The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-09-08


ter with her"
CHAPTER yxII.-TnE BIRD HAS FLOWN.
Lisle had never before been so piqued
and frustrated as he was by Mona's mode
of receiving his advances.
Had she shown coldnoss or resentment,
he could have understood his position. Bus
her sweet friendliness was utterly battling.
His impatience, the eager fire that quick
ened his pulses. urged him perpetually to
seek her; while pride and his habitual re-
luctance to commit himself, held him back.
1t was running fight between these
two forces, through the couple of weeks
which succeeded Mona's visit to Strath-
airlie; but the strongest finally prevailed,
and telling himself he really ought to let
that old boor at Craigdarroch know that
the right Of fishing question was settled,
he started in wonderfully good spirits for
his mornings sport, intending to end the
day in Mona's society. 1t was an especial
stroke of luck, he thought, to have tetc-
e-tete walk with her; but when he reviewed
their conversation in the evening" while
his friend and partner slumbered, he was
obliged to confess that he had made very
little way.
Did sheer did she not resent his throw
ing her over, as he undoubtedly had, when
her grandmother came to grief7
She was so young and inexperienced at
the time that she could hardly realize the
impossibility OF n man like himself risking
marriage, even with n richly lowered girl
"A more enlightened, n more mature wo-
man, would have seen and understood the
difficulty. nor loved him the less for being
ready to give her up to a richer rival
Women are awfully selfish and unreason-
ablel Now that Mona had seen more of
nfe-the seamy side of it too-she ought to
appreciate the motives which actuated
him; perhaps she did, for she never avoided
him, or said sharp things, only she was so
Internally calm and frank! 1t was qsita
possible she might have fallen in love with
someone else In the interim. Who could
Ii bef-some brute of foreigner?
Lisle felt savagely jealous, as though his
sacred rights had been infringcd. He
would do. or sacrifice anything TO call the
conscious color to her cheek-to win u con-
fession of love from her lips, even the sac
rifics OF himself to the fetters of matri-
mony. And IL she loved him (Which, IL he
once surrendered, and asked her 10 marry
him, she would. warmly, deliciously), she
would yield TO him in everything. The
thing was really worth risking. Life with
Mona would be very charming for q year
or so.
Having made up his mind moro thorough
ly than he was perhaps aware, Lisle found
shooting, and even dssr-stalking, a less
satisfying amusement than 1t used TO be.
and two or three days after his chance en-
.%ar ia ~ rN. AaI SA~
darroch, determined to begin the ksss in
earnest
1t was a crisp, clear afternoon, and sel
dom had 'his bosom's lord sat so lightly
on its throne" OF his success he never
doubted Tho only question that he de-
bated mentally, was how soon 1t would be
In good taste TO declare himself. They
were not strangers. She must know that
hs had been a good deal smitten with her
nearly four years ago. 1t WAS only taking
up the dropped stitches in the web of their
lives. He would be guided by circum-
stancex
'Is Mr.. Craig at home and the young
ladies'. he demanded OF the little maid
who came when he rang.
''Ths masters in, but" she was begin
ming, when Mr.. Craig himself appeared,
with his inevitable stick, at the library
door,
"Eh, come your waysr' he cried. 81
saw ye as ye walked up the drive. Pm
glad to see you. I'm here alane; they're a.
oot"
"Indeedl" said Lisle, following him into
the library. intending TO give the old man
a few minutes, to find out where Mona had
gone, and to follow her. What has be-
come of your nieces:"
MARY Black is no niece of mine. She is
n nice-like grille, but have no kin except
Mona and Kenneth. Well, they are AVA
to set Mona on her road" Gle called il
'rod."O
"On her roadl Wheret" asked Lisle.
"To Glasga'. She'll get there this even
ing, in time to catch the London night ex-
press"
'London!' repeated Lisle, in angry sur
prise. Has she gone to London,"
"Yes. She had letter frae madame
may be you'll mind Madame Debrisay, the
Teddy wha took my niece in when you
grand folks turned her oot Weel, the let
ter wasna frae herself. IL was the land
lady-an honest-like woman-wha wrote,
at madame's order, to explain why she
could not write. She was varra sick with
bronchitis. and the landlady she added
that she was frightened herself, for she
was that bad the doctor wanted her TO
h~..- With that. nothing would
keep Mona; she must 60 to nurse her.
was angered against her, for | didna think
it right for her to go off in a jiffy frae me,
wha is as father to her, and maintains
herr
"But she wcnti" calculated Lisle.
cay, she did that. She put her arms
round my neck, and she says, wi her bon
ME cen full o. tears-Don't seek to stop
me, uncle. She was good to me before
knew you; and don't you think she says,
II you were i'll, I'd come AVA frae every
one to nurse your an felt she spoke true
-sho would stick to me, so | just said-Pl
no pay for your whim-whams,' and she
says-'No, uncle! / have money enough
for the journey. Just let me go with your
good WILL an said-'Go, then, my lassie,
and she's game"
GOOD heavensw cried 1isle. alone;
to go through the worry and annoy ance OF
changing-of-"
"What's to harm herr She is nae q