Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-11-13

any betrothal-any love passages-be-
tween his ward and a young man whose
worldly position is sc unequal to her
own. Pedigree is not what it was; but
when there are high connections, and
money. too, Mr.. Don"
Il understand you, sir" said Don, sad
~, as the merchant hesitated; "but, be-
lieve me, l did not need fresh proofs of
the hopelessness of my suit. I am here
to-day to ask your permission to my see
Ing Miss Mowbray once more-only once
before l leave England"
leave England" exclaimed Mr..
Marsh.
Yes, sir!' Don explained. cit is for
Miss Mowbray's-for Violet's-dear sake
that L have made up my mind to seek
a short cut to fortune. MIR Barrett, Lord
Ihorsdale's land agent. has kindly rec
commended me to a brother of his, who is
manager of a great estate and of some
rich silver mines in Mexico"
Upon my word" said MIR. Marsh, 81
am sorry! But never mind that now. Mr..
Don, il L consent to our request for n
parting Interview with my ward, l must
stirulate for no pledges and promises.
There u be no positive engagement to
prevent the young lady from forming flu
ture ties
There was a proud sadness in Don's
voice as he replied:
My w honor, sir, would forbid me to
be married, or ven betrothed, to Miss
Mowbray, rich and well-connected, unless
had Won for myself the advantages of
a position in the world, and of a compe-
tence. Should l succeed, l will come back
to ssk for her love and her hand. Till
then l will accept no plight from her. Of
that. MIR. Marsh, l can assure you"
II will. on receipt of this assurance, go
to my ward. mention your wish for a
meeting with her, and arrange for it to-
morrow. Mr.. Don, if, as l doubt not, the
young lady be willing" said the mer-
liant. wait for me, if you please. 1
shall soon be back"
Five minutes after Mr.. Marsh's depart
ure the door of the room was opened, and
Lord Wyvern" was announced.
The Earl entered. He had ridden over
from Thorsdale on one his noble enter
tainer's horses. and attended by n mount
ed groom, to call upon the rector, whom
he had known and esteemed long ago in
London.
"You are a son, l suppose. of my old
AAASANs VIZ. A<iIlStous Sulu Iue CX-IIQ.
%bassador. %graciously. to Don. .
II am not related to Mr.. Langton. my
lord. am merely waiting here on busi-
ness. if l may call it So" answered the
young man. with a slight bow.
Lord Wyvern seemed to resume his
naughty GOODNESS of dcmeanor. He seat
ed himself. and. without speaking again.
awaited the arrival of the clergyman.
= Rur frrr, fsp,n 10 &;,, H.. ...I1 --
vent himself from CHANGING at Don, as the
latter stood, i'll an attitude of unstudied
grace. near a window that commanded
a view OF the sea. OF what did the young
mans dark eyes his features. and the
very turn of his proud head, remind the
Earl! Lord Wyvern almost felt as
Though he had known Donor, Mt least,
seen him before; felt as though the sight
of the handsome, manly youth awakened
in him vague memories, though of what
he knew not.
"Lord Wyvern, l believe" said Mr..
Marsh, coming hastily into the room. 81
must apologize to your lordship for the
stupid biunder of the maid who showed
yoa in. Mr.. Langton, my niece's hus-
band, is in his library. l believe, and
quite unaware of your visit. If you will
wait one moment. my lord. And you,
MIR. Don. please step this way"
And the dry-salter hurried Don out of
the room and SO into the hall.
II have spoken to Miss Mowbray," he
said. II have explained to her that YOU
are on the point of leaving England for a
distant country, and only wish to see her
alone this once, to bid her farewell. And
she will see you-poor girl!-at eleven
Tomorrow"
Don took his leave and Went. while Mr..
Marsh made haste to repair to the library,
where he apprised the rector of the COM
ing of the noble visitor. who remained
alone in the d~rawing-room of the parson-
age. And when Mr.. Langton had hurried
away to greet his titled guest. the dry
salter seated himself beside the writing
table, and for some moments reflected ON
his recent interviews with Don and with
his ward.
At the appointed hour on the day sue
ceeding to that on which Lord Wyvern
had paid his visit, Don rode into the pref
ty garden of the parsonage. After a brief
delay he was conducted into the drawing
room, where he found Violet Mowbray,
looking very pale and pretty. She was
the first to speak.
you have made up your mind, Don
dear, to go away and leave me?"
II am going Violet, darling" answered
Don. drawing nearer, that 1 may come
again all the sooner to claim her / love
as my wife, to win my sweet prize. and
be very happy ever after, as the dear old
story books say"
But. Don-Don," answered Violet,
looking at him tearfully. with large eyes
wistfully fixed upon his face, suppose
You never come back to England-never
come back to me? Girl rs l am, l have
read something of the wild country with
er you are bound. l know partly what
lurking dangers await you there"
"Comc, come, we must not make out
my future abode a place from which 10
traveller returns. Violet, love- said Don.
tenderly, but firmly. there must be no
engagement-no binding troth-plisht-be-
tween you and me. That much 1 have
promised Mr.. Marsh. There must be no
pledge. dearest-nothing to make you
think that you are bound to Don, should
Don come to be half forgotten"
"Cruel! cruel!" was Violet's reproach-