
MIRIAM DOUGLAS.

MIRIAM DOUGLAS.
BY LAWRENCE BARRErr1.
I'm sorry to interrupt you, sir: but
the lock, on your satchel is broken. max.
ing the things unsafe, beside BEING a
very shabby old bag, sir, begging vonr
pardon 5o''i
So quoth Eliza, relict of Joseph
Nuns, the sexton, to her lodger, the Rev.
4What a bore' exclaimed this gen
Meman, when I really havne't the time
20 attend to anything but these let
7 have an errand which takes me
past Piper and Tpson's. I could buy
you new satchel, if you would trust
me. Going among all those fine people
at the wedding with your lock tied up
Win bit OF string wouldn't do at ali,
'ihank you, Mrs. Minis; have great
trust in your judgment, and should be
obliged if you would attend to this
town" = : -
h AS the door closed after his landlady,
the Rev. Julius Byron resumed his
writing with sigh of relief. AS he
sat leaning his head on his disengaged d
hand--a hand beautiful enough to
atone for plainess in all other features
had nature willed him to be plain
julius Byron was an ideal picture of
student-brown eyes, with far-away
dreamy look, hair long enough to show
tendency to wave back from the fore
head, and a pale, clear complexion set
OIL by q golden brown velveteen coat,
which he wore when in his study.
Twenty-nine years DID,, undeniably
handsome, gifted with winning man
ners, and shepherd of flock most will
ing to be guided, Julius Byron, as if
by miracle, had escaped being spoiled
and petted into effeminacy. His safe
guard lay perhaps in a pair of soft eyes
which had held him spellbound for
few rapturous weeks, and the witchery
OF which had lasted for almost three
years of total separation.
Miriam Douglas, dispensing tea and
gingerbread to horde of charity chill
dren in the park at Mount Edgecombe,
was one of the prettiest and daintiest
OF women, in muslin dress in color
matching forget-me-nots and her eyes
equally well, and with roses at her
waist and throat which stole their deli
cate tint from her cheeks.
Miriam was seventeen that day, and
the blue muslin was her first long dress;
to this the little lassie paid far more
attention than to the admiring gaze of
two dreamy brown eyes. After the
feast there were offerings of flowers,
good wishes and rather too many kisses
and embraces from the charity children,
and, among other trophies, Miriam
Douglas carried away the heart of the
Reverend Julius Byron. Had she
known this, it would have affected her
less than the consciousness that the
Barclay girls, her former playmates,
were enviously admiring the grown up
womanish arrangement of her bright
silky.hair.
There were few tennis parties and
8 O'clock teas after this, during which
MIR. Byron worshiped his divinity from
afar. She seemed little in awe of
him, and rarely spoke with him more
than five minutes at time. What q
delightful task it would be to chase
away the timidity from the soft fawn-
like eyes, and how pleasant to think
that the sea-shen pink stole to her
cheek from Joy at his approach.
Fate, however, cruelty interfered with
Mr.. Byron's dream of awakening loving
confidence in the bosom of this bashful
maiden of seventeen. In three short
weeks, before he had made any percep-
tible headway, Miriam was summoned
to the bedside of dying relative, and
julius Byron was called to parish in
a commercial town.
Three long years this idyi had been
in the past, and through all this time
the memory of Miriam Douglas ex-
cluded any other love from the young
clergyman's heart, though many were
the goddesses willing to be therein en-
shrined.
He wondered at himself; she had
slipped completely out of his material
existence; he knew NOT where she was
Or if she were dead or worse-married
Still with all. this uncertainty, he could
not forget her, and voice within him
seemed to whisper that they would
meet again.
The rapid skimming of his pen oyel
the white page was stayed for the sec
ond time by p heavy footstep at the
door outside; and Mrs. Minis, painting
and crimson from the ascent of the
steep stairs, exclaimed:
"There, sir, you could not have found
better or cheaper satchel yourself, il
you had searched the town from end tc
end. Piper and Tipson say on thei1
oath that it is first-rate one, and that
you needn't fear exchanging with any
one by mistake, for they had only one
of the kind. This decided me to take
it, for being rather an absent-minded
gentleman, you might easily pick ul
he wrong bag"
THANK you, Mrs. Minis, thank you
ach time that you do anything for me
you give me fresh cause to admire you
clever management and dforethought."
In the wedding to take place on the
following day Mr.. Byron felt no par
ticIlar interest. The contracting par
ties we're almost strangers to him, az
were also the guests, with the exception
of Willis Howard, school chum o.
days gone by, and friend ever since
of the young clergyman.
Owing to the illness of the brides
mother the ceremony was performed al
home. It was. a pretty wedding, tht
bride graceful, sweet, and pale as /
lily in her sheeny feecy drapery; ant
among the guests was the subduet
merriment which prevails when th'
entertainers exhibit unreservediy th,
signs of Joy and sorrow-the smile ant
tear both coming from the heart.
After the ceremony Mr.. Byron be
took himself to dressing-room t.
fold his surplice and replace it in th'
satchel chosen by Mrs. Minis. While S,
engaged letter was handed him will
the word sImmediate" written conspic