Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-11-19

and cast Of features. was the Yer
counterpart of his elder brother. b
| in every other respect he was rs iii
ferent from him as the night from TIL
day. Malcolm, 1t may be remcn
bered, was as fair as Dane, wit
light hair, blue eyes and sanguip
complexion; he was also frank, genel
GUS and. conflding. Norman, on tn
contrary, was as dark as a Spaniar
with raven-bllck hair and BURNING
black eyes; he was, besides, reserved
jealous and suspicious.
Alma, conscious of these darkeI
traits in his character, fearing theiI
effects upon himself and her, and vel
loving him despite of danger, shiveret
with the presentiment of coming evil
when she saw him standing before hel
so silent, still and stern.
"Norham," she faltered, family.
81 beg your pardon, Miss Elvcrton
hope have not prematurely inter-
rupted u pleasant tete-a-tete," he re-
piled, sarcastically, his black ewes
flashing and his proud lip curling.
Alma understood all now. He had
seen her father walking with her In
the wood, and had mistaken Hollis
Elverton fer a favored sutton. And.
Alma, bound by her promise, dared
not explain the circumstance, and UNI
der such conditions, could not hope ia
reassure her jealous lover. A con-
seriousness of her false position bowed
her fair head upon her bosom, dyed
her delicate cheek with bushes, and
invested her whole manner with the
appearance of conscious guilt. Herr
heart sank within her bosom, and she
could not reply.
He looked at her moment in scorn
and anger-the fierce scorn and anger
of wounded love and jealousy, and
then saying-"I will no longer intrude
upon your privacy, Miss Elverton;
good evening" he lifted his hat,
turned upon his heel and strobe
away.
"Stay. stay, Norham: do not leave
me i'll Il fatal error" cried Alma,
breaking tho spell that had bound her
faculties and springing forward.
II beg your pardon, Miss Elverton,
if 1 have wronged you. even III my
thoughts, but our mutual relations as
suredly warrant me in feeling some
surprise and displeasure at finding
you i'll these woods, walking with
strange man. as you have so often
walked with me, and certainly justify
me in demanding some explanation Of
so strange a proceeding on your part"
Because have been so indiscreet
as to wander here with you, do YOU
really suppose thar could be so faith
less as to walk here with another?'
said Alma, i'll Il lnournful voice.
Il. have assuredly very good reason
to think SO' replied NOrham, SarcaS-
tically.
"Ycs. it is true; by coming here to
meet you | have given you good rea-
son to think me capable of any degree
Of indiscretion." said Alma, with sor-
rowful humiliation.
"Miss Elyerton, meant not that, as
you know very well; l meant not to
reproach you with your innocent ram
bles with me, your betrothed husband
who would die rather than offer you
any offense. The good reason which
l have for thinking that you favor
others is the evidence of my own
senses. l saw you. Miss Elverton.
walking here in close conversation
with a stranger; and your answer ap-
pears to me very much like q mere
evasion Of the explanation must still
demand" he said, haughtily, Keeping
his stern eyes fixed upon her face with
the look of a man having authority to
arraign her conduct.
give? How could she answer his
doubts? How soothe his jealousy?
She dropped her ciasped hands, and
moaned with distress.
II wait your answer, Miss Elver-
ton"
Alma wrung her hands and re-
maincd silent.
'When was about to withdraw
If not to volunteer the explanation
that :! seek, will you bt. kind enough
to say for what purpose?
ooh, Norham, be pat:cnt! do not
misconceive me! 1 called you back to
say to you that-that-''
"Well:"
81 came to the woods this afternoon
in the hope of seeing you aud speaking
with yon after so long an absence"
"And met instead the lover that con-
soled you during my absence; but OF
whom, perhaps, you are tired row
were expecting to see me. Pray, Miss
A]A' Si wi, AAdN Z JVu 6NSA I'LL <tAoV IA"
promise of your hand as soon as you
shall be Of age and free to bestoW it,:
sneered the man.
ooh, Norham! Norham. do not be so
unjust to me! The person that met
this afternoon is no lover of mine
quite the contrary! He is one who
never could, under any possible cir
cumstances, become one''
"And set you were in very close con-
fabU,A :ion when first observed you.
1t really looked to me like an inter
view between very intimate friends"
"And yet, indeed, 1 never set eyes
on that person in all my life before"
"You never set eyes on him before:
repeated Norham Montrose, in aston
islment
ION my word, on my honor. on my
soul. MOI" replied Alma, with yehe'
ment earnestness.
''Who was he, then?' inquired Nor.
ham Montrosa, as the dark scowl Of
Jealousy vanished from his brow.
"He was an elderly gentleman, not
familiar with this part of the country,