The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-08-15

SIFIlcp OF valley IL hiiioth, NhI'h
when covered by the golden broom,
the purple heather and the green
bracken. presents Il picture of eXquis-
lite beauty.
No contrast can be more grateful TO
the LOndOner than to escape from his
wilderness of brick. his close, heavy
atmosphere, and, mounting to those
bracing heights, cast himself upon the
soft. springy turf, or lounge upon II
of the wooden seats beneath the shell
ter of overhanging trees. and give
him up TO the luxury of sunlight, and
fresh air and scenery.
On the evening we have chosen TO
conduct the reader to the spot, the air
was ringing with the shouts and
laughter Of children, as they chased
II another up and down the hollows
and among the brambleS and the tall
ferns, and many grown-up people were
strolling in all directions, enjoying the
sweet. soft atmosphere and the mild
warmth of the declining sun.
Among the latter were Il youth and
a young girl. who. after n while, seat
ed themselves upon a piece of rising
ground looking northward and com
handing one of the finest prospects
that the Heath IA boast.
But they did not seem to beStOw
much attention upon the landscape be
they were insensible TO it's beau
ties. but just then they were in deep
conversation that engaged all their
thoughts.
The youth might have been twenty.
certainly not more: he was a fine.
handsome young fellow. with dark
eyes and hair. Il complexion glowing
with health and a frank. open eX-
preston Of face that would win him
friends wherever he went.
His companion looked about eighteen
or nineteen. Il fair-haired. blue-eyed
girl, extremely pretty. with a slight.
yet. for her age, we'll propOrtioned tig-
ure.
POth, by their dress and bearing.
evidently belonged TO a superior class
of society. ,
Godfrey" the girl was saying.
"even if we We're not so absurdly
young, there are so many things TO
render 1t impossible"
"Oh, we needn't get married for a
year or two" said the boy. when |
am twenty-One l shall be a rich man.
"Oh! it is no money question: an
swered the girl quickly. AS if l
should ever think of that
What is it then, Rosy"
You cannot know your W mind
at twenty; a few years hence you will
see mt one you could have loved
better, and then we should both be
miserable"
Il shall never see any one that I
n, IN,,n ~. mall nS pnSy fnnl
quite sure Of that; and if anything
We're to happen to separate us l should
never marry"
An elder who had heard this mere
boy with such words would have
smiled, yet he could not but have
been impressed by the intensity Of
the conviction with which they were
spoken.
you forget what I I'M. my birth.
Godfrey; do you suppose that your
uncle would ever consent TO your mar
rage with a nameleSS orphan n a his
wife had taken from the workhouse!'
He adopted you. reared you as his
OWL daughter, educated you as a lady;
what objection can he otfer?"
Rosamond shook her head; young as
she was, she had truer instincts in re-
gard TO human nature than her COM
paniOn.
"A year hence I shall be my own
master, and not accountable TO any
body" he replied, impetuously.
But l SHALL" she answered gravely.
"Oh, Godfrey! do you think | could
fly in the face of my dear benefactor,
who rescued me from misery and
who has been a father to me?
As much as l love you-and l
do love you. dear-I could not be TN.
grateful t. him; / would rather die"
He pressed her hand and furtively
raised it to his lips. Then he was 81
lent for Il few moments.
Rosy" he said presently. 81 neyer
quite understood your story. Would
you mind telling it to me, if it would
not pain youT'
"Oh, no." she answered, quickly;
Il should like you to hear it. You will
then better understand my position
and your own. My earliest ~recollec-
tiOns are Of a squalor and mystery that
you cannot conceive: of living in some
wretched rooms almost destitute of
furniture; Of my father coming home
in a state Of intOXicatiOn and beating
my mOther-he never touched me; then
of wandering about the country beg
ging: of sleeping in sheds or out in the
fields under hedges and haystacks. All
is confused, however. till one dreadful
night when my father dropped down
upon a heap Of stones and said he was
dying and JoSh-that Is my brother
sent me running off to ask for help.
| met a man before / got to the vii
- - III - IL.
and | remember he seemed to pity me
very much, and took me up I'm his arms
and was carrying me back when | saw
Josh coming toward us; as soon as he
caught sight of me he called ~ that
father was dead. Then we were taken
back 10 the village. and slept for the