The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-09-01

"Oh, | have lost the thread of my dis
course. ] only want to say that now time
has accustomed me to the loss Of poor,
dear grannie. think am very happy"
But there Is one piece OF your life about
which | am profoundly interested, and
would like to inquire into, IL you would
permit me-"
Yes, do not mind telling You anything
OF that kind"
There was period after your grand
mothers death, when you had left the
| Everards', and had not yet disinterred
your uncle. How did you get thro ugh that
time'"
"A dear good soul took me in-a lady
who had been my music mistress, and she
showed me how to earn my living under
her guidance. attained to the proud en-
inence of earning about seven pounds a
month. 1t was very nice, assure You, to
feel the money was my own"
"Great heavens" CALCULATED Lisle. "And
you preferred this to marrying q man Of
wealthp'
"You must know how delicious the sense
Of Independence Is. Do you think woman
cannot feel It too,"
"And does love count for nothing.
Mona laughed.
"Yes, suppose with the real upper class
Of human beings. II counts for . good deal
II In part Of the sum, however, I have not
yet worked out. Tell me something Of
your Indian life. You 80 Ireciprocats the
interest you take in my history"
81 do not think you reciprocato at al, I"
returned Lisls, with . wistful look, which
she met steadily, a slightly mocking smile
In her swn.
Lsle's brow contracted; but he had q
good deal Of tact and self control, and he
Immediately started light amusing sketch
/ Of his life, - far a. society, travelling. and
hunting went, and time Jew pleasantly.
She listened with evident interest to all
he said. often questioning him, and 30 they
drew near the snd of their journey-of tho
tste-a-tets which Lisle had schemsd to Sc
cure and no had not moved her pleasant,
! friendly ease by one instant OF hesitation
! or confusion. His most unmistakAbls in
ain uations, his most killing glancee, only
produced half-amused, half-kindly smiles
Lisle was furious, mortified, aad more
! In love than he ever was since his boyish
days. Should he have to tell her in so
many words that he adored her, and sought
| her for his wife, in order to extract any
recognition from her; IL she were cold,
| III she shrunk from him, or repelled him,
| he could understand it, and he would know
how to act: but this frank, charming kind
ness, this readiness to be with him! 1t was
an invisible, impossible fence which he
did not seem capable of breaking down
''If could but ascertain whether l have
rival or no." he thought, 81 should know
what to do. / suspect she is playing a
part What Is her objects To be Lady
Lsles That would be object enough to
most women; but, though l have long
ceased to believe in angels. Mona is some
thing different, or she never would have
chosen poverty in preference to Waring.
Well. III try what cool friendship viii
do, with dash Of flirting in other direc-
tions."
There Is the Lodge" he said, pointing
to long. low building, or collection of
buildings, which lay in hollow beneath
them, the wild moorland round IL, and
some huge gray rocks behind. 1.-The posi-
ton Is not comparable TO Craigdarroch,
and 1t must be cold and bleak enough in
winter. But suppose no one stays here
/ in winter"
81 fancy my uncle will" said Mona,
"and / cannot say | like the prospect,
But" as the sound OF rapidly approach
ing carriage made her turn, and she inter-
rupted herself to exclaim-"Here Is Lady
Finistoun and her yisitorsl"
$50 glad havo overtaken your cried
/ Lady Finistoun, saluting with her whip.
81 wanted to be at home To receive you.
Lat us pass, Sir ST. john
Lsle irew To one side, aad whipping up
her ponies, Lady Finistoun dashed on at a
rapid pace.
Ar .ba Aaar uyara ,csor,hlaj syisS Nor
ton, Bertie Everard, and Herr Won Oetzen,
one OF the attaches to tho German Emb.s-
sy. The rest of the party were still in the
forest. and Lord Finistoun had gone deer
stalking.
Lady Finistoun had alighted, and stood
on the steps to welcome Mona, which she
did very cordially, kissing her more than
once, and presenting her to Mrs. Mentieth
as her dear cousin"
49," said Everard, advancing TO shake
hands with her, "you have been assigned
to LisIe's care, on reptent toujours, ehf"
''Oh, my mission is To take care of my
SELF" returned Mona, smiling. II did not
know You had arrived"
"Czne last night. Had I known that
Uncle Sandy's lair was between this and
Kirktoun, should have paid you a visit
en- route. Well, Mona, and have you re-
covered the Fitzallan episodes The poor
fellow has had desperate affair since.
We have had to buy of the ladyl How is
my uncle. Are you the acknowledged
heiress of Craigdarrochi"
"Alas, no! There is a cousin in the way.
You must assist me to poison him"
"With pleasure. We will arrange the
terms OF the desperate deed after dinner"
Come, Mona, the dressing-bell viii ring
In few minutes. You shall have a cup OF
tea In your room"
The dinner was plcasant-even noisy, as
most OF the men were young and inclined
to discuss their adventures eagerly. Mona
was taken in by an honest-looking naval
captain, who made himself very agreeable;
and Lisls fell to the lot Of a frsky widow,
with whom he fiirted gayly. Everard and
Miss Morton quarreled audibly.
The young heir was paraded, and his
health drank; and after dinner Lady Fin.
istoun and her sister-in-law went up to
look at him in his cot. Then Mona was
reminded that she used to sing, and was
sent TO the piano, where she was surround
ed by some of the gentlemen as soon as
they came In from dinner. The dttdch<
| l. L.r ,I.rG Tr..itr