The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-12-06

Roderick held her hand fast: ay, he
put his arm round her waist in a ten
der, flial way; he was determined to
have it Out. as people say, with her;
but he wished ali to be done in the
gentlest and mo t kindly fashion.
"Yes. mother, as | told you, there
will, | trust, be another marriage in
the family: but"
Blu, not yet. Not for a very long
time. l couldn't stand it-indeed l
could not. Don't lee us talk about that.
l am very busy, you See"
Nay. mother, we must talk about it.
| have been waiting to speak to you
ever since came home. You are the
first and only per, on | can speak t. on
this sub ct. You must feel that"
Feel what? Speak about what? Let
me 60. declare L don't kno what
you are driving at. and l can't put up
with any nonsense-nOt just now
Roderick turned pale with anger,
but he controlled himself.
1t is not nonsense. L explained all
in my letter-in my two letters which
you say you received"
What, all about tho little Swiss girl
who you fancy is your cousin"
She is my cousin, there is no doubt
of that: al least, remotely so: not near
enough to warrant the slightest Oh. &C.
ton, which know you have, to cOus-
ms MAJ ying."
Marrying. tut, tut, laddie who
spoke o. marrying: Put such folly out
OF your head at once. Never let me
hear OF it again, or Of her."
Never hear of her again said Rod
erick, slowly, though h $ heart was
b rning with indignation, and the
nervous trembling which he always
felt IL mOIeats of excitement seemed
to run through his whole frame.
"Mothcr. you misunderstood the mat
ter. Oh must hear of her. She is
the lady whom / have chO.en for my
wife-if al get her-my wife and
your daughter-in law.
Never" cried Mrs. Jardine. you
had better give the thing up, ROdo =
lex, for | vii have nothing whatever
to do with it. on with her.
Very we'll, answered Roderick, and
his voice was Il deadly quietness. Nov
we know exactly where we stanl.
Mother, you are basy, you .Gy. and |
have also Al engagement. Good morn
ing"
But you will be back TO dinner"
He pau cd a moment and then an
swclol, Certainly"
And You are not forgetting that to-
morrow is the w~cdding-day:"
Il trust | am not IL the habit Of for
getting any of my duties"
She looked ter him u; he Quilted
the room. passing celia, who just then
entered. without a wori OF look in
deed, he seemed t. walk biindly, like
a person half stunned, and her mind
misgaNe her a little.
The wodding-daY came and passed.
1t was not a day of sentimental emo
ton: the IriGcIral consciousness, which
il brought t. R1derick wa tha. there
were certain inevitable things to do
and say, which he did and said to the
b st OF his ability: thinking the while
that his welding day. did it ever come,
should be a unlike this day as posi-
bic.
SO Bella Jardine and her new guide
man." if such a vulgar word could be
used for Mr.. Alexander Thomson with
Il scandaliling himself and hi, fami-
~, which lloated away into felicity,
while the hundred or mo G particular
friends who had been invited to see
them turned OIL" as the young lady
with whom Itoderick had u open the
ball expressed it, danced till far into
the "sma' hours with spirit and en-
thu5ia,m. In fact, no marriage could
have rome on with greater "aclaw, as
Mrs. Jardine declared. and she was
right; her own indomltable energy,
good temper, and good spirits con
tributing in no small degree to that
desirable result
But with all these excellent ouali-
ties, one iiag' sometimes at nearly
sixty: ana during the TO lowing day,
anXiously Us RouericG sought a chance
OF speaklng t. his mother, she was,
cither Intentionally or unintcntionally,
wholly invisible. Not till ate dinner
hay, nearly bedtime, old the mother
and son come really face to face. sit
ting alone togcthc in the large. silent
drawing-room, which 100 ed especial
l. drea Y so much so thai Mrs. Jar
dine, saving som thing about going to
bed early" rang or the servants. and
conducted, il seemed with more length
mess than usual, the never omitted
family prayers. These over, mother
and son we're again alone.
WELL, my ucaf. Sdlu MIS-. Jdfulne,
with Il rather impressive yawn. Il sup
pose we had better go to bed"
Not Just this minu G. mother" en-
treated Roderick. Let me have half q
dozen words with you. if you are not
too tired. Remember, | start to-mor-
row for Neurhatel.
"Neuchatel-t morrow. What in
the world DO you meau?'
" tnl Won chat nn1iatn1y oF4.,,
the wedding | mean to go back TO
Switzerland.
"N by? What for"
Rodcrick pau,e cd Il moment. TO soc
| Mademoiselle Jardine, and ask her to
become my wife. She is alone and I'M
protected, and if she does me the hon
or to accept me, | think it will be best
to arrange our marriage with a. little
| ella as DOSSiblp."