Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-08-05

muscular protector than poor Hrtfe Martin
could prove in an emergency, 1 get Ned
Crosmont to meet me at Pegsy's cottage,
and he borrows Martins coat and goes
with me, while the lad toasts his toes over
jug of beer till we come back again. You
see, in a place like this. all the neighbors
would be agape if poor Ned were recognize
ed driving me about, although we've been
playfellows ever since we were mites in
the nursery"
After drive of about half an hour
Lady kildonan, pointing with her whip
to handsome, modern, warm-looking,
red brick house. built in the Tudor style,
standing half way up a steep hill which
they had just begun to ascend at a gallop,
said:
That. oh, stranger, is the pirates lair!
BY which l mean only that instead of TAX
ing you direct to Branksome, have
brought you round the lake to The Crags
to luncheon. And it is of no use to try
to protest, because the deed is DONE"
Instead of driving straight up to the
house. Lady kildonan took a road to the
right and made tour of the park, brush
ing under boughs bent down with the
weight of snow, which sometimes dis
charged their load on the occupants of the
sleigh; an accident which she bore with
undisturbed good humor, on one occasion
requesting the doctor to take her hand
kerchief out of her coat pocket and wipe
the snow from her hat with it. He obey
ed very carefully, aud then she held her
face toward him with perfect nonchalance.
A little rivulet of melted snow was trick
ling down slowly from her white forehead.
He wiped the pretty cheek rather awk-
wardly, for she was so very beautiful,
and yet was so straightforward and sim
pie, that the action perturbed him and
made his own manner stiff and shy.
You can see Ned Crosmont's house
from here she said, watching him
'Wh pretty woman Mrs. Crosmopt is
isn't she!"
"1e-es. l suppose she u.s." answered.
Armathwaite. And more interesting than
pretty"
Yes, little too interesting poor Ned
has found her. l understand that some
allowances must be made for the little
woman, as she comes of an eccentric fam
lily. But it is pity she doesn't put hel
fancy and originality into novels or poems
or something of that sort, for fancifu
and original wife becomes rather irvine
sometimes. I'm sorry for old Ned. have
always been very fond of poor Ned" she
continued, frankly, turning to lool, into
the young doctors face with smile. I'll
| they had let me, | think l would have
married him once. But papa wouldn',
hear of it. He had great notions abou,
the rights and duties of property, ant
l at hnr fhinpS i 1i1n't
So he ferreted out a steady going gentle
| man or his own age, who might be sup
| posed to look we'll after the family acres
! ana l was thrown in to close the con
tract. And SO Ned married somebod,
else. and I'm dreadfully afraid he ism
happy, though to do him justice he never
| tells me So"
She told it very prettily, with just
note or glance now and then to sugges
a deeper feeling of sadness or regret thar
was betrayed by the words themselves
Armathwaite was touched. No man coul(
have listened to her, watched her, and no
| felt that it was an infamous thing tina
| these dazzling charms of youth. beaut,
and brightness should be wasted on a,
| avaricious and insensible plan too old t.
please, and too much absorbed in his book
| to value her. But she was too happy b,
! nature to indulge in sentiment long. Witt
flourish of her long whip and an en-
couraging word to her ponies. she drove u
again, and sweeping round the lower sid
of the park at gallop, she pulled up be
fore the door of the house in very mas
terly style of workmanship, flung tn
reins to the groom, and sprang to tn
ground as lightly as a bird, almost befor
Armathwaite had time to hold out hi
hand to help her.
"And now" she said. "for the enchant
ed palace of fogydom, md peep int
the realm of dullness."
She ran up the steps with laugh, an
introduced him into the house with dee
courtesy. Armathwaite followed, full o
interest and curiosity.