Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-05-20
CHAPTER XVII.

For two or three ticks of the clock Eric
stares at the boy in contemptuous, wrath
1ul anlazement, stunned into silence by
q curious feeling as II bolt had shot
through his nerves and left him benumb-
ed and rigid-riveted to the chair where
he sits, his hands unconsciously clenched
on his arms.
How dare you speak of--your sister in
that manner" he says Mt last, slowly and
sternly. ''I'll not listen to another word
Of your slanderous insolencew
I'm not slanderin'. Every word I'm
saying is gospel truth" says Sylvester,
in tone of reproach and self vindication,
knowing quite well still that the man whs
listens to him believes and is being tor
tured. Everyone knew that Miles was
trying to get Murrie married these four
years. There was Jack O'Donoghue, he
was after her, and SO was young REM
miss o Clanteary, ridin' after her at every
meet; on'y of course Murrie hadn't any
fortune, and SO they wouldn't marry her."
well but what did you say about me?"
Eric inquiries, CURLY, determined now to
hear every word that is to be heard.
well, only said," Sylvester says,
rather reluctantly at this coming to close
quarters, shat Muriel had got you for a
sweetheart. an they'd been tryin' hard
enough for it, and 90 they had; aye, these
ok months and more they were talkin'
about you comm on visit, an plannin'
everythin' the way you'd take fancy to
her an marry her. I didn't know for a
long time what they were up to until
You came Miles used to be sayin', Things
win be different when he comes. And he
had the silver brought down from Dub
lin and lots of things-they'd been pawn
I'd, you know" Sylvester says, glibly.
And Miles said, We must have them
out, and make things look respectable,
and ordered grand dress from Rath-
more, which he's never paid for. An, oh,
! couldn't tell you half! An he kept tell
In Murrie how well off you were, an how
she must look us nice as she could, for
I've made up my mind he must marry
you,' he says. heard this the night be-
fore you camev' Sylvester grins, tri-
umphantly. AN when he made her come
down three nights after. heard him tell
In her you were longin' to see her. so
you have nothing to do only fascinate
him, Murrie-he'll be easy game, he says.
An then heard you tell him you'd like
to marry her, and could see he was as
glad as could be-"
Some two hours later, when Muriel has
had tea brought into the sitting room,
with some solid refreshment in the shape
of dainty little gihlet pie added for
Major Llewellyn's benefit, she comes in
herself, feeble and worn out, from long
and bitter weeping upstairs--upstairs, in
that cold, silent, formally arranged room,
where the stirless, awful form lies under
the snow. shetland she comes in with
. pitiful human craving for love and life,
and warmth, and human companionship,
to the bright, comfortable, fire-lit room,
with yearning for sight of her lover
husband, who will comfort her, and cher
ish her, and pity her, and let her lay her
aching head on his kind arm, and talk
about dear Miles to her, until this desolate
anguish at her heart shall have been
soothed away for the time. She comes
in seeking the sight of him, but finds him
ont, and Hannah enters hastily while
she stands waiting.
"A bit ov note. Miss Murrie, the
major stint to you: he's gone over to Mis-
Their O'Donoghue's for few hours, he
told Kirwan."
And VIXEN she reads the few written
words. Muriel grows sick and faint from
the hurt they inflict on her wounded
heart.
Dear Muriell have gone over to Mr..
ODonoghne's for an hour or two, as he
asked me TO DO this morning. l believe
you and | have discussed all necessary
business matters for the present, SO you
will not need me, l trust, for this even
ing. Faithfully yours,
"E. LLEWELLYN."
She stares at the cold. curt, business
like note with unbelieving eyes. and reads
1t over and over again-the first letter he
has ever written her--her bridegroom of
a few hours; written her. leaving her
alone with her desolafion this wet. stormy.
November evening; all alone with her
dead brother lying. in that silent chamber
upstairs!
CHAPTER XyIII.
It Is one week later and Muriel is in
London. "Muriel Llewellyn," as she signs
herself for the first time, as she writes a
long letter to her old friend. Mrs. Nc
Grath, the organist; telling her of her
health, and how her spirits are keeping
up" as the affectionate and untidy genius
of Derrylossary has entreated her to do.
Alas for Muriel, and alas for Eric--the
pair who joined hands in holy wedlock
one short week ago are worse than
strangers now. with an iron barrier of
coolest Formally, and half-concealed bit
terness Of resentment, Representatives,.
and Jealous tortures betwixt the twain.
A barrier which each hour Of distance.
and coldness, and wordless reproach
makes to rise higher and stronger. built
and fenced about, and guarded as it is BY
burning pride and passionate love wound
ed nigh to death.
For, since the hour when she left him
her welded lover--after the happy love
and sorrowful tenderness of the interview
IN the old sitting room in Curraghdene--
since then she has lost him. True. she is
married to him. according to the rites of
the church, and the law of the land---so
much the worse for her, as she thinks in
her misery: she wears the badge of wife,
hood on her hand, and 10 called by his
name, and belongs to him as her lord and
master, and legal rossessor, and yet she
shfinks from the very sight of him in an
ger and wretchedness; she avoids being in
his society moment longer than she can
hs3p: she never addresses him volunta-