The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-03-30

A pretty, lady-likc; Quiet littlc crca-
tnrc. whom his two M~otlicrlcss little
children dearly loved.
Between you and me, dear reader,
before their father had been homo from
his travels many months, ho was in
danger Of following their example.
Mrs. Vane say TINT. She was n
widow; handsome, naughty, poor, and
with o pair of finc black eyes that
wcrc unusually wide awake for all that
concerned the wealthy widowcr. For
lie was her cousin. and she had kept
house for him since his wife's death
two years ago-with tho decided intcn-
ton of ultimately supplying her place
and consoling him for his bereavc-
mcnt.
She watched him now with q cloud
cd face as he sat at the open win
dow, paying less attention to the morn
ing paper in his hand than to the MGR
ry group In tho garden, whose silvery
voices and happy laughter reached him
where he sat.
"How happy they seem. and how
fond tho children arc of herr' no said
ut last, pursuing his own thoughts.
But why docs she always wear blackq
DO you know for whom shc is in mourn
ing. Hclenp"
s'Her mother. I believe" Mrs. Vano
answered with supreme Indifference.
She is an orphan. G%ovcrnesscs gem
orally are orphans it seems to me.
And she tried to quiet her own fears
by rejecting:
at is only natural that hc should
take pleasure in watching his own
children. Surely it cannot bc this
grip"
But it was ",his GIRL" in spite Of
ncr. She thought she would put 1t to
the test. and so went quietly out, Of the
room and Sent the hoiiscmaiu to sum-
ZION Lilly Dcane 10 her presence.
"You arc SO skillful at this. kind OF
work, Mrs. Dcane." she said rs she
held up u torn and costly lace before
the blusling. Tutoring girl" l should
nc glad If YOU would mend it us soon
rs possible"
And she looked with strong disfavor
ut tho lluttcring form and rosy blush.
She had seen George MILFORD accost
tho girl us she came in from tho car
Ten. and She knew what the bushes
meant.
She made no remark; however; but
when she went down again to the room
where she had left her. cousin, she
found him standing aimlcssly ID tho
middle of the room, rs if uncertain
what to be about.
"Ihc garden has lost its attraction"
she thought, and her black eyes flash
cd. This girl must DO got rid of, and
at once"
More easily said than done. however.
Tho children loved their gentle friend
and gentle play-fcllow. and their filth:
er made no secret of tho pleasure her
presence and sweet companionship af-
fordcd him.
While rs for Lily-though she was
''only q govcrncss''-it was plain that
an unwontcd sense of happiness made
her blue eyes moro bright and her
smiles moro frequent. She rcvct
thought of questioning why.
Tho little simple soul baskcd in it's
atmosphere of love ana Joy, as v..u.
and flowers do. and thought abou; the
cause of it as little.
The stately house had grown to be n
happy home 10 lief.
Was 1t since Mr.: Milford yetufneds
Well. yes-evetythihg Was siirely pleas
anter under the, masters sway. He
was so good, so kind. so gentle 10 hcr.-
self; so %consideraie towards everyone.
All. but his wife must have been u iap-
py woman! How sad that she should
have died, and left her lovely babies.
her dear husband! Aud he, too--so
young, scarcely thirty-surcly his life
was lonely. She wondered now would
he ever
And at that thought she put up two
little white hands to her face, that sud-
denly burned vivid crimson.
What is it to mcP'' she murmurcd
with an unconscious sigh. s.But if lie
should, 1 suppose it would be Mrs.
Vanc. And / should have IL go.
could not stay then, although the chill
drcn love me, and IL love them so."
Tears dimmed her blue eyes suddenly.
cater all, what is it to me?" she
sighed. "Unly he ii sd gocd-so very
good to mellow can Iclloose but wish
him happincss?"
And she stopped and kissed q red
rosebud that she held. and which lie
had given her.
That instant q voice fell on her ear,
and n firm hand graspcd her arm.
.Do you kiss the flower for its owl
sake" asked the voice, ''or for the
giver'sP
Poor Lilly started guilty.
"The-the giScv; ri1adanief" she fall
tered. "I do not understand"
"Nfr. MILFORD gave you that rose.
saw him. Hc Is NV bctrothed hus,
band: Miss Dcanc, l take you for :
foolish, tiloughtlcss gill. .athcr than ;
wicked Or a icartlcss II 4. 1 have re
solved TO appeal to your sense of RICH
your honor. MI. Milford is engaged
to me. Ilove him and will never Civ
him up. His fancy for you can onl,
result in your dishonor, for though yot
may steal his heart from me and max
me wrctchcd, you cannot win his hand
Tint IS :ergagcd to me-. and l will
claim it." !.
Lily, with white face and great di
lated eyes, nov suddenly. with on
sharp cry Of pain. fell down faintin:
at her encmv's feet.
Tho blow had been SO sudden. Wit
crucl pitiless hand Mrs. Vanc ha
placed her face to face with the secrc
of her own unconscious heatt.
She knew, in that moment . anguish
that she loved George MILFORD. and tina
he was the promised husband of al
Farewell, love! Farewell, hop.
Farewell. peaceful home. in which sh
found brief dcccitful happiness!
seemed, ut first, US ii she had sajd fare
we'll to life itself, as she lay, white. IN
uotionless, at Mrs. Vane's feet.
She was such u slight girlish ere:
ture that that lady managed to lift liz