Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-04-08
CHAPTER Ill.

CHAPTER Ill.
"Why do you name her and your SIS
ter together" Erie Lewellyn asks ing u
suppressed voice; but as he speaks he
starts back little from the open window.
for something rustles through the branch
es Of the red japonica. which climbs lux.
uriantly around and above the window.
and drops on the sill at his very hand.
Miles does not appear to have noticed.
SO without further remark, Llewellyn
picks up the fallen object, which is in
deed but two sprays of lemon verbena
| tied together. as If they fell from breast
| knot.
why do ~ Miles asks sharply, an
swering his question, because l believe
what | said just now that l knew of two
women worthy to be trusted honored
and loved with the best love of mans
| heart"
| "And for myself" Eric Llewellyn in
terrupts deliberately in his hardest. cold
est voice, as he shakes the ashes out of
his pipe, that Edith Cameron was cold
hearted mercenary and ambitious. and
| that she cruelty and basely Tilted me
when l laid myself and my life at her
| feet for the sake of another mans wealth
and rank. l want to know no more of
any woman's worth, or honor, or honesty,
than conduct like that"
'Yes, you do Miles says holly and ex-
citedly. you want to believe the best of
her, and not the worst. If you ever loved
her, and know you did. old fellow, love
her well''-his voice sinks with emotion:
Miles O'Hara is Celtic in the innermost
fiber of his emotional. fiery, generous, hot
hearted, wrong headed being, you want
to believe well of her, and think kindly of
her, even Tiff you and she are nothing
more to each other now"
''She is nothing more to me, most as
suredly," Erie Llewellyn interposes. with
such naughty positiveness in his assertion.
that one might be excused for doubling
the genuineness of it altogether.
"Well. even So" Miles says earnestly,
"you want to think the best and the kind
est of her, and forgive her, and you would
you would long ago. know you so well.
Eric--only that you were taught to imag-
inc the worst and put the basest and cruel
est construction OH everything she said
and did, and l know who taught you"
''Who?" says Eric, impatiently. as if he
knows the answer already. What a
queer fellow you are, Miles, for sudden
likes and dislikes. And what an entnu-
siast in the cause of Miss Cameron you
are" he sneers. "and what a pity she
does not know what squire of danes
and an able defender against the breath
Of SANDER she has in YOU
''She needn't know anything of the
kind" Miles says. brusquely: land as
for ably defending her against SANDER.
could never do that as long as your cousin
Henrietta Stapleton has tongue in her
headr'
Major L.lewellyn laughs little with
vexation.
Il can't think" he says. impatientIy
"what makes you so furiously prejudce,l
against poor Hettie. l always though,
her such a clever. agreeable. bright TEN
percd little woman-quite the good fairy
Of my mothers house ever since she came
to live with us, ten years ago.
'.She's dear creature! bless her clever
little bad heart. and her crafty brain and
her artful tongue!' Miles retorts. with
sarcastic bitterness. "You ought to b.
sorry she ever came to live in your moth
er's house. and you'll be sorry yet before
you die--mark my words. Eric"'
well. well. never mind Hettie," Major
Ilewellyn says. briefly. But you can,
tell me that she had influence enough
over Edith Cameron--the girl loved SC
: dearly, and thought had won for m,
. wife-to make her play fast and loose witt
, me, as she has done. and marry another
man for money and a title"
married! Is she actually married p
, Miles O'Hara asks. with a sort of breath
! less interest II never knew
"Nor do know that wedding ring i.
actually on her finger" Llewellyn rejoins
, impatiently. ''but it is all the same as Il
it were to me. She is engaged to Lore
Oppingham. the time for her weddin;
fixed. and she has gone on her ante-nup
tial visit to his relatives. She is no NOR,
to mel would not marry her if Their,
were no other woman on EARTH
: M ho cortinuodl