Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-01-26

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person. They had reached the grass
grown courtyard of the castle, and as
they paused there, the gray ruined
walls about them and the canopy OF
blue sky above, the young man began
to tell her OF another castle-a ruined
medieval castle that was his, ard
that he would have restored for the
abode of the woman who might love
him. Again Mignon listened with a
changing color. All about them there
was silence; the rest of the party had
dropped behind.
How did it come about? Neither
ever knew. But abruptly Mignon
had looked up and met the young
mans ardent glance. And then he
stopped and taking her tenderly, rev.
erently in his arms, he kissed her.
From the spell Of sudden unexpect-
ed, ineffable moment both were shak-
en- by approaching steps and voices.
Was it the rest OF the party that had
Jagged behind and now tardily join
ed them?
Mignon, crimsoning and trembling,
i'll front OF her and her shoulders
turned. But Count Holm looked in
the direction of the advancing steps
and incontinently stood as though
netrified. Through the half-ruined
arch of the great gateway three came,
not little Miss Fitzgerald and the resi-
due OF the company, but q portly
traveller, accompanied by a guide,
and who at the sight of the young
man smiled broadly and recognizing.
ly under his grey beard.
Hello, Rob! Well met, my boy!
And you, Miss Mignon, too? Come and
greet your guardian, you little rogue,
and don't stand staring there! Yes, l
| took berth on one OF the German
lines just week sooner than l ex-
pected. Found l could get off and
| here am"
AS he talked Mr., Massey had been
looking from one OF tho young people
to the other, and the smile had begun
to fade from his face and to give place
to puzzled frown. What was amiss
with Rob Beckwith? He stood there
white, speechless, with evasive eyes,
not at all. And Mignon had passed
from the dreaming child as which her
guardian remembered her into astate-
ly woman whose glance seemed to
wither the young man to the ground
"uncle!," she said slowly, and she
pointed to the suppositious Teutonic
nobleman. "Do you know who this
is?'
"Do know who Rob Beckwith is?
1 should hope so! And am glad
that you seem to know, too. You've
heard OF the Beckwiths long ago, henv-
en- knows. They've been my neigh
bors at home for years. l had no
idea that Rob was knocking about
this part OF Europe just now, how
ever"
The last word expired abruptly, for
Mignon had turned from them with.
out q sound and vanished through
the cool shadows OF the gray and
broken arch.
= \
II don't say that l uphold him."
cried Mr.. Massey impatiently. 81 re-
peat that it was q knavish piece ofde-
ception-only proving how lost to
the laws OF what is honorable and
what is not fellow can become when
he has the misfortune to fall in love
with one OF you women. But | do
say that Rob meant no harm. It's
true that he loved you before ever
you laid eyes on him. He used to see
you coming to my house at home,
and one day he wrote to me, just be-
fore you came abroad, telling me how
he felt about you. replied that your
head was so turned with nonsenslcal
European romance that | believed he
had not the shadow OF chance. So |
suppose he took the matterin his own
hands. You had made up your mind
to marry title, Il historic name, the
scion of an old family, and he played
Claude Melnotte to the Lady OF
Lyons. Presumably he thought if
you once learned to love him for him.
self you would not mind when you
discovered that he was, after ALL only
plain Rob BecSwith-who is possessed
OF q very lair fortune OF his own,
by the way"
"You need say nothing more,
uncle" Mignon spoke coldly, collect
lively, impressively. "You need not
excuse Mr.. Beckwith to me. He
knows his own offense, and know it.
We will leave the subject
In silence they descended the stairs
and entered the carriage, where Miss
Fitzgerald already sat. Another car
riage behind carried their luggage.
They were going, NIignon had said,
always with the same strange calm
ness, but they did not care where;
they must so. Rob Beckwitb's re-
peated prayers for an interview, p
hearing she had absolutely disregard
ed.
II have nothing to say, nor has he,"
had been her one remark.
Down the town street they now rat
tied at a brisk pace. Mingon had her
white set face turned away, speaking
no word. Near the railroad station
another street crosses the one on
which they were driving, and NOM
entary confusion Of hurrying carts.
carriages and drays occurred. Still
wrapped in her icy absorption Mignon
heard a sudden shrek that pierced
the air. Miss Fitzgerald sat bolt up
right with a pallid face, Mr.. Massey