The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1885-10-09
TESTING HER LOVE.
BY MINNIE IRVING.

Without the snow was falling in large,
soft flakes, that chung to everything
with which they came in contact, until
the gate-posts looked like monument
al marbles in the dim light-for there
was a moon nearly at the full behind
the clouds-and the snow-laden boughs
of ow-branching trees seemed like
CHASTITY arms reaching out for the lone
" pedestrian. On the earth, IN the an,
everywhere was the whiteness, and the
stiffness, and the sottness of the snow.
But within, what a different scene!
An astral lamp diffused a mellow light
on bookshelves, and easy-chairs, and
pictured walls, and on the beautiful
faces of the youth and maiden who were
the only occupants of the pleasant room.
They were of such widely different type
that the strong affection sparkling in his
dark eyes and blooming in a dainty blush
on her lovely cheek was only a matter
of course, especially when their re-
~spective ages, eighteen and twenty
two were taken into consideration. He
sat beside her, his handsome head with
It's clustering curls bent toward her, the
rich blood OF youth and health mantling
his cheek and his dark and brilliant eyes
beaming with pleasure as he listened to
her EXPLANATIONS of delight as she
bent over a bouquet of roses he had
brought her, which Lay on the white
tissue paper that had wrapped them on
her lap. They were white roses, with a
flush Of pink in their satiny petals, and
their long flexible grsen stems and
glossy leaves, glittering with the crys.
tai drops of water that had kept them
fresh upon theif Wintry journey. But
the darlings of the dollhouse were not
more delicately lovely than she to whom
they were brought as a fitting tribute
10 her beauty. She was as daintily
tinted in pink and white as they, or as
the Dresden china shepherdess upon the
mantel, Of which she reminded one with
her fair hair. blue eyes and family flush
ed cheeks. The resemblance was furth-
or heightened by the pink dress she wore,
the skirts Of which were short enough
to show fairly-like feet in high-healed
slippers with butterfly bows. What
wonder that the Governors son came
often to the old-fashioned house among
the elms on the far outskirts of the city,
when so fair a flower as Ermidie Mus.
grave was blooming into womanhood
within its walls? She inherited hel
foreign name and blonde beauty alike
from . Russian mother, whom hel
father had married while an attache o
the American Embassy in st. Peters
burg. She was long since dead, and he
father had withdrawn in his sorrow
from the world Of men to the world o
books within the four walls of his lib
E&Ay AEOH Which, nc EdM6 Stkuulu sdF'
the meals, so his daughter had bee,
left to amuse herself as best she Nigh
in her flower garden in the Summer an,
over the bright hued silks of her EN-
embroidery in Winter, until one da
the Governors SON called on her fathe
on q matter Of business and saw he
pretty face.
But to return to the cosy room wher
on this Winter evening they were en-
joying such q delightful ~tete-artete.
FYou are always thinking of some
thing to please me- she said, as sh
selected q half blown bud, shook ii
water-drops from it and fastening it
the lace on her bosom, pointed TO il, adj
ing archly: II appreciate il, you see
She arose and arranged the rest Of II
roses with loving care in a tall, bin
vase, while the youth watched b
graceful movements and tender sole
tude regarding his flowers with XII
ding eyes that never left her until 81
returNsd TO her seat beside him. Ev'
then he continued to dart admiril
Chances at her from time to time, VIII,
he deemed them anobserved. b
what glance Of admiration was. ey
lost upon = woman? Hitherto, thoul
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