Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-07-30

dominant In her life before had some
how lost its significance, and even hen
flial loyalty sank out Of sight. All her
emotions became merged in q passionate
allegiance to this man who had walked
her from her torpor, made her conscious
of her worth and made life noble and
beautiful in her sight. To say that she
loved him seemed but q feeble way OF
expressing the intensity Of sdmira-
ton. tenderness and devotion she felt
for him. His voice was music to her
cars, and his every motion seemed full
Of distinction and grace. There was no
form Of perfection with which she did
not clothc him, no virtue which she did
not attribute to him. And, 10! by a mi
raculous coincidence she had awakened
similar sentiments in his heart. and by
a marvellous and benevolently scheming
fate they were led together In the mid
die Of the night, and here they were
seated, like Lorenzo and Jessica, rejoic-
ing in each others loveliness.
They had lapscd into silence now,
and the minutes FASTENED away, charged
to tho full with delight. There was to
him something 40 delicious. ~distracting,
maddening in this close proximity that
he had to spring up and pace the floor,
though he was in constant danger Of
running against exposed chairs and
crickets. But he soon returned to her
and clasped her once more in his arms.
She was so exquisitely alive. A warm,
fresh, beautiful vitality throbbed be-
meath his touch and sent little shivers
of rapture ripping through him. She
was SO %touchingly virginia.. All the no.
BILE fullncss Of life with which God had
invested her was intact, unexpended.
Artist as he was, first and last, he had
an acute aesthetic appreciation Of her
loveliness, which, in so far az it i'm
piled reflection, was in its effect sober.
ing. The mere savage zest Of sensation
he rarely INDUCED in because 1t this
keen, artistic consciousness, which
made him analyze his delight and &C.
count for it. She was by far the more
primitive nature and closer to the soil.
She had redder blood and a more heed
lessly passionate heartbeat. It did not
occur to her in the generosity Of her ar
dor that they had exchanged no vows,
and that no word he had uttered point
ed beyond the moment.
There was something solemn, vast
and overwhelming in the stiffness of
the night and the all encompassing
gloom. Human standards Of right and
wrong seemed petty and artificial and
only the strong voice of nature remain
ed. Tho embcrs in the stove which had
smoldered under a transparent veil OF
ashes. collapsed with O faint noise, and
the little circle Of dimly illuminated
dusk shrank to q mere hands breath
about the open door. But in the same
moment another noise was heard, which
was distinctly that Of footsteps, and a
ray Of light penetrated through the key
hole from the adjoining room. Olaf
Brun started up in alarm and was half
way across the floor when the door
opened. and the pastor in a long wad-
ded dressing gown entered, carrying a
candle. He was evidently moi in search
Of anybody, for his face was placid and
his eyes were serene. But suddenly as
the light of the candle fell upon the en-.
gineer the old man started back in sur
prise, then gazed with a puzzled frown
at his visitor.
"Well, young man.. F" he began with
mild reprobation, may I ask Of what
errand You r providing about at this
time of night?"
Brun, stunned with embarrassment,
graspcd the back Of the chair and re-
turned the pastors gaze with helpless
fascination.
"Are you q somnambulist," confirm
ed the clergyman in the same tone of
gentle reproach. ''or are you perhaps,
like me, troubled with slecplcssness2"'
Brun would have liked to slip through
this loophole, but knowing how little 1t
would avail him he remained speechlees.
"Bu / must insist upon an expiana-
tion,' his host resumed with q dawning
dread in his eyes. But before he could
continue he was startled by the sight Of
his daughter. who came forward and
placing herself at Brun's side seized his
hand and said:
mi. Brun and l love each other, "a
ther, and it is ! who am to blame for
his being here.
She looked 80 noble in her fearless
avowal of her love that Brun, warmed
by his admiration for her, found his
voice and repeated:
Eyes, we love each other"
A vaguely ~apologetic note was, how
over, yet discernible to a sensitive en-,
though Hulda was determined not to
hear it.
The pastor, his face distorted with q
vivid pain, stood for a long while gaz-
ing mournfully upon the two, and his
hand trembled SO that the candle was
on the point Of falling.
Daughter" he said at last, with =
sigh which was almost a groan, II
trusted you. and-and-you have de-
ceived me.
mo, father.'' she answered proudly.
II have never deceived you."
The ring Of candor in her voice reas-
surcd him somewhat, and holding the
candle close to her face he looked into
her eyes searchingly and muttered:
ri .AS So -.