The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1893-01-20

room, telegram in his hand and a
thoughtful look on his face.
He rose as she advanced into the
room and stepping lightly across the
low sill said Il have waited to see
you, Miss Lyle. have message for
you" He paused, then added quickly:
"My friend Tom wished me to give
you his regards and regrets that he
could not see you snd say good-by
himself, but he received telegram
late last night calling him home on
important business and was obliged to
leave on an early train"
"Indeed!" she replied; 81 am sorry
not to have said good-by to Mr.. Ran
dali, for before he returns shall prob
ably have to go home and spend the
rest of my vacation with mamma"
"Oh, he will not come back this sea-
SON." said Chalmers, then added quick
ly, "but surely, Miss Lyle, you are not
going home so soon?"
There was so much interest in his
voice that she looked up quickly, and
instantly lowered her eyes again.
"So," she thought, "this is your mo-
tive. lam not the woman for Tom
Randall to marry, but am evidently
the one whom you would like to win. !"
Then, while the half-formed purpose
stole into her heart, "that she would
make this man suffer all that he had
made her suffer-" she lifted her eyes,
which he noticed for the first time
were very beautiful. and said, half
playfully: Il must, Mr. Chalmers,
and you know the old adage, Go where
duty waits thee"
"Besides." she added, "there is no
one but mother who cares where I 90,
you know"
But there is some one who cares,
Miss Lyle. Il care" he paused, then
said hesitatingly, Miss Lyle, can't
you and be friends?"
"Oh, yes, Mr.. Chalmers, certainly
we can," she answered. with light
laugh, which somehow sounded hollow
to him; eyes, the best of friends; but
excuse me, have not had breakfast
yet and | am awfully hungry. Won't
you come, tOo?"
with great pleasure" he returned.
Il have been waiting here hardly dar-
ing to hope for your company"
Three weeks drifted by and to-day
Edith Lyle was going back to begin
her teaching again; and as she sat
gazing out over the bay, with its blue
waves rolling and tossing, tipped here
and there with white foam, sparkling
in the rays of the August sun, she
sighed audibly at the recollection that
here she had found and lost all that
could ever make her happy.
why that sigh and that far-away
look in your eyes, Miss Edith9" said a
voice close to her side.
She raised her head and saw Harry
Chalmers bending over her, look Of
intense admiration in his eyes.
"How you frightened me-" she ex-
claimed. Il do feel little sad," she
continued. Il am going home to-
night and I almost hate to leave this
dear old harbor; it is such nice rest
full place when one is all tired out with
work"
yes" he answered, as a shade
crossed his face, land |, too, shall 60
Tomorrow"
After short pause he continued,
speaking hurriedly. "Ihave been hunt
ing for you ever since lunch; | want
to speak to you" He hesitated an in
stant. Il want to know my fate,
Edith, he continued, taking one of her
hands in his. Il love you; will you
be my wife?"
All the color left her face and a
steely CLEAN flashed in her eyes which
seemed more beautiful than ever to
him, as rising to her feet she looked
down into his face and answered.
slowly:
Mr.. Chalmers, / never loved but
one man and Edith Lyle was not the
woman to make him happy. Do you
know who that man is?"
Then lifting her hand she added:
Gas much as I love him l hate you,
and only hope you may suffer half
what you have made me suffer"
She turned, without waiting for him
to reply, and left him. Half an hour
later she stepped aboard the train
which would carry her home.
The sun was low in the western sky
one afternoon some ten years after
the events above noted.
A man was sitting by the window
looking out across a fine lawn, when
Suuueuly curry nalIeu ullle gin
turned in at the gate, and as she
tripped up the walk he rose to meet
her.
After giving her hearty kiss on the
upturned mouth he asked: "Wen,
Edith, how do YOU like the new
teacher?"
"Oh, papa, she's just the goodest
teacher, she's just like my own mamma
used to be-"
A sigh escaped Mr.. Randall as he
clasped his little daughter in his arms,
for the little girl was motherless and
sometimes his heart ached in its lone
illness.
Papa" murmured the little one, as
she nestled her bright head on his
shoulder, Il asked the new teacher to
come tomorrow night after school
and see the flowers. You don't care,
do you, papa?"
NO, dear, | shall be very glad to
see your teacher and we will try and
make her visit pleasant"
Toward evening the next day Tom
Randall suddenly glanced up from the
paper he was reading and saw his lit
- J, /, - IL, l.