Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-04-25
CHAPTER v.


and mirrors shrank behind Hollands,
and when citizens rushed from the chat
tering Of street sparrows to the biting
buzz of rural mosquitoes, Carson took his
fortnight holiday. Did he select for its
celebration that vichy Of America, the
Saratoga Springs, because Vera and her
mother were to be at the same caravans.
sry where he could also take rooms? But
Carson. ~ the unrevealed brother of a
duke, while democratic in many of his
methods, was Tory, and loved conserva.
tive ways. Saratoga had ancestral and
traditional fame like his own family.
Among its century Of pilgrims from the
ranks of fashion or of invalidisn, all the
Presidents, all the statesmen, leaders of
society from all the metropolitan centers,
and from farms and plantations as well,
had made the resort famous. "Agc had
not withered it, nor custom stalled its in
finite variety" The odor of its pines and
frs, the mellowed air of its mountains, the
dazzle of its hotel life, the romance of its
lakes and parks, the bangles of its schem-
ers or time killers, and the charm of
yearly reunions yet, and perhaps will for
centuries to come, win yearly worship
pers, who alternate praise in the Sarato-
60 temples with their hammock swing
ing in the wilderncsses or their lettering
at the sen side.
Carson arrived few days before Vera
and her mother came over from the COST
ness of cottage life where Indian Hol-
yoke adjoins towns Of English nomencla-
ture that reminded him of the Berkshire
hills that he had last beheld from the
northern heights of London, where Whit
tington heard the prophecy of Bow bells.
Carson soon learned the traditional pro-
gram Of Saratoga life. The o'clock aris-
saunter to the springs. and the first i'm
billing of the tonic waters, the matutinal
gossip of the piazza, the compromising of
plans for the coming hours, the grill of
spring chickens for breakfast, the read
Ing Of the morning papers vet damp from
city presses. the linger over luncheon, the
drive to the lake or the realization there
Of the old song, "Oh, Lightly May the
Boat Row That My Young Ladies' In, /"
the sumptuous dinner, where the "six
hundred" charge upon menus that equal
~, delight guests from oil ATTITUDES, the
watching Of twilight shadows, the even
ing Irritation, the feast of vesper music,
the ball, the novel, and the embraces Of
Morpheus--the only god Of mythology
that every human agrees to worship.
One morning when the omelette aux
dne herbes proved unusually tempting,
and the butter on the rolls uncommonly
appetixing with its yellow sweetness, he
found places reserved beside his own
place for Miss Vera and her mother.
Then they had arrived. What magic in
cards shufaed over the ink-stand of a
prosaic hotel clerk. The heart of this
blase Englishman actually beat break
fast tattoo. He insensibly hummed q
Tennysonian ''She is coming; She is COM
Ing" How gladly he saw the slight flush
On Vera's chek as he arose to thrust
aside the oficious waiter at the back Of
her chair who was hungering for silver
coin while Carson was hungering for u
tone Of her voice.
The usual talk about mutual move
ments ensued. They had not arrived at
the intimacy Of even formal correspon-
dence. Were the delights of q ''my darl-
Ing" or my precious" and Of yours,
with fondness" -addresses and super
scriptions dear to the eyes of generations
from the time Of Heloise to this time of
Haratoga loyerdom-never to join in cor
the names Of Charles and
Vera? Yet, for all her incipient flush of
the cheek, he found her, not cold, exactly,
but under strict bounds of etiquette, with
\ mother rs strictly on guard as the
almost immovable horse guard by the
nrchway of the Whitehall street in Lon
dom that he loved in youth to haunt. Her
raillery was again busy. Had the sight
of so many celebrities at Saratoga fred
his abinition yet? Had any purpose Of
life yet interested him? Was Saratoga
life worth living? Had the waters quick
encd his blood or given him an incentive?
Had he met with paragon of firt,
ETC.?
NO." he calamity answered, while he
merely went through the pantomime Of
. slight shiver. There be none of
beauty's daughters with q magic voice
like thine"
"Please don't quote. I hate quotations.
l once took vengeance ON a man who
edited book Of poetical quotations
"And pray what was the form of ven
geance?'
II learned 4 great lot of his own selec-
tons and fred them of at him like paper
or Chinese crackers, and made
him vince and vince again. But how
did you like our Fourth of July celebra-
ton? Did 1t make your heart sink to
that at Saratoga came the first
rebuff to you Britishers when Lord North
was trying to coerce the Irish?"
"Take pity on me. Miss Vera. We
shall never agree on English politics"
"Shall We. or do we, ever agree upon
anything3 You are as far below my en-
thusiasm as-as'-she faltered moment
for figure like bashful collegian in a
cotillon.
He gaily interrupted, "As you are above
my want Of heart"
How happy an idea; as il 30 purpose
less gentleman should confess to that
lack"
He sighed.
Are you choking with mushroom, Mr..
Carsen. aE was that q groan at my
I q ,beg pardon, perhaps wound
your amour propre. II you carry such a
thing about you"
And % her raillery proceeded. until he
metally asked himself: 'Would she be
% cruel unless it was an intention Of
or showed an ounce of inter-
ct e
Soon bevies Of guests began to stream
out, and many, recognizing the belle of
three seasons, paused to greet her, and to
give fresh cause for Carson's admiration
Of the woman who could, like juggler.
keep several balls Of conversation spin
ming ct one time.
She often speaks Of taking vengeance.
n Il hn3 Mt xah3aaA - Ia &hosaahA a IT..