Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1896-08-27
CHAPTER W.
The Shadow of Evil 30 Come.

A few DAYS after the events de-
scribed in the preceding chapter May
left David Deacon's house to return to
Annadale How different everything
was to her now, as, seated by her
unclo's side, she drove over the same
road which, only a few weeks before,
She had passed along with him.
Life now to her seemed to possess a
brighter and more glorious charm.
She longed to lell him of her engage
ment to Ernest Hartrey-of her love,
of her admiration for him; but her
promise kept her silent
Matthew Rivers met them at Alver-
ton, and May greeted her father
warmly and atfectionately; but no
sooner had she had time and cppor-
tunity to look into his well-loyed face.
than she saw that, during her absence,
it had grown thinner and paler-that
the lines We're more deeply m-rled,
and that look of anxiety was ever on
his cOuntenance.
What could have caused the change?
She knew nothing of the many weary
night he had spent since her absence,
bending over his greateclasped account
book. She knew nothing of those long
columns of figures which John Gridley
and her father had pored over hour
after hour. She only saw the effect,
and knew nothing of the cause.
Her welcome home was Il merry one
Mrs. Rivers was glad to see her dear
ly-loved daughter again. Matthew
Rivers strove to cast his cares to the
winds. and make his daugter happy;
but John Glldley lowered about the
room like black shadow, smiling with
n feigned smile. and talking with an
unnatural cheerfulness.
1t was strange that May should turn
with an instructive dislike from her
fathers confidential clerk. He had
never given her any reason to mistrust
him; he had never uttered an offensive
word to her, but yet she Shranll from
him almost as il he had been noXious
reptile.
May soon fell into her old ways
again. At first She had much to tell of
her visit-of all she had seen and all
she had done. -tgain and again it was
upon the tip of her tongue to tell her
mother of the great happiness which
had fallen TO her lot: but she had prom
ised to keep it secret, and she kept her
promise.
1t was one evening, about q week
after she had returned from Ports
mouth, that she and her father We're
alone in the little parlor of the Anna
dale Cottage.
She was sitting idle; but Matthew
Rivers was buried in his thick account
book
May he said, after they had sat
for a while in silcnce-'May, | want to
speak TO YOU
What is it," she asked-for there
was that in her fathers manner which
told her it was no ordinary matter on
which he would converse
May, dear. have you ever thought
of malriage2"
What could she say? With the
thought of Ernest Hartrey and his
promises ever foremost in her mind,
how could she answer the question in
the negative? But Matthew Rivers
did not wait foE a reply.
There is someone May, who has
begged me to speak to you for him
someone who loves you very dearly,
and would make you his wife"
Her heart bounded within her. for
she knew of no one but Ernest Hart
rey whosha such wish.
IF you could learn to love him.
continued Matthew Rivers-.'to love
him enough to marry hin-he would
make you a good husband. l need
hardly say that'I approve of him. for