Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-06-24

raghdene the stricken hearts beat on, and
the weary wheels of life revolve. and days
and nights and nights and days go over
Muriers widowed head and the mothers
bereaved heart.
Miss Hettie manages and controls all
things, settles that they shall continue to
live on in Curraghdene for time ut least,
as Danefield Priory is entailed, and in the
event of Eric's death being proved goes
to his uncle Llewellyn, of Plnsavon.
Edith and Harry go to their pleasant,
stately home in Horley place, where they
have taken up their abode for the pres
ent with Captain Leverson's uncle; and
from the date that poor Muriel has learn
ed was the date of Eric's death.
She is spending the evening with Mrs.
Mctirath, as she often does-the society
of her eccentric old friend is her one
chance of being soothed, and the burden
of her hearts desperate grief being eased
for the time, as she sits in the window,
and looks across Mt the churchyard, and
listens to Mrs. McGrath playing soft.
wailing melodies, and singing mournful
old ballads, and weeping quietly until she
has no more tears to weep.
But on this evening she does nothing
but gaze tearlessly at the white head
stones in the churchyard, and think of
Eric-handsome. stately. gallant Eric
her lover and husband, lying dead, un-
shrouded, uncoffined, beneath the waves!
Eric lying drowned in the depths of the
sea, where she can never find his grave
where the pillows and the weeds of the
ocean toss and roll over the face she has
kissed and the hands that have clasped
her SO fondly. ng-thinking-until
the madness and despair of poor Human
ity at the mystery and horror of death.
which indeed the Redeemer of Humanity
alone could overcome, comes over her
young, womanly soul and fevers it with
anguish.
"Let me go home! Let me 60 homer
she says, starting up suddenly. II feel
tonight as if my heart would break or
my brain burn up! Let me out in the
cold air. dear Mrs. McGrath-let the wind
blow on me and help me to breathe! I
feel as if I were going mad!'
Out in the fresh air in q minute, my
darling" Mrs. McGrath answers, prompt
", not cruelty delaying Muriel to make a
toilet but just throwing a red wooden anti
macassar over her ambrosial locks, and
handily adapting blue and green check
tablecloth around her shoulders by way of
a mantle, she sallies forth with her ac-
customed dignified bearing by Muriel's
side.
But the girl has walked on so feverishly
fast, her despairing eyes gazing straight
before her, her pale lips whispering and
muttering some words of delirious sor-
hot oh hos nh,
tingly walked as far as the shores of the
lake. and Curraghdene is in sight, and
Derrylossary left far behind, ere she
slackens her pace through very bodily
fatigue, and murmurs an apology to her
patient friend. discerning as she does the
unfitness of the lady's apparel for long
walk of cold March evening.
"My dear! It's but trifie! A baga-
telle, as the French sayv' the good lady
says, airily. in every sense of the word.
my dear, l rise superior to the trammels
of custom! don't regard-my dear
l." and her hating speech comes to
dead stop, as she sees, and Muriel sees,
to0-a man running at headlong speed
across the fields that lie between them
and Curraghdene, man who filings his
arms up, and winds his hat round his
head. as he comes rushing on, beckoning
wildly to them, and shouting as he runs.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Not exactly under her own vine or her
own fig tree does Miss Hester Stapleton
sit at rest, as heroes and heroines are
supposed to do utter a well-fought bat
tie, or a hardwon victory. But in that
metamorphosed, sage-green, aesthetic.
Grosvenor-gallery- interior" draw
ing room Of gray, old Curraghdene, does
the astute young woman, who has labored
10 hard for all that her soul Graves of
wealth and authority. rest luxuriously,
and tolerably well-satisfied on the whole
with what the tide of Fate has brought to
her waiting feet. and those pretty little
hands of hers outstretched with such
eager avarice for all that may chance
within their reach. Yes; tolerably we'll
satisfied on the whole.
She has done well for herself, take it all
in all. She thinks SO this evening with
some exultation even in her own hearts
communings as she sits alone in the fire.
light, and knows that she has just &C.
cepted John Sutton of Baltimore. aged
sixty-three. for her lover and husband.
There could have been nothing better
OOue IOE AlI puIlieS, sue says, tuAIUS II
high moral tone even with herself Hee
tie almost begins to look upon herself as
benefactress to her family, since she
advanced her own interests SO cleverly.
1T will keep the property on both sides
together" she says to herself-''keep poor
aunt's money safe, as of course she will
live with me; and. as she has five hun
bred year of her own, and three hun
dred of that money poor, foolish Eric set
tied on Muriel. she can afford to make me
a handsome allowance for her board, and
l will take care she does 4. too!''
She is busily enlarging the dining room
of Curraghdenc, and building delicious
little conservatory adjoining it. having the
oak paneling of the hall all repolished. and
the staircase carpeted in Venetian red and
brown, with friexe above to correspond
when the Alnaschar-like vision falls and
crumples at the sound of the arrival of
some visitor. late as IL the hour.
Some one who has driven to Curragh-
dene in close carriage and pair Of horses.
reeking and smoking in the frosty air
some one who is ringing and knocking
loudly at the dOOr-aOma ono vhO snpa ks