Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-08-27
CHATTER w.


~ siNh l,FssEbh itsiiltt the III
tie piece of gossip concerning ETEes
Hartrey and Lord P~orcheSter's daugh
ter, he little thought of the effect II
would have upon II of his listeners
fet she must have heard it scorer 81
later. Perhaps II WAS better she shouj.
know Il at once.
so ran the worthy mans thoughts
as ne saw his niece stretched on the
sofa IN IA dnath-like swoon.
lie could not understand It's caus e
Tor he knew nothing Of the last inter
view she Lad had with The ,ouna
squire.
lie little knew of the pang which
shot through her neart whan she heard
his worls-the pain which thrilled liel
frame-the tumultuous thoughts which
crowded to her mind. lie little knew
the bitter pain that news caused
re loved this man-this Ernest
artrey; and he, by his words. spoken
~ an hour before. led her o believe
that he returned her affection; vet all
tue while he was but tritiing with her.
sincerity formed no part of that
speech he made her. He would have
deceived her-he bad deceived her. He
was plighted to another. and yet
dared whisper words of love to her.
Her idol was fallen, indeed, She
could not have believed him capable of
such Il deed. yet no doubt of the truth
irlncss Of the report entered her mind.
Was 1t not more probable that a bar
onet's o should wed the daughter of
a marquis than "A maltster? Yet it
was a bitter blow to her-one almost
more than she could bear.
When She recovered from her faint
ing tit. Mrs. Deacon would have ques-
toned her, but she silenced her at
once.
Ask me no questions" said she. "for
| cannot answer them: let me be quiet.
for | have much to bear
They respected her wish, though
they pitied her weakness.
Tcarfully she babe them all
goodnight. hardly daring to trust
herself TO speak; and slowly she re-
tlced To her own room to pass a sleep
less night of misery.
At first It seemed TO her as if life
were no longer worth having: but as
her fevered brain grew cooler and she
could think more calmly. her sense
showed her that there was but one
couisc which size could safely adopt.
She must leave the place at once,
ara in the tranquility of Annadale
strive her utmost TO forget every Incl
dent of hfr bright day-dream.
II Ernest should seek her before she
went? She could not resolve what she
would do in that case.
She felt she could not trust herself 10
speak 10 him. 10 upbraid him with his
conduct. She doubted her own firm
too much to allow her to speak
again to him who, by his speech, had
81 crrelly wronged her.
'Ch, that | had never come here!'
she cried, aloud, that | had never
seen him!''
Restlessly she tossed her aching head
upon the pillow: but it was not till the
pale light Of morning guivered at her
window that she sobbed herself to
sleep.
For some days she was too unwell to
leave the house. Her bright. active.
nature was gone; and no one
would have known her for the same
younS girl who laughed and prattled
SO gaily with her uncle durins that
drive from Alverton.
Poor May! The troubles of life had
early for her.
Ii WAS not until two days before her
departure for home that May felt pos
sessed Of the strength, or the inclina-
ton. to walk abroad: but a fine glow
ing autumn day, with a calm blue sea,
and a rich russell woodland, tempted
her forth with her cousin.
Slowly they paced together by the
sea. both more occupied with their own
thoughts than with conversations;
when, To the surprise of both, ana to
the terror of one, they came face to
face with Ernest Hartrey
The red blood rose into Mays cheek.
brt she took no notice of the proffered
hand; while Rose fidgetted uneasily.
fer she knew this meeting was the
thing, of all others, to be avoided.
Good day. ladies'" said Ernest Har-
trey Mss Rivers, l have been hoping
to see for some days past: but, till now,
my nope has m been gratified"
May bowed, but made no verbal re-
'You will. trust. excuse me,
Miss Rivers continued the young
but l have something l
particularly wish to say to you. May
| ask You to grant me few minutes
private conversational
My cousin has not been we'll" said
Rose, hastily, Il cannot leave her
Excuse me again. said Ernest, DO
litely, but it Is Il n after of much i'm
portance, and | can only take an an
from Miss Rivers"
May, whose blush had faded away.
her deathly pale. hesitated.
You must rot think OF it," whispered
In her cousins ear.
DO not refuse. Miss Rivers-I will
not detain you many minutes
May, with an air of determination.
turned TO her cousin and said. aloud: !
There can be no harm in herring
what Mr.. Hartrey has to say. We will
walk a little along the shore, and I
viii return to you directly"
THANK you thank you a thousand
said Ernest, with a look of
1eep gratitude.
Rose disapproved, but ere she could
her thoughts the others were
some distance in front Of her. Slowly