Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-12-31

had been In their company 1t every pos
sible moment. And the days at sea are
very long! Two whole mornings, after
Moons, evenings. had John Harrington
sat at Stella Raebnrn's side, walked with
her on deck, whispered soft sentences into
her ears under the shade of the same
great white umbrella; in fact, as Mrs.
Muir noted with delight, he had deliber-
ately laid himself out to attract the sweet
faced, serious-eyed Stella, and apparent
" he had succeeded.
VI course Mr.. Harrington did not I've
at Dundee. A commercial, ship building,
jute-weaving town had no attraction for
him as place of residence. He was q
London man, a man about town, man
with q small private fortune, recently
impaired by gaming losses, and reputa-
ton that was not quite fawless.
He had friends at great house in the
neishborhood of Dundec-I4ord EsQu-
harris second son, Donald Vereker, was
his particular pal" as he explained to
Miss Raeburn, and he had been invited
to spend week or two at the Towers for
some shooting. The Raeburns were nat
urally not in the Towers "set," but Han
nington was nevertheless determined to
pursue his acquaintance with the manu-
facturer's daughter. Stella Raeburn
would have money, and Harrington con-
sidered himself poor.
So he held her hand, and she stood
silent, with downcast eyes, not drawing
her fingers away. Harrington felt them
CULVER in his hand like soft, live bird.
At this movement he himself had a mo-
ment of tender feeling; it was not very
lasting, but while it lasted it was real.
He thought to himself that she was q
dear little girl, and that he should be
very fond of her. He rejected the impu-
tation cast on him by his conscience Of
being fortune-hunter with disdain. No;
he was in love with Stella.
Presently the steamer lay alongside the
wharf, and through the gathering dark
| ness and the Pickering, changing lights
Stella watched anxiously for the coming
of her father. Mr.. Harrington watched,
too, lingering his black mustache and
musing on the subject of dowries and
fortunes made in jute. He wanted to
see Mr.. Raeburn before committing him
self further. Stella's friend and chaperon,
Mrs. Muir, came up from the saloon with
many EXPLANATIONS of relief at the conclu-
sion of her voyage. She was the wife Of
| clergyman in Dundee, and an English
woman.
"Stella," she said, there's your dear
papa. Don't you see his head in the
crowd over there by the gangway?"
Stella did see, and made an impulsive
| movement forward. Harrington waited
silently until Stella and her father ap-
preached them. Mr.. Raeburn spoke to
Mrs. Muir, thanking her for the care
of his daughter, and then Mr.. Hanning-
toms introduction took place. The man
ufacturer gave the young man a pleas
ant greeting, and stood for few minutes
on deck, talking to him; while Stella, with
her hand in her fathers arm, and a
slight, unconscious smile on her sweet
| face, listened to the conversation, and
| shyly thought that she had never seen
any one SO handsome and distinguished
looking as Mr.. John Harrington.
! 1--WE will be glad to see you, sir, if you
should find your way to Thornbank," Mr..
Raeburn said courteously to the younger
man. "Any friend of my daughter-or
of Mrs. Muir. either-will aye be well
come. You'll come and take your dinner
with us one day, may be, if you are to
stay long in Dundee, and have the time
to spare"
| II shall be delighted to come" Han
nington answered quickly. ANY day
that suits you, sir-or that Miss Raeburn
likes to fix. You will allow me the pleas
ure of calling to-morrow-to inquire after
Miss Raeburn-and then, perhaps"
! "Any day." said Mr.. Raeburn, "just
any time you please, you will be well
come" He gave stiff little nod, as if
to show that the conversation was at an
end. I'VE must be moving of, should
think. Stella, my dear. The carriage is
here to meet US, and your aunt has got
a fine tea ready for you at the other end"
Stella, with her hand resting on her
fathers arm, gave a gentle little smile to
Harrington. She took her hand from his
arm and gave it first to Mrs. Muir and
then to Mr.. Harrington. He held it in
his own for moment longer than is
usual under such circumstances; and
then, as her fathers back was turned.
and the lights around them were but dim.
he bowed his head over it and raised it to
his lips.
Stella drew it away, coloring violently.
and as she did SO her eyes met those of
gentleman who must have been a specta-
tor of the scene. It was "Moncrieff of
Torresmuir," as Harrington had named
him to her; and the keen, cold face was
set in lines of a gravity that was almosA
stern. Stella felt as if he had CONDEMNED
her for this act of John Harrington. AMI
she was conscious of an emotion Of sham
and distress, quickly succeeded BY some
thing very like resentment. What rixh
had this stranger to look at her wit
those critical eyes? Stella's nature -
very gentle, bat she was not without he
share Of pride, which was little wouni
ed by his gaze.