Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-01-17

WOWtn may leel u uOuS1i Va uASdppoihr
ed pride when their lover discards
them; but pain! oh, it's impossible,
ridiculous.
Frank vaughn's reasoning worked.
Not another thought OF Edith. He had
got out of a very difficult and delicate
affair somewhat easily. SO far, SO
good. No one was aware that there
had been anything between them. SO
much the better. Edith was not the
one to proclaim their-firtation-from
the housetops. And nova? Well, now
for Mary, OF course.
Things seemed to go very smoothly
and pleasantly for Mary. Frank found
her even more susceptible h a he had
imagined. All, not much difficulty here.
How pleased she was with his atten-
tons! How she fingered over the
pleasant artful phrases he whispered
TO her day by day. How impressiOna-
BILE she was She would be ripe for q
proposal in no time.
And Edith! Poor girl, as the weeks
went by, she noted the effect this man
was producing in his cousin. II love
was o already full grown in Mary,
il was in embryo. What should she
do? She could not knowing as she
did, the motive power at work behind
the man, stand idly by and allow an
other woman's heart to be deceived.
Mary and she had always been great
friends, though she was but the gov
erness. She must save her. 1t was
her duty. Nevertheless, when Edith
came to speak Z Mary on such a deli
cate matter. she felt her task a difficult
one: but she persisted in it. Nor did
she confine herself 10 a vague warning;
that might have been misconstrued.
Edith boldly related all that had
passed between herself and Frank,
and detailed that final, cruel conversa-
ton word for word; and Mary listened
with pity. She put her arms around
Edith's neck and kissed her in graft
tude and sympathy.
Mary was not one to say much. But
she thought a great deal. She knew
that ere long her cousin Frank wouI
: again be a sutton at the court OF
~love-that his petition would be pre-
scented TO her, in fact And W o days
afterwards the action was set down for
hearing. They were alone i'll the
grounds. Seated in almost the same
spot as Edith and he had stood in when
his chill words had frozen her heart,
Frank took Mary's hand in his. She
trembled slightly, but he, bending over
her. told her of his love, and asked her
to become his wife. He vas surprised,
startled. at her answer.
Love- she exclaimed, with a light
laugh. What is love? A nonsensical
caprice. Born to-day-dead to-mor-
row" -.
But not such love az mine, Mary"
said he. DO you not love me?"
Love you! Well, perhaps did once,
but-weIi. one can't live on sentiment.
you know. 1t is foolish of you TO love
me, and l nave been foolish to en-
courage 1t. Besides, you know, Frank,
you-you are only Il brietless barristef,
penniless, and in debt, whilst l am an
heiress, and society expects gre
things from me-
Surely had Il recollection OF some
such words as these! Where had he
heard them? Where? Great heavens!
These We're the very words he had ut
tered to Edith. Then Mary must know
all. But his position was desperate.
She must marry him. Her money
must marry him. Her money must be
his.
But, Mary" he continued, Say that
you love me. Say that you will be my
wife. Once married to you, my dar-
ling, my life shall be-"
Married - she exclaimed. "Oh,
Frank, you must see how absurd the
thought of marriage between us is.
Now, do look al things s~ensibly, and
please, don't let US have any fuss. No,
no, Frank, what ever you do, don't be
historical. You will forgive me dis
49, ryntf UAlt llf
course, you will always have a friend
in me. l shall always be slad 10 au-
wise"
tut the summing up and verdict of
this stern little judge were too mu--
for Frank Vaughan. He could not stay
until the court was dismissed in Il more
orthodox fashion. He was beside him
self almost. His case vas hopeless.
His cousin was not one to state a case
for appeal. Her verdict was final.
A week later Edith Malvern over
took Frank in the grounds. He seemed
moody and moroSe, and turned way
his head as she approached. lnwardly
he breathed maledictions against her.
It was she who had brought this upon
him. She had been the vital witness
whose evidence had resulted in his be-
ing ~non-suited. He hated her, and
would not trust himself TO speak to
her. She was unworthy Of any words
from him. But Edith approached n
laid her hand upon his arm. he
turned a severe frown upon her.
"Mr. Vaughan" she said, IL would
like to speak to you. Can-can you
give me a moment!'
NO"
But, do you not remember, you once
s"id that you would always he pleased
toto advise me? See,~ he had i
letter from some lawyer in Australia,
and it appears | am not without friends.
My uncle, whom | have never seen
since l was a child, has recently died
in Melbourne. and II am his heiress,
and"
"Eh, what's that?" He turned sharp
ly enough now
ut appears that he has left me a
fortune of 100000, and 1 want you to
advise me what to do
ITO do? Why, Edith, my darling.
MY advice Is to get married ut once"
and he smiled such u%nutterable things.
and held out his arms to take her TO