Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-01-04
CHAPTER vi.

visit to old Miss Swayne after dull
formal century of worsted work and
tedious commonplaces, dull dinner par
ties, and insufferable visits to the haunts
Of fOgydom. She was sitting at des-
sert with her father in the twilight,
her head half turned from the table,
and looking wistfully our toward the
beech avenue. The figure Of man
had just come in sight-a tall, stalwart
figure-and she watched it curiously.
So few men ever came to the Hall.
Presently her pulse began to quicken,
her knees to tremble, as the form
came near enough to he distinguish
able. A great terror took possession
of her. She sat quite still, unable to
stir; her breath coming thick. her heart
beuting quick and loud through the
silence. Voices in the hall, footsteps,
Their the door was thrown open, and
the servant announced:
lord LangholmeH'
Nelly sprung up with an irIepressible
cry. Mr.. Huntingdon faced round with
a naughty stare, and Adrian WELLESLEY
Langholme came forward with a slight
flush on his handsome face, but in no
wise disconnected or abashed.
Il must apologize for my intrusion"
he: said, looking full at Mr.. Hunting
don; and then he went quickly toward
Nelly, who stood terrified, agast, as
If she saw some terrible apparition.
Lord Langholme!" she muttered. her
white, trembling lips almost refusing
their Office.
"Yes,'' he answered, taking her hand;
but it fell cold and nerveless from his
grasp.
May ask scme explanation of this?"
said Mr.. Huntingdon, white to the lips,
and speaking in that icy voice which
was more terrible to hear than the
fiercest burst of passion.
Il love your daughter, SIR" uttered
the young man quite simply; Il want
her to be my wife,
"And utterly decline any and every
overture from you or any member of
your family, and request you to leave
my house this moment"
The words were as measured and pas
sioEless as if the speaker had declined
to accept some farmer for a tenant.
Surely said Lord Langholme,
warmly, you will not allow your
daughters happiness to be Influenced
by any old family feud that may have
existed between. our houses! come
to you honestly and straightforwardly
to ask your daughter fer my wife.
I love her dearly if you give her to me,
/ swear that neither she no.: you shlll
ever have cause to repent trusting
me-"
He spoke with the warm light COM
ing full into his handsome face, looking,
as he stood there, the vely incarnation
of all honesty and chiyllrv
decline to entertain any PROPOSE
ton from you whatever" said Mr..
HuntindOn, still in the same unmoved
tone. You have forced yourself into
my presence. If you are gentleman.
you will hardly require me to repeat
my request that you should leave it."
'Papa! murmured Nelly, in stided
voice.
Eleanor" cried her father, leave
the room at once"
''Nellyy' said Lord Langholme,
stretching out his arms to her as she
gave a clicked sob.
No! by G. this is too much!'' cried
Mr.. Huntingdon, passionately. "Nelly,
II you let that BLACKBOARD lay as much
as one finger upon you, you leave my
mousse tonight and forever, to your
eternal disgrace! Go to your room this
lnstant!' and in paroxysm of terror
the poor child obeyed.
Ihen there We're harsh, passionate
words between the two men, and then
the door opened again, and LIZ I'd Lang
NOME strobe away down the avenue,
and Mr.. Huntingdon sat convulsed with
passion alone in the darkness. Bitter
We're the reproaches he heaped Oh
Nelly the next day when he sent for
her, and she with trembling steps
obeyed his summons. His cruel icy
words cut like knife. That she, a
Huntingdon, should have had clandcs-
tlne meetings with a ran, above all
q Langholme-shculd have suffered her.
ser 70 pc Wooed like a peasant girl
should have forgotten alike her own
dignity and that of her house!
= shall know better than to trust
YOU again, he said, with the bitterest
infection Of his cruel voice. you shall
never go out Of sight Of my window
alone. And II You ever attempt to see.
that-to see Lord Langholme again, or
to hear from him, I take God to wit
ness that the heaviest curse with which
a father can brand a child shall lie upon
you! Now, go. I have lost all conf
AS1AASS ~ yOus ucuCS1OIlu you are 10
daughter Of miner sS0
And poor Nelly, covering and shrink
ing, left the stern, angry presence,
and went to cry her poor little heart
out on Wilson's faithful breast.
Il shall never see him any more"
she moaned to herself; never hear his
voice again; but I shall think of him
always. How could forget him here
even If I would? But he will 20 back
to the world will see mary beauti-
ful women, and they will make him
forget me. How could he sver care
for poor little ignorant rustic like
me3 He said was pretty;" and the
girl would go to the glass, and stand
there long time looking al herself,
and after all go away unc.,nvinced.
She could not see any beauty in the
white skin clear as the velvet leaves
OF q white rose; In the brown eyes.
SO sad and wistful now; in the full
curved lips not rosy any longer as they
used to be. Then she was fain to
think Of her day dream long ago by the
brook-that first day that she met him
of the forbidden passion and the
wasting pain, and the little dead maiden
with the lilies on her hraaaf and in