Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-04-22
CHAPTER v-Continued.)

! 4 ~ " ~"
CHAPTER v-fContinued.)
'There is no use in wishing impossible
hes!" Eric says. sharply and hurriedly.
and rising from his chair, as If to end the
conversation.
mo, there ia no use," Miles assents. as
be rises also, and forces himself to smile.
while his heart is aching with an anguish
ed sense Of his own folly and helpless
ness. "Only when l am gone and she is
left all alone, Eric, don't break Muriel's
heart, or-I shall not rest in my gravel
My own heart shall break first before
Muriers heart shall be broken!" Level
iyn says, as his right hand grasps Miles,
and his cold, even tones have changed to
those of ardor, and his eyes are full of
light. and his pulses are throbbing fast
and hotly. "AIiles, suppose need hard
" say that / hope you will allow me to
he the first to breach this subject to your
sister--that you will not, even in jest.
give her any linking of my wishes or in
tentions. She is, of course, perfectly inno-
cent of any such idens respecting me.
never having seen me or scarcely thought
OF my existence, dare say. before this
evening, and that very innocence. that
very impossibility Of her having woven
any womanish plots or plans or little
schemes concerning me, or troubled her
girlish fancy about me in the least, con-
stitutes for me strong attraction. pecu-
liar charm. Let me stand or fall on my
own merits from the first, Miles, or I shall
be displeased with you"
Indeed" Miles says, bitterly, pale with
r
tered more after the manner Of an en-
treaty than a menace. THAT 10, in other
words. fair warning that If vex you,
you will drop AL serious intentions Of
marrying my sister. Al II we had
schemed and plotted to get you for her
husband-as If you were a catch we
could never make too much of until we
were sure of you-as If Muriel were not
worth your being anxious to win or be
patient to wait for! BY the heaven above
me this night, Eric Llewellyn," he says,
hoarse and shaking in fury of wounded
feeling. IF It were any one except you
any other man but You standing there. I
would knock you down on the spotr
Miles, old fellow" says Llewellyn. half
laughing. zone would think. to hear you,
that you and were strangers! One
would think, to hear you." he adds. more
sternly and gravely, that doubt Of
your honor or perfect good faith could
enter my mind!'
"You are right, Eric, you are right, /"
Miles assents. remorsefully. II am a
hot-heated fool! always was"
"Well, goodnight now, old fellow"
Eric interposes. "And we quite under
stand each other" he goes on. question
ingly and earnestly, ''about keeping this
matter strictly confidential between us
two-eh, Miles?''
Certainly, Eric. I am going past your
door" answers Miles, and without anoth-
or word the friends quit the room to-
gether.
"Julius Caesar! this is grand, all OUT"
chuckles Sylvester, who for ten minutes
has been crouchnig by the half-open door
Of the adjoining room. my! Didn't my
Lord Cork warn Miles to let nobody
know ?-'strictly confidential he says"
and Sylvester kicks his legs in an ecstasy
Of malignant pleasure. II heard him!
Oh. l heard all the nice clever schemes.
and plots, and plnns that Misther Major
Llewellyn doesn't know anything about:
He's 80 sure and certain of Miss Murrie's
beautiful Innocence" My eye"' the young
gentleman SAYS. with another caper to re-
lieve the exuberance of his qualification
haven't l caught them all in nice trap
now If they don't behave themselves.
Won't pay ont Miles and Murrie now
whenever like, and let my fine Major
Llewellyn find out the fool they've made
Of him! Ny grandfather Sutton said he'd
give me ten-pound note the day that
ever I'd manage 30 as to turn the tables
on Miles and Muriel, and be mp to them.
clean and clever: and think" Master
Sylvester says. with fresh outburst Of
his delighted feeling-"I am sure now of
gettin' that ten-pound note as il it was
IN my pocket this minute! Oh. yes:
shall turn the tables on them easily
enough at my own timer
CHAPTER VI.
"One would almost fancy you were for
getting your role. Eric" Miles said. with
exceeding sarcasm.
He has overtaken Llewellyn this morn
Ing on the long hill on the sunny sheltered
road that cuts right through the dense fir
plantation. with the higher heathery slopes
Of the mountain rising up darkly purple
against the soft blue skv. fer above.
Walking up the hill beside Muriel O'Hara.
both Of them are engaged in such pleasant
or friendly discourse that they neither
hear nor notice Miles approach until he
wheels around before them with a laugh,
and loud exclamation in his gay. pleas
ant voice.
II say. Eric. you're nice fellow. Here
have been worrying myself into fiddle
strings" Miles says in comical reproach.
wondering how you came to be SO regu
lnrly knocked out this morning as mot to
have leg to 20 upon like Mr.. ToOts,
and here You are, after all. Feel better.
old fellow"
Yes, thanks" Llewellyn answers calm
". II feel better, frightened and fresh
ened up you know, since came out"
That's all right, them" Miles retorts.
while the rest of his features are prefer
naturally grave. II don't think you are