The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-04-30

o few weeks we had best not interfere
yet while t;;least, says Miss Meri-
7dith, as she piled her needle in and out
Of the table cover she was embroider-
ing in crewels.
But he looks 50 woefully depressed
my heart aches for him, and as for
Lillian, she mopea when he isn't BY,
and when he is, ashe is entirely
too gay and high spirited to be
natural, BY far, don't see how the
matter is to be .rig hted, il one or the
other 81 them don't apologize or .ex-
plain, and Miss Moseby's voice, as
we'll as hands, tremble, as she slipped
one and took up two Of the stitches Oh
the bead purse she was crocheting.
The conversation was held in q sit
ting-room off large parlor in a fash
ionable boarding house, and the speak
ers, Miss Meredith and Miss Moseby,
we're maiden. aunts Of the two unfortu-
mates mentioned as being victims Of a
tmisunderstsndi ling. The affair IN ques-
ton was one Of those cratic courses in
to which the stream Of true love so
often runs. Il {. ss 5
Ralph Meredith had met and fallen
desperately in love with Lillian Mosebey
that winter, while dwelling under the
same roof. He was student attend
ing lectures at one Of the colleges in the
city, preparatory to taking his degree,
and notwithstanding he had corrugated
the verb in more than one language.
many times before, he now for the first
time understood what it meant when; he
said TIE amo.' ia? 4
He was reserved, difident, gentle
sort Of q fellow, unused to girls
and their coquetries, and ], Lillian
Moseby, who was q born airt, although
really true hearted girl, not only
charmed, but puzzled him as well,
with the ever-varving shades Of charac-
ter she assumed at times. Lii had
scores of admirers before, and her twen-
ty years counted twice his twenty four,
in point Of experience with the opposite
sex. She had never had, Just such o
lover before, however, and as q erara
avis counts double in q girls estimation
of the game Of bags' or the scalps she
iaddsas trophies to her belt Of destinations
Lii felt not little exultaion in know
8 ing that she, was the only girl to whom
Mr.. Merideth had ever been known to
pay his difident. yet devoted attentions.
The affair had progressed favorably
for several weeks; the two aunts nod
ding their heads and smiling at the
Young people evident attraction for
one another, and congratulating them
selves that match after their maidea
hearts was being made, without any
strong efforts on their parts. All went
smoothly enough until the evening of
! the Lady Washington Reception lit
tie sociable gotten up BY the boarders
in the house to celebrate Washington's
Birthday To this party each member
of the soc1able was privileged to invite
. few friends. Among the strangers
present, 70 certain Lieutenant Rich,
gorgeous in his full uniform, the guest
of Miss Moseby, was the observed of all
the observers. He had Just returned
from q three years cruise, and was. as
pleased and proud to welcome and in:
&troduce them to their friends as their
invited guest. s.
Miss Lillian, the lieutenant quickly
discovered, had in these years, some
what changed; instead of the tall, half
awkward schoolgirl he remembered,
he found a graceful, beautiful and self
possessed belle. It is not strange,
therefore that lie should, after manner:
ofmen. take partic ular painsto Guido all
other admirers at tho shrine Of her
loneliness, and manage to completely
j monopolize her the greatest part Of the
evening himself. His name was soon
upon her card for ali the waltzes, and
when not dancing, he was promenading
with her, saying those hundred little
nothings which are accompanied Oft
times by such glaacess as mean ever
!. thing ne : &ss,sss
Ralph Meredith 8 dark eyes saw It all !;
from every quarter cf the room he
4 watched the tableaux Yiiyant, gnawing.
at tho ends Of his mustache the
while until it threatened to be
athing d: rags and tatters. He would.
not ask her TO dance, he was not cour-;
ageous enough to brave q refusal, and
he did not dare hope she had saved q,
corner for him on her card. Some one
I standing behind himwas speaking of the
+ couple as they passed, Lillian radiantly
lovely in her pink brocade, the lienten-
ant dazzling in his brass buttons. They;
made handsome pair. Over the top
Sof her fan. Lii caught glimpse Of the
ssullen, dark, Othello oking lover and,
twas in the nature, Of theswoman, she
smiled 1.-The sWeeter up sin her part
ners face. a; 4
Didn't You know il n said q voice
/ behind Ralph .he and Miss Moseby
were engaged when chit
Al keen sharp pain, like Q knife
through his heart, made him grow pale,
and he staggered ont into the hall: He
I had believed SO truly inas her, and she
wasa heartle less coquettel Engaged to
this man from d child, and giving no
intimation 81 it, nay, lur1ng him on to-
love her only in order to wound him to
the quick at last I q He hurried ont
of the house and paced the
wide street until dawn, and
from that tiIne; as Miss Moseby had sno-i
\ ticed, he had not been the same. Lillian
I had not seen him bnt5 once since. He
kept ont Of her way. He was very much.
engaged in bis studies, he said to her
scoldly when she met him on the stairs
one evening and asked him when he
was coming in To- hear her sing again.
ss It will be Waiting II she said with
tender emile md proachful look.
would prefer to hear Beware, ~
he answered going steadily up the steps.