The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1891-12-19

Lou aiuSc me, sue sa1u, by giving
yourself suc, an air of age. Why do you
consider yourself so old, Sir Oswald? If it
were not that feared to flutter you, should
say that there were few young men to COM
pare with you."
"My dear Lady Hampton" returned the
baronet, in voice that was nvs without
pathos, "look ut ...is."
He placed his thin white hand upon his
white hair. Lady Hampton laughed again.
"What does tina. matter! Why, many men
are gray even in their youth. have always
wondered why you seek to appear 80 old. Sir
Oswald. / feel sure, judging from many in
dications, that you cannot be sixty"
mo; but am over iifty-and my idea is
that. at fifty, one is really old" ..
Nothing OF the iS':id - she said with great
energy. "Some of the finest men l have
known were only in the prime OF life then.
II you were seventy, you might think OF
speaking rs you do. Sir Oswald" she ask
ed, abruptly, looking keenly at his face,
"why have YOU never marricd?'
He smiled, but flush darkened the fine
old face.
II was in love once" he replied, simply,
sand only once. The lady was young and
fair. She loved me in return. But few
weeks before our marriage she WAS suddenly
taken i'll and died. have never even thought
OF replacing her"
"Ilow sad! What sort of lady was she,
Sir Oswald-this fair young love Of yours"
"Strange to say, in face, figure, and man
ner she somewhat resembled your lovely
young niece, Lady Hampton. She had the
same quiet, graceful manner, the same pol
ished grace-so different from"
n 4. Ii
promptly. "IIow that unfortunate girl must
Jar upon your
''She does; but there are times when have
hopes of her. We are talking like old friends
now, Lady Hampton. may tell you that
think there is one and only one thing that
can redeem my niece, and that is love. Love
works wonders sometimes. and have hopes
that it may do so in her case. A grand mas
ter-passion such as controls the Darrells
when they love at all-that would redeem
her. 1t would soften that fierce pride and
hauteur, it would bring her to the ordinary
level OF woGNnhom; it would cure her of
many of TIL mtl..c ideas that seem TO have
taken posscs.,.oi oi ..lr, il would make her
what she certainly is not nova gentlewo-
man."
"Do you think SOP" queried Lady Hamp-
ton, doubtiuily.
II am sure of it. When look ut that
grand face of hers, often so defiant think
to myself that she may be redeemed by love"
"And if this grand master-passion does not
come to her-if she cares for some one only
after the ordinary fashion of women-what
then?'
lie threw up his hand with gesture indi-
cative of despair
Or" continued Lady Hampton-"pray
pardon me for suggesting such thing, Sir
Oswald, but people OF the world, like you
and myself, know what odd things are likely
at any time to happen-supposing that she
should marry some commonplace lover, after
a commonplace fashion, and that then the
master-passion should find her out, what
would be the fate of Darrell Courtr'
II cannot tell" replied Sir Oswald, de-
spairingiy.
with person, especially young girl. of
her self-willed, original, independent nature,
one Is never safe How thankful | am that
my niece is SO sweet and so womanlyw
Sir Oswald sat for some little time In ST.
lence. He looked on this fair ancestral
home of his, with its noble woods and mag
nifcent gardens. What indeed would be-
come of it if it fell into the ill-disciplined
hands of an ill-disciplined girl-unless, in
deed, she were subject to the control of 4
wise husband?
Would Pauline ever submit to such con-
troll? Her pale, grand face rose before him,
the naughty lips, the proud, calm eyes-the
man who mastered her, who brought her
mind into subjection, would indeed bc SUI
perior being For the first time doubt cross
ed Sir Oswald's mind as TO whether she
r4nnnpiya fba Snnaripr h,ainp in
Captain Llnston. He knew that there were
depths in the girls nature beyond his own
reach. 1t was not all pride, all defiance
there were genius, poetry, originality. grand
eur of intellect, and greatness of heart before
which the haronet knew that he stood III
hopeless, helpless awe.
Lady Hampton laid her hand on his arm
"Do not despond, old friend" she said. Il
understand You. / should feel like you. /
should dr1... 10 leave the inheritance of my
fathers in such dangerous hands. But SiI
Oswald, why despond? Why not marryf
The baronet started.
Marry he repeated. why, have nev.
er thought of such thing"
"'rhink Of it now," counseled the lady,
laughingly; ''you will find the advice most
excellent. Instead of tormenting yourself
about an ll-conditioncd girl, who delights in
defying you, you can have an amiabe, ac-
complishcd, elegant, and gentle wife to rule
your household and attend to your comfort
you might have a son of your own to succeed
you, and Darrell Court might yet remain in
the hands OF the Darrells."
But, my dear Lady Hampton, where
should | find such wife? l am no longer
young-who would marry me?'
ANY sensible girl in England. Take my
advice, Sir Oswald. Let us have n Lady
Darrell, and not m ill-trained girl who will
delight in setting the world ut defiance. In
deed, | consider that marriage is a duty
which you owe to society and to your race.
II have never thought of it. | have always
considered myself as having, SO to speak,
finished with life"
you have made a great mistake, but 1t Is
one that fortunately can be rcmelied."
Lady Hampton rose from her seat and
walked few steps forward.
II have pat his thoughts in the right
groove" she mused; but | ought TO say a
word about Elnur"
She turned To him agaiD