Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-01-28

to vex papa" She bit her lip and thel
tears again dimmed her flashing eyes,
"You would not mind-you know you
don't care whether things are right or
wrong-Ive heard you say Soft only
they are pleasant"
Ralph Kingscott gave a short laugh
and turned on his heel. But the mo-
mentary whitening of his lips, the keen,
steel-like glance that he shot at Molly
from out his narrow dark eyes, showed
that her shaft had, In some way or an
other, gone straight home.
Mr.. Moncrieff stayed for some days in
Edinburgh, and Stella had thus no oppor-
tunity of consulting him, as she had wish
ed to do, about the plan of study which
Molly was to pursue. After the first day
or two. she found the girl tolerably easy
to manage.
Thus the fall and winter passed away
and was succeeded by bleak and biting
spring. In March Mr.. Moncrieff went to
London. His absence made little differ.
ence to the household. Stella fancied,
however, that BERTHE was degenerating in
mind and feeling, and she made up her
mind that she ought to speak to Mr.. Mon.
Grief about him as soon as he returned.
And yet she was terribly afraid that he
would think such speech presumptuous.
She did not find an opportunity for some
time, however. Mr.. Moncrieff paid a
flying visit to his home in June, and then
1t was chiefly in order to arrange that
Miss Jacky and Stella should take Molly
to the seaside for little change of air
during the month of July. He persuaded
Miss Jacky to agree to his plan, and COM
missioned her to find suitable lodgings
at st. Andrews at his expense; and then
he vanished as suddenly as he had come,
taking BERTHE away with him, and less..
ing Mr.. Kingscott free to follow his own
devices.
So it CHANGED that on one lovely day in
July, Stella was seated in q shady nook
Of the castle ut st. Andrews, with a book
in her hand, while Miss Jacky and Molly
had gone to the bathing place. Her eyes
had strayed from it to the great expanse
Of blue water, flashing and glittering in
the sunlight, breaking with long MUIR
murous rolls over the rocks below, q
never-ending source of beauty and mys-
terry, Of sorrow and joy. As Stella watch
ed it, she was conscious Of the awe, SOL
emn and yet tender, which the sight Of
duces in us; feeling of the limitations
and narrowness and weakness Of human
life in presence of the Eternal. Her own
sorrows seemed to die away in the con-
sciousness of q greater life enveloping
her own.
And in this mood she was found by
Alan Moncrief.
She did not notice his approach until
he was close to her, and then she started
and half rose. He lifted his hat us
Molly q good girl?" he asked, smile
curving his lip beneath his dark mus
tache.
"Very good, indeed"
How handsome he was! she thought as
he stood there, his face little tanned
after his Swiss tour, with a new light in
his brown eyes, and strength and energy
in every limb. No youth, certainly; but
vigorous man, full of manliness and
purpose. She had never seen q man in
whom she had found more to admire.
John Harrington? All! the name had
almost lost it's power to wound; John
Harrington was commonplace beside
Alan Moncrief.
"How is Bertie?' she said, forcing her
self to speak.
'Better, thank you. And hope-I
trust-that he is losing his fear of me-"
She was surprised to hear him speak 80
plainly. 1T is unreasonable of him to
feel fear of you," she exclaimed.
Mr.. Moncrief smiled as if well pleased.
"You would not feel it, would your" he
said, and then caught himself up and
went on In different tone. HE tells me
that you have lectured him on the sub
ject. Perhaps it is not fair to repeat all
that he has said. But, at any rate, he has
made me sure Of one thing: that need
an interpreter to stand between me and
my children. They have no mother; and
they need the gentle guidance of wom-
ans hand. Therefore, after long consid-
eration-for I do not wish You to sup
pose that am speaking rashly or on the
| impulse of the moment-I have come with
one purpose-one only-in my mind; and
that is, to ask you q question, or rather
make a request. Will you-some day
honor me so far as to become my wife?'
(To be continued)