Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-10-28
sHRsToOPS TOCONoUER.

81 rich gentlemen who dwelt in a
I country mansion, buried in the midst
otstately woods
She was eminently beautiful, highly
accomplished, and possessed good
and kind heart. Her beng an heiress
also added to her great attractions.
She loved poor cousin, Henry Nor
land by name who.at anearly ace, had
been left an orphan. and whom Ellen's
father. Sir John Vernon. had brought
up and educated, From their earliest
years, at intervals, such as his holt
days and college vacations. the young
people had been, in a manner, brought
up together; and as their ages we're al.
most alike. and Harry was a well.
made. handsome fellow, possessing,
considerable mental and personal at
fractions, their assimilation of taste.
as much as anything else, had con-
tributed 70 waken up feelings between
them that neither had as vet given
vent TO in words
Henry lo-ed his beautiful and
wealthy cousin to distraction. But
the sense of his own dependence kept
him from advancing his claims.
Sir John Vernon had the most per.
feet confidence in Harry's honor. Not
thinking that there might bethe slight.
est danger in permitting the young
people to be together. he continued 70
regard them both with the same ten,
der solicitude as ever, as though they
were in a manner brother and sister.
1t was .Leap-year." and the vaca-
ton which Henry spent at the hall
proved on this occasion to be to him
source of pain and agony. The
beauty OF Ellen, her artlessness, her
| affectionete manner, and her frank
ness, raised his affections to such a
height that the very excess of his
love magni6ed his difficulties, aud
made him look with a sensation
of fear upon his PASSION,
which once or twice prompted him to
speak, and by consequence become an
migrate to his benefactor, to whom he
owed everything in the world. He re-
solved to die rather than to incur the
displeasure OF his uncle, the sting OF
his own reproaches, and the possible
rejection of his suit by Ellen. This
thought beyond all Others was most
pregnant with pain He therefore
stunned her presence as much as he
could, and spent whole days in the IL
brary brooding upon his lost pros
poets.
Ellen noticed this change, and, with
a voman's tact. comprehended the
reason OF 1t. With mixture OF grief
and pleasure she engaged herself in the
execution OF plan, which was that
oil awakening his jealousy, and driving
him into a confession to which she
was only too willing TO listen A ru-
NOR was accordingly spread that a
sporting baronet of the neighborhood
had not only determined on wooing the
young lady but also of winning her, hav-
ing laid very heavy wager upon the
result. Henry's passion was instant
iy aroused, and rage, and vexation and
love by turns tormented him. He
would have called the insolent rival
out, having accused his cousin of play-
ing false. forgetting that she had new
er plighted faith to him; he accused
the world of unkindness. his uncle OF
tyranny; IN fact, like lover utterly
beside himself, he would have been
guilty Of a thousand extravagances,
but the intolerable idea came, what
was he to her. or she to him? What
right had he to dictate or TO question?
and thus be was as far of as ever.
Ellen found that her plan OF awaken
! ing his jealousy had been effectual
enough, bat that no other result at
tended it She also fonnd that her
poor cousins sadness and detection
Increased, and its melancholy began to
communicate itself to her.
Ii was therefore absolutely neces-
sary for the happiness of both that
matters should be brought to crisis;
Tor, IN addition to the annoyance she
felt at Henry's silence. the marriage
which was rumored in Jest began to
take an aspect of serious earnestness,
proposal having actually come, from
rich and estima6ls man in every
way, to her father, which proposal
Sir John Vernon had just commune
Gated to her.
Folding in her hand the letter which
had been sent to Sir John, she one
morning sought the library. and her
heart beat a little strongly as shere-
Gected that she was about to press
her cousin, so that he should either
be compelled to declare his passion at
once or give her up forever.
ELLEN" said he. "let me beseech you
to tell me what is the cause of this
agitation; you alarm newly are you
go moyed?"
do you behold this letter." asked
Ellen, tapping it, accompanying the
action with a mysterious look.
Henry glanced upon it with increased
. misgivlng. but merely said, "Yes."
"And can you guess its contents2 No,
you cannot; you who have ceased to
be interested in me, cannot divine its
nature
.Spare me the reproches that Ihave
not merited, Elem" said Henry, in
tone so mournful as to make her re-
greet the words she had used in a mere
lest "lf you knew all, ne continued,
You would be inclined to be more
'enient towards me. i do not say
pity, he added with bitter emphasis
because there is something debasing
IN the sentiment. But to end this,
Improbable as it is, tell me what all
this signifies is agony-what
q that paper?"
Read it, and Judge for yourself"
and as Ellen spoke she gave him the
dreaded letter. Hastily glancing over
II, his countenance grew white as a
sheet, and he felt himself about to
iaint from the deadly sickness that
attacked him. He made a desperate
effort to bear against it, but the inter
nal fight he had so long held had
Frustrated his strength more than he
thought. and he sank, with a groan,
Mon the chair.
For heavens love, Henry, what
aie your" cried Ellen in turn. "Alas,
ihave carried this to too cruel an ex-
tremity" she murmured, as Henry
began slowly to open his eyes.
The letter was, in fact, an excellent
ly well written but formal proposition
Tor her hand, and as the writer was
not ten years the lady's senior, though
Of a cold and pompous disposition,
there could not be any very serious
obstacle in the way. 1t was to Hen
~ Morland like the receiving OF death
blow; a sense OF duty, of propriety,
Of manliness, came to his aid, how
ever; and, with desperate effort he
said: "I-I-congratulate you, Miss
Vernon"
Il won't be congratulated" broke
m Ellen, land you are not IN earnest