Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-12-07
CHAPTER III.

something would happen. IL OHlv l1olu
Langholme was handsome and not lit
tie. we might fall in love with each
other: at least, don't suppose he would
fall in love with a simple little country
girl like me after he's been used to
elegant. well-bred London women-not
that there's IN older or better family
than the Huntingdons anywhere con-
tradictru the little maidcn's family
pride. Il shouldn't mind being very
miserable Id rather die Of broken
heart than go on living i'll this utter
stagnation. But if he were only hand
some and fell i'll love with me Il may
as we'll imagine it all perfect. as It
will never happcn), how delicious 1t
would be. We should meet aud meet,
and at last papa would find it out. and
be furious. and we should be forbidden
to see each other any moro. Then he
would take me in his arms. and kiss
me once like Launcelot kissed the queen
the last time. and when he WAS gone l
would grow palcr and pHlcr. and at last
[ should die. and have white lilies laid
upon my breast and in my hand. like
TcnnySons Elaine. Then papa would
relent. and send for Lord Langholmc,
and he would como and hang over me
broken-heartcd: and then. when it was
too late. the old family quarrel would
be made up. and they would plant
flowers together on my grave.
And the foolish little maiden. touched
by her own pitifl,l story. let the big
tears gather in her sweet brown eyes.
and brim over in great diamond drops
from their long lashcS. Presently, be-
coming more cheerful, she raised her
eyes. and they lighted kindling up
great mass Of hcavcn-bluc forget-me-
nots on the opposite bank.
"Oh, if l could only get them she
cried, stopping short in 4 suitable cpl
taph she had been composing on her
untimely end; but the attainment Of her
desire seemed hardly compassable.
since tho stream ran between her and
the coveted treasure. True. it was
very shallow for Their" had been no
rain for weeks: but it was quite be-
You'd Il jump even for such agile feet
as Miss N"lly'S. Il must have them.
she said To herself. .! newer SAW such
beauties. Oh. if they were only this
side
The difficult, is not the impossible:
and SO the young lady whose thoughts
had just been conferred Oh earthly death
and white lilies began 10 reflect on the
ways and means Of obtaining the tempt
ing cluster of forgct-mr-notS on the
Slopin- bank.
''rhrr"'S no one about" Sha said. look
ing round nySteriously. WHY should
not r.
OF course she could not see that just
behind n clump Of aldcrs on the oppo-
site side IL very handsome young man
was stretched ut full length. watching
her with keen admiration through the
branches. Slowly she drew off one
of the Cindrcla-like slippers and the
dainty >illlcn stocking, thereby exposing
to the Watchers enchanted view the
lovrlirSt little rOSe-pink arched foot;
and til" conquest was complete. OF
course h. ought to have rushed away
like Damon. leaving Il little note on
the bank TO say he was gone to keep
all other intrudcrs from the sacred
spot: but perhaps he had not read
ThOmson'S lines and the idea did not
occur 10 him. or perhaps he feared
to scare the pretty appariiion away
forever, or perhaps he thought it was
no harm: and I'm sure very few men
would haze acted differently under the
circumstances. So he held his breath
while two little slippers came off, and
the dainty little feet were plunged
half ShrinkiEgly on the p"bbly ground
Of the little stream. Three steps. and
then eager hands stretched toward the
coveted flowers and uprOoted them from
their nesting security. But alas! just
as Nelly turned there vas q trcacher
Gus, hole in the sandy bottom, and one
little foot slipped into it. and got q
wrench that made her cry out sharply
and fall back against the bank. In &
second the young man had started from
his hiding place and was beside her
Poor Nelly would fain have the hole
. big and deep enough to swallow hel
up altogether; the pain Of her foo
was as nothing compared to the anguish
of having been seen trespassing, witt
naked feet, too, upon Lord Langholme,
property.
Are you hurt:' he cried, eagerly
without more ado putting one protect
ing arm round the terrified little form
and standing heedlessly ankle-deep il
the water.
You won't tell Lord I.angholme!
she uttered, beseechingly. looking u
with such terror in her eyes that b
almost laughed. Visions Of this tres
pass DellS lnauc Lflt occasion OF amour
er lawsuit through the rancorous hatre
of the two families fitted agOnizingl
across her innocent mind.
II won't, indeed" he answered, reas
suringly; but don't think of him; te
me if you are hurt
My foot! / can't move it," she sale
with look Of beseeching in her eye
like a wounded deer might give
The stranger took her up in his arms
and lifted her quite gently on the hig
bank.
Let me look he said. pleadingl,
only anxious now about her hurt; BIT
she blushed wildly, and hid it ava
under her dress. But the pain mad
her utter sharp little cry
II did not know any one was Their,
Oh. what will papa say" she mu
mured turning wistful look upo
him like distressed kitten.
well, but how fortunate that som
one was there!" he answered her, scott
ingly; you never could have got HON
alone"
..R,,t T shnll have Tn 20 home alone