The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-08-01

his deliberate mind, for no sooner
was she outside the park gates at
Brentweljs than-the pony having
determined1y set his face homewards
she pulled him round with a reso-
Lutte jerk, and drove off rapidly In
the opposite direction. Skirting the
grounds of Aboyne Court, now shut
up, it's master having gone abroad
for an indefinite period, she ere long
arrived at the Snuggery.
Even the little groom was m
what surprised; what would the
family coachman have been, for
Elvira never went to the Snuggery,
though she was engaged to Its
master, and was to be married to
him within a week.
There was a good deal Of old
fashioned decorum about the way
Elvira conducted her love affair, and
she never readily either accepted o.
gave familiarity. Her heart, how
ever, was wholly ID the asrrpsHu
She Yves quite willing TO make
exception to cut and dried rules
when occasion demanded, and here
she considered was the occasion.
Sir Miles was unhappy, and it was
her duty and her pleasure to make
him happy. When she drove up he
was in the hall, and came forward TO
meet her, exclaiming, in a surprised
voice, which amused her intensely:
"Elviral WHAT has happened?
Is anything amiss2"
"Nothing," she answered, "only I
thought l would come and beard the
lion in his den-that is, Sir Miles
Berkeley in his Snuggery."
And throwing the reins to the
little groom, she jumped from the
pony cart on to tie doorstep.
evil you give me some
luncheon?" she asked, before he had
time to offer her any. ''It is not
fair to invade bachelors quarters
and ask for luncheon, is it2-but 1
am starving. Take off this cloak,
Miles; there's a dear. 1t is such a
weight, it crushes me-"
He did as he was bid, and then
opened the library door, calling to
his man who had by this time
appeared on the scene, to tell Mrs.
Bett that Miss Delane had come to
luncheon.
"And tell her, too, that I am
coming presently to make her
acquaintance" said Elvira.
"Wnat a delicious room; how
bright and sunny" she went on,
looking up at Sir Miles with a glad
smile. SIS this where you indite
those dear little notes which l have
SO often of late found on my break
fast tray?"
He laughed, and placed her In the
chair by the writing table. Then hi
took off her hat, and stood over her
loking into her eyes, and very swee'
and frank they were, and altogether
a pretty picture was Elvira, as she
sat there, with the SUMS rays playing
about her hair. Sir Miles Berkeley
thought he had never 10 a pref
tier.
Having feasted his eyes on her fol
a brief space, the Shy lover mad
cold, and, leaning over, kissed he,
tenderly, in some fear and trem
bling though, for Elvira was coy
II was no little to his surprise then
when she threw her arms about hi
neck and gave him the first tru'
loving kiss she had ever bestowe'
on HIM.
"Do you love me, Miles? Tell M
that You love me, and that you III,
not sorry that they are already prac
ticing the marriage Chimes"
"Sorry, my darling? Have I no
passed my days in waiting for tn
happy hour when l should call yo'
miner"
"Then there is something I wan
very-very much more than any
thing riches can procure-somethin
that Cresus himself, with all hi
Wanted wealth, could not buy. 70
will give it to me, Ell, Miles?"
, "Nothing will make SO happy as t
: know that there is something I alon
can give you, and that money ca
. not buy. What Ia it, sweet one?"
"The promise of fidelity until deat
3 parts us; the love of a true and hon
i est man."
D He looked at her in some astonish
ment. "You have them both," h
said; "that is II I am true and hon
0bus nav you Soh0 hOiO " tG
because you doubted meP"
y "No, no--a hundred times NO
But because I have fancied of lat
that you thought I valued riches an
y their accompanying luxuries MOI
y than your love, my beloved, and
y wanted to assure you that l set
:. above them all, the princely 81
y which no money can buy"
70 There was nc trace Of sadness i
Sir Miles, face now. With an adro
and tender hand she had swept ava
:, all his trouble. From that hour fort
ne knew that she loved him bette
than all else in life. When a woma