The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-10-08

''i'f. i Nv 'l"ll a.! lfH>l t''N Iid'Ns thC
popping of the corks. the %cla;tcr of knives
and forks. and the clink Of classes blend
Ing not unplcasant!y with The mclodious
strains from the band. Louder and loud
or swelled the music, and in the intervals
between the tunes the laughter and noise
of conversation was in itself enough TO
prove the thing Il success.
Presently the dinner over. and the
wcaricd musicians having hushed their
instruments. for the sake Of rest and re-
freshmen. there was y general move, at
least among the junior guests. LiCht-col-
orcd dressed 1uttercd gayly. like SO many
tropical butterflies. among the willow
trees that bordercd the banks Of the slug
gish stream, and The pleasant sound of
girlish laughter and of young voices float
ed on the breeze.
Violet Mowbray never knew afterward
how il came about that she found herself
alone. ~ i, were. with Sir Richard Mort
main in the garden Of the mn. She had
been standing in front of "A bed of the
sweet. queer old roses. not very far from
n hedge of clipped holly. There was no
one To be seen except Sir Richard him
self. Il have been watching for this op-
portunity. Miss Mowbray." he said.
g~ravcly. Il hay" something To say to
Won thar must be said"
"Somcthing 10 say To ne. 81 Ilchard:'
Violet Mowhray faltrringly replied; Of
course she knew of what he meant 10
speak.
ICES. | mus >lvak." resumed 81 Rich
ard. you must have seen. Won cannot
have failed To observe. how very dear You
| have become 10 mo: how. rs il drawn hy
a power which ! annot hut obey. | in
stinctivcly seek Your company; how AT
tcntivc | am To- the lightc>j word that
falls from those fair lips: how eager TO
anticipate your wishes. how anxious 10
conciliatr your good opinion. Have |
been quite unsuccessful N doing thiS+ |
hope -forvcntly | hope hot. DO YOU
not Ike me a little lin. as q fr;cnd:" he
added, trying 10 take her hand.
Bus Violet Withdrew h"r hand. she
tromhlcd. but her voice WAS steady as she
replied. As - friend. Sir Richard, YOU
have. | am sure. always been regarded
10y every one At Woolburn ever since we
first SAW YOU"
you dear little hypocritr.." he cNclaim-
ed. "ncrgcticaliy, ",io You think | mix YOU
up in my thoughts with excellent Mr..
Langton and his charming household? If
| have been a frequent visitor at Wood
burn. have You not guessed what was the
magnet that drew me there: How | love
yon. Violet darling. words are too weak to
! tell: hut perhaps a lifc's devotion would
tc tn" best proof IF my sincerity. BE my
wife. dear. Maxi me happy; and let me
welcome ii the o.d halls of Mortmain the
sweetest. nohlrSt young bride that ever a
husband yet brought to reign there"
1t was all mere acting. Even the trcm-
bin. Of the mans voice was "A clever stage
trick. The haronet talked of welcoming
his youthful bride TO the grand old halls
of Mortmain. he well knew in his inmost
soul that the use he designed to make Of
Nol"ts seventy thousand pounds was
not TO SCI up expensive housekeeping in
the mansion of his ancestors.
violet, with n"w-foInd courage. drew
her hand back from his grasp. at canno
be a> You wish. Sir Richard" she said,
Very gently. hut very firmly. The man
Of the world hi, his lip.
You mcan. Miss Mowbray. that you
cannot do mo :" high an honor as to CON
sent to be nay Wife," demanded the baro-
net. with a SoVj Of naughty surprise.
Il cannot agree To be your wife. Sir
Richard; but | had no wish 10 give you
pain or To annoy You 10y the manner of my
rcfu>al.' returned Violet. gently. and
looking aside.
And ! say" pa>sionatcly rciorted the
master Of M"r,nain, tina, | will not. as
the saying is. take No for an answer;
that | will not dcsist from my suit until
YOU acccpt me-
You must spare me his" answered
Violet. since, believe me. Sir Richard.
my reply viii never he diffcrcn, from that
which | have made TO You to-day"
is il possible, asked the haronet. in
a changed voice. that quivercd with an
ger. that ! am forrStallcd:'
She flushed indignant crimson, and
turned away. but she did not tell him that
he had no right 10 ask any such question.
And who may the fortunate swain be.
| wonder" he broke out. furiously. "Some
brggarly cnraic. | suppose: or perhaps Il
dappcr clerk in the marlborough Bank.
If 50. let him hook 10 ii. ! am one of
those whom il is safer to have for a
friend than for an enemy He abso-
lutcly Missed out the last words. with an
emphasis that was really terrible.
Leave me. pray leave me- exclaimed
the girl. in real distress. when at that
moment she caught sight of Il group of
Lady Thorsdalo'S guests. just then en-
tcriug The shady gardens of the inn. With
OCT saving "A word more Violet hurried off
to meet her friends. under whose protec-
ton She felt that she was safe from fur
Their persecution. while Sir Richard. turn
iny sharply ON his heel. strobe off in an
opposite direction.
I'VE have been looking for You every
where. Violet. dear" said mothrrly Mrs.
Langton. Niolrr hardly knew what she
answered. 50 glad was she to he rid for
the time being of the Importantly of her
na!eful admircr. Neither OF the actors in
,hi. littln ..au. haI b,ha1l u mir Of