The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-08-17

fFNN w. AN1N 49, NfNNM
am III lovef'i
Because / wish to be frank with you; but
/ cannot wish you success, for that would
mean my defeat.i
Have you spoken to herp'
ttNon
sand have not. So the field Is clear for
both. 1t need not affect our friendship
Wright
Certainly not"
Then they walked silently back again.
The next day the picture was finished, and
in the evening Vincent called. On leaving,
be handed a note TO Linda which ran as fol-
lows:
DEAR Miss ALLEN--n / understand Alright
the picture is for sale, meant from the first
to try to become fits purchaser. / have q lit
tie nook in the art gallery of Primrose Hal,
in We rwickshire, which II VII well Rdorn. I
will give you $1,000 for 1t, or more, If you
place a greater value upon II. Can / know by
Tomorrow morningl
"AuntIe, auntie, Just listen" said Linda,
delightedly,, some thousand dollars for my
pictdre. Why that VIII build me q studio
at home, or be a nice birthday gift to
mammal
'One thousand dollarsp' gasped Aunt
Cynthia wildly, "Why / only paid rs cents fer
that big chrome up there, and It show of
ever so much better. He must be clear gone
out on his miDd-be mGstp'
Only q ripple Of laughter answered her,
ana then she ventured the suggestion:
'Mebbe he's In love with ye, Indy
I'm love with mer' exclaimed Linda,
"Wel II you are not the bllndest auntie In
the world. Why, he's done nothing but find
fault with my methods ever since ne came
here, and he picked my poor picture to
pieces dreadfuly. / see now why he did II,
he wanted it, and so of course wanted it
painted to suit him--that is according to his
school No, no, auntie, he's anything but In
love With mel
So the picture was sold aud lung in Vim
cents room at the hotel, aud he invited
Wright In to look at II.
'Good for the dear little painterl' ex-
claimed Wright with a laugh, but It hurt him
to think Of Linda's picture being there.
Vincent became almost a fixture at the
Strong homestead, He was an idler. Wright
had his hands full and could only 60 occa-
~sionally. But he often saw them riding to-
gether, saw packages Of books on their way
to Linda, and many other things that would
give her pleasure. Vincent with his mind
set wholly upon winning her, could think Of
these little, things much more readily than
Wright, and some way, when the latter mn
derstood Vincent's method OF courtship, he
was too proud to use the same. So all he
could do was to 20 up as often as possible
and throw as much tenderness into his man
ner as he dared.
The work was rushing at the mines, and
new ores were being opened, so he could get
scarcely an hour to himself Everything was
against him, he said, with clenched teeth.
The two men had tried hard to remain
friends, but IS Vincent grew radiant Wright
grew gloomyi he regarded Vincent's laughter
aud gaiety as insoIencs and mockery.
There was a knock upon his door one eve
ming, and Vincent appeared at his invitation
to s'eome inn
His face was full Of light and Joy.
Wright my poor fellow, don't you tss1s
you had better withdraw from the heldlp he
asked.
my dear Vincent you haven't a shadow Of
. chance. Why should / withdrawn
tCome, come now, that's too. good She Is
ready for the question, aud has her answer
all ready, Pm sure. Tomorrow / put my fate
to the touch,
"You will lose them hurled cut Wright
with a shaking voice and flashing eye.
4 am sorry for you, Wright but / have
always been honorable. It was through a
strained sense Of honor that 1 came up TO.
night tc.ten you Of my intention.''
4 will ask her myself tomorrow said
Wright.
''You cannot We start at dawn for the
Wet Mountain Valley. Linda and / ride. The
old people drive. / shall ask her on my
way.'i
Course You, you have taken advantage Of
me every way. But ask her, Pm not afraid
Now to change the subject, j promised to
tell you when there was a chance for q good
Investment fulfill nay promise, then I'VE
done aith You. The Comrade mine is a
splendid Investment. Pm going into II
heartily myself. There. now golD
peace be with You, Clarence. I've acted
honorablY with you, that's my eoHsolation,s'
replied Vincent as he departed.
The next day Clarence saw nothing OF
them. He plunged harder than ever into
work, and his mind was III at ease,
He saw Vincent at breakfast the morning
following their drive into the Wet Mountain
VALLEY, and fancled as he looked across the
dining room at him, that ne did not seem
quite so elated as the last time they had met
He does not wish to exasperate me, / sup
pose, he thought and mentally added, vim
CENTS not 50 bad as he might Be anyway. I
behaved like q brute to him night before
last.
Then each went bis separate way, hut at
dinner as Clarence sat gloomlly taking his
meal q message was brought to him that
caused him 70 spring from his chair and rush
away like 3 madmau. There had been an ac-
cident At the Comrade mine, an explosion, or
a caying IN, or something terrible, he could
not tell what, IS the messenger was 80 excit-
ed be could give no luid account. Some Of
the miners we're kIlled-that BIO understood
at least.
This mine was situated on the otner side Of
Nj. Slrong's. and be had to pass the house on
his way to Il The premises seemed deserted.
and be concluded they we're all At the scene
or the disaster.
Az be hurried up tbs slope he could zee =
slender figure In white, moyirg about among
the rough and blackened men. and his heart
told him who Il was he had almost alaays
aeen her In white, and be thought the dress
50 appropriate Aunt Cynthia was moaning
and creating upou a seat q little IN the dis