Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-03-05
CHATTER xyIu-eContinucdD

prayers on the part Of her lover
awaited anything against the conscic1-
tiots resolution Of Alma. And even
when. at length, the leave OF absence
expired. and he wa ordered 90 join
his regiment, which was stationed in
Scotland. he took advantage of this
fortuitouS combination of Circumstance
eS TO r to upon his beloved Alma
the consideration OF the deep pain OF
separation and the facilities for their
union offered by the locality OF his ser
vice. she remained true To her conyic-
tions of duty. and had the firmness 10
bid him adieu and see him depart.
To young creatures surrounded by
sisters. brothers and cousins, relatives,
friends and neighbors, the self-dcnial
of this lonely girl will scarcely be ap-
preciated.
From the time of her lovers depart
ure for Scotland she saw no more OF
him until the day OF the double funeral
at Ailworth Abbey.
We have already said that it was
only in the times of their afIlicticn that
the Honorable Mrs. Elyerton yer Wis
ited her n~eighbors. Thus. recluse as
she was. she had ordered her mourn
Ing coach. and with Alma seated by
nNE Slte. Ldu dtttllSu tilt llitIdl "
IDENTITIES ut Allworth Abbey.
In the course of that day Alma had
exchanged a glance and a bow with
Norman. And the next afternoon. in
stinct. rather than understanding. led
her 10 take a walk in the woods be-
hind Edenlawn.
liz was a lovely summers afternoon,
and the Understanding sun was strik-
fnv Ifu laval r-aiinV- t1 tus rhrnYUh thu
interlacings of the forest trees, ehg-
ing each leaf aud twig with a golden
dame.
Alma wandered on, and i'm that
mental struggle between duty and in
clination. or rather between conscience
and necessity. that occupies one-haif
OF our inner lives.
She was happy in the thought OF
seeing Norham. and miserable in the
fear OF wrnng-doing. This is a para
dox OF daily occurrence.
While she walked on In the dulce-
marah. the bitter-sweet of this forbid
den hope she heard the fallen leaves
aud twigs break beneath a firm foot
step behind her.
Her breath stopped. her heart flut-
tered. her cheek crimsoned. She
paused for the coming up of the foot
stens. but she did not turn her head.
II have the honor of speaking 20
Miss Eiverton. / presume:"
The voice of the speaker was deep,
rieh and inexpressibly mournful.
Alma started. turned around. and
dropped her eyes, while a deep flush
mantled her face.
The speaker was n tall. fipely-formcd.
fair-complexioned and very handsome
man. about forty years of age.
While addressing Alma he held his
hat entirely of hic head. anl stood
with n courtly grace that the girl had
never seen elualled.
She was naturally surprised aud
even terrified at the unexpected apN
paFition of n stranger in that lonely
place End at that late hour. but aside
from these natural emotions. there
was something in the aspect OF the
mau that thrilled her with a feeling
that was neither surprise nor terror.
hut something infinitely deeper than
either.
Il have the honor OF adj
dressing Miss Elverton. pre-
sumeT repeated the stranger. with the
same gracious courtesy of tone and
manner.
Yes, sir" breathed the girl, with
her heart throbbing quickly.
Miss Elyerton. does your mother
still livc:" inquired the deep voice "
the stranger.
The ~throbbing of Alma's heart nearly
suffocated her. Her breath came
quickly and gaspingly. She threw her
arm Ground a tree for support and
leaned her head against the rough
Ark while she stole another look N
-, stranger.
Yes. there was the same noble head.
Eth it's bright locks of golden brown
Eavinc round the broad. white fore
mead: the same dark blue eyes with the
falcon glance; the same Grecian nose,
short. proud upper lip. and rounded
chin: the same face. only a little Older
that daily looked down upon her from
the portrait In the study. As Alma
realized the truth, she felt as though
her last hour of life had ome and
that she was dying In a dream.
Does Your mother still liver re
peated the stranger.
"My mother stin lives. IL breathing
means living" answered Alma, in ~
expiring voice. and trembling in every
limb.
The eyes OF the stranger were hxes
coon her-were reading her very soul
At length he spoke.
"Girl. your eyes eve beheld me be
r,re. and yet-does not your instinc
recognize meT'
"Oh. heaven. my heart!' gasped tn
girl. leaning. pale rs death. agains
the tree.
"Ycs. your heart acknowledges hin
whom our eyes never before saw"
"My father
~Hush-hush-no word OF that sort
"Oh. my father"
"Hush. hush. no word like thar.
sayr' repeated Hollis Eiyerton, in
sepulchral voice.
But his daughter, pale as dealt
tremblrd like a leaf, and nearly faint
ing with excessive agitation, had eI
tircly lost her self-possession,
she either did not hear or did NJ
understand his strange words.
Extending her arms towards hiI
with a look Of impioring affection. an
I'm a~y0icc OF thrilling passion, sh
cried.
Father, oh, father. will you M
r,bvaqa vnur chilli"