The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-06-12

At this thought he starts, and looks
decidedly uncomfortable, but he hur-
ries his dressing for all that, and de-
scends to the library precisely after the
first d~rcssing-bell has ceased ID ring.
He finds the lights low, and turns
them into a full blaze. Then he goes
to n table and begins looking over the
volumes in n very restless manner.
1t is not until a soft rustic of silken
! drappry sounds beside him that he
knows he is not alone. Then, with a
flushing, uncomfortable feeling upon
him he turns around.
The uncomfortable feeling gives place
20 one of unbounded establishment, de-
lighted rapture, intensest Joy.
All, well who can wonder?
The girl before him, who has passed
under the full light, is fair enough to
turn even n better balanced head than
| his. 1870 ~>~.-..
She is smiling, too-a heavenly smile
and her dark head is dropping g very
little, her dusky eyes alight, and she is
holding out to him a beautiful, slender
hand, sparkling with jewels, and white
as a snowflake.
He grasps it, holding it to his bosom,
while she still smiles on him.
"Nonie," he says, wonderingly, chow
in the worlddid you come here ?"
She laughs, a low little laugh, hat is
like exquisite music.
"Your mother invited me-" she saws,
easily. You were not expecting me,
Harry?"
81 was expecting"-he hesitated a lit
tle-"I was expecting Miss Leestone.
who desired me to await her here"
ooh, Harry and l thought you would
be true to me-" This quite reproach-
fully.
He begins TO feel guilty.
II hadn't the least desire to see her
on my honor [ hadn't" he says, eagerly.
"But she sent me a note, and what
could I do?"
Isis she nice ?" the g1rl asks, slow
ly.
I haven't seen her, because she only
came to-day, and isn't yet visible" he
SAYS. But l know she isn't nice-I
feel sure of it,"
Monte laughs again, softly and sweet
~. .a..
"Do you recognize the rustic? ?" she
asks, stepping back.
He surveys her closely, from the flow
er in her dark hair to the hem of her
white-satin dress. Surely she is a fair
and gracious vision, with that light In
her eyes and that smile on her lips.
II wish you'd tell me how it all comes
about" he SAYS. I'm all at sea. When
did you leave the farm? and where did
you meet my mother? | am awfully
confused, Monte, but-Won't you kiss
me, dear? am so glad to see youl"
Suppose Miss Leestone should
come in?-she would be surprised"
mot when ! introduced you to her
as my future wife"
"But you may not care for me when
you have seen her."
ell care for you while j live, Monte"
And then she allows him to put his
arms about her and kiss her, as he does
very tenderly.
II scarcely know you in this finery,n
he says, touching the jewels on her arm
and the folds of her white dress. @You
are quiet changed. my darling!"
"For the better? !" she asks, archly,
touching his cheek lightly with her
white fingers.
"I don't know" he says softly. 81
loved you as an humble farmers niece,
and | cannot love you more dearly as
as you are now"
"An heiress, she says sweetly. eyes,
my love, / have been masquerading. ]
am Leonora Leestone, not Monte Lee,
although my intimates call me Monte.
Your mother told me Of your projected
trip to Valley Farm, and ] remembered
that it belonged to an old servant OF
my mothers; SO / went there for the
summer, too-just to see what sort of
person they had chosen for my future
husband. / wasn't going to fulfill the
contract, mind" she says, witha Laugh.
II disliked the idea as much as / found
you did; so / thought I'd meet you as a
stranger and have a little amusement.
The Lees adopted me willingly, and
You were told + was their niece; and
you-you told me you loved me, Har-
ryI" faltering a little.
"And you said you loved me, Nonie,H
Harry says, slowly. "Was that part OF
your amusement, or did you really
learn to care for me q litsle?"
"Oh, Harry, a little when / learned
to love you with my whole hearth when
I think there is nobody in the world
like you'll and when you do~nt--don't
love me o bit, or you'd not speak to me
like thatl"
And in the eyes uplifted to his, Har.
-. 49, 49, 49, 1eA---.--
So, because he loves her too well to
let them fall, he takes her in his arms
and kisses them away.
Don't love you'll" he says, softly. II
would give my life for you'll And what