Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-03-09

CHAPTER XVI.
81 am no better this morning. laughed
the Duke of Itaysfort, when lie met Vane.
IL am glad that | decided to 30 this after
noon"
"At what time will you go?" asked
tane.
"About four, | think" was the answer.
In his heart Vane thanked Heaven that
by that hour his sister would be safe with
HIM. 1t had seemed such an easy thing to
say that he would meet her; but how was
1t TO be done! That morning, as soon as
he came down stairs, a lovely face smiled
into ms and a musical voice whispered to
him, zone more day togetlerV lie be-
gan TO wonder how he should get away.
Lady Llllas and Nane spent the MORN
ing on the green shade banks Of the river
where the wild flowers made a carpet and
the hedges were filed with bloom. lie re-
mcmbered IL always as the hsppiest Of his
life, tor that morning she had told him how
she loved him, what she had thought about
him, how She had lamented ever having
allowed pride and caste to interfere with
her happiness; and he told her what
those two years had been to him. She
looked at him with 4 smile on her charm.
ing face.
III have broken the compact" she said.
owe were not TO mention the past or the
future, but live in the present"
She took up a large oak-leaf, and shap-
ing IL into "a little boat, let it float down
the stream.
THAT is just how we shall commit our
deStlnles tothe stream of time, Nane," she
said.
Looking at her, SO beautiful and 80 good,
he wondered now he had been so FORUM
ate rs to win her, and why Heaven had so
supcrabundantly blessed him.
Ihe hour for luncheon ut Kings CIyffe
was two; and it often happened that dur
ing the warm days the ladies remained IN
doors either resting or reading. On that
day, when they left the d|iniug-room, Vane
whispered to Lady Iiiias-
"IaNc IN hours rest; tho sun is very
warm. | have TO go out and see some
one"
sac nodded gaily, and went up the
broad staircase, where a White marble
Mora stood, with a basket OF crimson dow
erS at her feet. Standing by the large VIM
dow there, 10 looh ut the great sprays of
j%csslminc that framed 1t, she saw Nane
cross the Lawn aud take the path which
led TO Ciyi,e Woods. No suspicion occur
lCd 30 her. shc thought il probable that
hc was gong TO see one OF the kccpcrs-in
tact she uId not trouble herself as to whom
ue was going 10 sec.
81 N.ll meet lin as he comes back"
sic SAID to herself; "he will BE- prssed.-
/ must make haste lie will not he long
She made herself look unwontedly at
tractive. She did not ring for her maid,
for she did not care that any one should
know whittier she had gone. 1t was to be
a surprise for him, and to please him alone.
sac put Oh a most becoming walkins.ces-
uMe with n charming hat; and the dead
! gold hair and beautiful face looked like
the heart OF \ flower.
As she went along she altered some
magnificent pas.ion-fower Kings Cly6s
WAS famous for them. smiled ~ She
~thsug't how pleased I'D he, how his
face would brighten ana Us eyes light up
when he saw her, and what Il rush Of low
ing words would come from his lips. All,
how well he loved her! And she? Her
heart warmed to him. Thew had been
made or each other, she believ d. At last
she game to the end Of the woods, but
there was no sign Of him. II was a beau
tiful spot, with lovely yistas Of greenwood
glades and clumps Of trees, grand In their
magnifccnce. She looked round, bIL zane
was not TO be seen. She knew that he
must be there. He had not passed her 20
return, and she could see the paths that
led TO the highway, but he was on none OF
them. Then she saw the great oak called
King Charles's Oak, among the boughs Of
which the king was supposed to have been
concealed while the search ragged holly be-
meath him. 1t was an enormous tree, and
from one side Of it surely there came the
sound of voices!
She crossed the path, and then for one
moment stood as though turned to stone.
The lovely rose-bloom left her face, tho
glad light died out in her eyes, and Il quiz
er of pain compressed her white lips
"rhe proudest girl in England" the queen
OF beauty aIal fashion, stood there wound
cd TO the hears by what she saw. A low
moan OF pain came from her lips, a low
moan that died away OH the sweet summer
Air.
Under the spreading bOughs Of the tree
stood her Iov.r, Vane Fraser Wharf, the
man she had chosen from the w.oie world
TO love aud marry, his handsome refined
face was bent over u girl who was talking
most earnestly to him, bent too with an
expression of fondcsL affection upon it
sue saw him kiss the girls face, hold her
hands in his, talk TO her most lovingly,
aud her heart almost stood still. Then the
girl moved, and Lady Lilias saw the same
dark sweet face that had charmed her at
the Meadow Farm.
alt i, the girl from the farmhouse" she
murmured!