Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-09-11


your peril for nothing! l never a,raign
the Fates, but it does seem to me as if, in
your case, destiny had been little over
hard with you jet hunters"
"That, dear Mr.. Langton," replied Don.
cheerfully, sis too classical, too pagan n
standpoint, as my foster-fatler, Captain
Jedson, would say, from which to regard
our late mishap. l, for one find no fault
with tickle fortune because our grand Jet
mine ut Dutchmans Bay has collapsed.
Brittle, friable sandstone will break up.
and props give way, and gradual land
slip demolish what sudden landslip first
suggested. Anyhow, we have come out of
It, If not much enriched, at any rate with
out serious accident to life and limb"
"And that, Mr.. Don, is chiefly due to
your courage and your unselisl readiness
to face any risk and undertake any labor
for your comrades sake" interrupted
Mrs. LangtOn warmly.
eyes. Mr.. Don, we heard of what you
did, and trembled for you, am sure, be-
fore you had got clear of that dreadful
underground place, with the two poor
fellows who were trapped there when
the roof gave way" exclaimed Violet
Mowbray, with a sort of shy enthusiasm
that brought tears to her eyes, and caused
the manting blood to rise to her soft
check. And we were all so glad to hear
that no harm came of it,
| Harm seldom comes. Miss Mowbray,
believe. from merely doing ones duty
answered Don. gravely. He was always
serious. and almost bashful in manner,
when he spoke to Violet, although his
heart throbbed wildly as his ear drank in
the welcome words of praise that fell
from her lips. "At any rate" he added,
There is an end of jet hunting for the
moment; so, MIR. Langton, l have ven
turcd up here, with my books, to crave a
lesson if you can kindly spare ME the
time for one. and are at leisure"
"Of leisure. Don. my boy, have only
too much. replied the clergyman, genial
ly; "and ii is pleasure to me to resume
my old task of tuition with pupil whom
not even hero worship can spoil. So, If
You like. We will adjourn to my study ~
1t is strange by what invisible links our
fortunes are bound to those of one an
other. AT first sight it might have ap-
pearcd rs if no proceedings ON the part of
Sir Richard Mortmain. of Alortmain
Park. could conceNably influence the f,l-
tlrc veal or Woe of so comparatively
humble person as Obadiah's adopted
son and the rector's favorite pupil. So.
at all events, it would have seemed to
the baronet himself. as, OH his black
horse. but unattended by groom, he
rode slowly along. deep in thought. while,
amid the well-stored book shelves Mt
Woodburn Parsonage, Don and Mr..
Langton were busy with the lore of by
gone day. Sir Richard. it has been men
TONED, was absorbed in thought, as, with
|! slackencd reins and downcast eyes, he
rode ON, so that when a carriage. coming
along Mt brisk pace. between the high
banks that lined the road, suddenly over
took him. he did not hear or heed the
sound of wheels. and was only apprised
of their approach when his horse violently
started and swervcd, in n manner that
would have nnseatcd many careless
rider. Sir Richard, however, was too
practiccd iorseman to be easily dis
composed. so that he merely gathered up
his loosencd reins. and. recognizing, the
occupants of the barouche, took off his
hat with a smile of amiablc insincerity.
so glad!'' he said. riding close ,lp to the
open carriage. the livericd driver of which
had now pulled up his horses at a word
from his noble mistress. The eauipage
indeed. was that of the Countess of Thors-
dale. and beside her ladyship lounged.
wrapped in plaids and shawls, the list
less form of the earl himself. ~ did not
hear your wheels, Constance. until Won
overlook me-" explained the baronet:
''our Yorkshire roads are solitary here
abouts. Well, Thorsdale, this fine day
has tempted you out early, see.''
"Ihe more fool ~ peevishly retorted
Sir Richards noble brother-in-law. "rhis
treacherous climate is worse, absolutely
worse, than that of the Riviera itself.
with its dust and its marrow-piercing mis-
trail. feel there is rain coming on-hu-
| midity in the atmosphcrc-and it racks
my gout and unstrings my nerves. have
told Sharpe, my secretary, to write for
details as to two places, one in the Car
pathians, the other in the Rocky Noun
tains, Of which l have heard good ac-
counts"
The countess made haste to express her
wifely hopes that her ailing lord might
yet be rcconciled to Yorkshire and Eng
land, and to paint rose-colored picture
of the forthcoming gayetles at Thorsdale
Park. "You, Richard, have hitherto been
sad truant," she said, playfully shaking
her gloved forefnger ut her brother. I'VE
have been here week in our exile, and
have seen you but once at Thorsdale. L
snust insist DOW that you come home with
'is. and stay to luncheon"
I'm sure 1t would be charity on your
part" chimed in his lordship, more gra-
s.iously than Usual
! $50 you see. my dear Richard, that you
have fallen into our hands, and that we
s'ill take no denial" said the countess,
with her prettist manner and with her
! filsess smile.
lawfully kind of both of. .you: but. nn-
fortunately. have an appointment with
ii friend" rcjoincd Sir Richard, almost
siryly. Before long, depend upon it.
shnm! lock you M at Thorsdale, and SO
often that you will vote me bore. But
to-day my time is not my own There
was brief lcavc-taking, and the carriage
rolled off.
"You are always talking nonsense. my
dear, and always making mountains ont
of mole hillsr srowlcd the earl. as he
shifted nneas;.y among his downy eush-
ions. Meanwhile, Sir Richard, turning
his head to ascertain by ocular evidence