Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-05-09

you to settle. Wait here until come
back. shan't be long"
All right, sir,' said the boy, delighted
70 obey such man, and still more de-
lighted at his obedience being required in
such spot, where the atmosphere was
redolent Of sport and war.
There was food for amusement and con-
temptation for hours. Besides, it was
something even to pay with another mans
money for such Il gun as he was still low
1ngly handling.
The Major had to wait five minutes at
the entrance to the millinery department
before she came out.
where is Steve?" she asked, suddenly
reellng shy and nervous without his inno-
cent, clustering presence.
have promised him an ice," said tho
MAJOR, unblushingly, so easy grow the
steps OF deception when the first one is
TAKEN. "Wil you como to the refresh
ment room with usy"
1t was the only place he could think Of.
II was not very private place, but there
was always the chance of q table in tho
corner. Fortune favors the brave. There
was table unoccupied, and, as If this
man were her particular favorite, there
was no one seated at the tables in the i'm
make haste. People would be trooping in
to luncheon.
But when the Major once came to a de-
clslon he always set to work to carry it
out on the spot. He had made up his mind
10 spike those guns which were pouring
such deadly fire on his dying and wound
cd comrades, and he had buckled on his
sword and walked out and done it.
he ordered ices for three as the waiter
Dustled up. The ices were brought, and
began to melt in the heat Immediately.
But neither he nor she noticed that they
were there.
"A man feels strange coming back to
England after so many years. ABSENCE"
ne said. ''There have been so many
changes"
"You should not have staid away so
long" 49,
"What was there to bring me back!"
"Were your old friends of so little &C.
| count them" she exclaimed, with flash
of angry disdair.
~ had not many friends in England
you know that had no relations that
| cared for. And then one of my best
friends died. should have liked to have
| seen your brother again.
Dear Matthew! He was a very good
| brother to me, and loved him dearly
But think he was little hard-where
girls were concerned. He did not UNDER
| stand them" She thought of the argu-
| ments he had used to induce her to take
that rich, elderly merchant for he1
husband and felt bitter, but then
| she remembered the tender kindness
| OF that husband and was softened
| and remorseful. But the vague unease
and restless dissatisfaction which had
stirred her through all that wealthy, COM
Portable, tenderly- cared-for married life
forced her into speech again, perhaps, be-
| cause this mans presence had made her
SO acutely sensitive to them. 'sHe thought
that a woman had only to marry hus-
| band who could give her food and fine
raiment to be happy!"
''But you were happy in YOUR married
| life! If had thought otherwise'-
| my husband was tenderness itself to
me-" she said as he stopped. "And what
| would it have mattered to you whether he
were good or not, considering that you
| could not even take the trouble to saw
goodbye to me that time when you went
awayl And we had been, I thought, such
good friendsv
II could not! IF I had, should have
broken my promise to your brother!'
my brother! Your promisew Her
breath came hard and fast, and there was
something in her eyes which made his fall
for moment before hers, so foolish, so
heartless, so needless, did that look in
them make that promise seem TO-DAY,
| 'Tell me what it was:"
| II will not say any thing about the
promise now. will only tell you that It
nearly broke my heart in the keeping of
it. But I had given it, and kept it. Do
you remember that day in the drawing
room? was nearly mad with your sweet
ness and beauty. I began to say some-
thing, and then your brother came be-
tween us. He was right; for it was dis
honorable of me to speak them. You
were only just beginning your life. It
would have been a shame of me to try and
fetter you before you even knew what life
was; and was poor. Your brother saw
that felt for you. He was very sorry.
but he made me see that had no right to
try and win you. He said truly that 1 had
nothing but my love to offer you. You
would not be happy as a poor mans wife.
He said, too, that if you had grown to care
for me little it would only be a girlish
fancy, which you would soon forget in the
pleasures of the life opening to you. So
promised to leave you free, and 1 went
away"
She drew in long breath.
"Ah! How hard you both were to me ~
she cried.
"But loved you'll Oh, how loved you !
have loved you till this day. I would
have come back when you were free, but 1
thought that you must have forgotten all
about me. remember the sentence had
begun, and felt that you would hate and
despise me for not having come back to
finish it. Milly! Milly! Let me finish it
now. I can't 60 away without you. Will
you promise one day to be my wife?"
The ices melted away in their glasses.
people came and went, and wondered as
they ate their own luncheon what those
two in the corner had to say to each other,
they talked SO long and earnestly together.
The waiter grew tired of lowering about
to see if they meant to pay for the ices
they had so recklessly wasted.
It was she who was suddenly aroused to
the lapse of time by the remembrance of
| Steve.
"Where can the boy be?"
The Majors face was picture Of guilty
l