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

- - -z aE<r=s 80
brows contracted, as II in pain, as she
PAGES along beside him, with her dainty,
light footballs noiseless on the odorous
carpet of red-brown withered spines.
"Miles was rather hard on me just
now for refusing to 60 out with him, and
having come out with you instead" he
says, smiling with rather friendly. con-
tidential smile.
YES" Muriel answers, with a slight,
shy smile and deeper tinge of color. but
Miles was not yexed. 1t was only his fun.
Miles is very sweet-tempered."
Miles thought, and thought correctly,
that l preferred walking with you,' he
says deliberately, and looks full at her.
But Muriel neither coquettishly admits
nor denies his assertions. She Pushes
deeply, and then grows very pale: and,
as he cannot but notice, she moves little
farther away, so as to put distance of at
! least two feet between them.
Sometimes, l dare say, you do prefer
quiet stroll like this to long, brisk
tramp over the mountains and through
the glens:" she says, quietly.
| II certainly prefer it just now" Eric
answers, decisively, feeling rather non
plussed, however.
They walk ON in the rather awkward
silence that has fallen upon them since
Miles disturbed their friendly converse,
and 1t is a species of relief to both when
! Sylvester, with brace of barriers ut his
heels and a poor, dead hare dangling by
it's hind legs from his hand, leaps out of
the plantation by the stile in the hedge.
Hello! Only got as far az this yet,
and you started an hour ago." with agree
able brusqueness, grinning at them both,
with disagreeably knowing look. well,
you are such slow coaches!''
perhaps we like to be slow coaches?"
Major Llewellyn says, coolly.
Il dare say you dol! grins Sylvester;
that's a very sensible remark O. yours,
sir. spose there'd be no use in me offer
ing my company? Eth, MurrieY'
The girls eyes flash on him with light
ming glance Of anger and reproach: Eric
Llewellyn is rather startled by the pas
sion of emotion-wrath, menace and en-
| treaty-which is visible in the youthful,
girlish face: but Sylvester laughs noisily.
/ "Don't be frightened, my DEAR" he
says rudely, ''Muriel looks as If she
could eat me with grain o salt! I'm
not comm to spoil the nice walk through
tie plantation. and I wouldn't give a
crooked farthin' for yere company, eth
err" and away he tramps down the hill.
THAT young gentleman is somewhat
of the genus cub" Eric remarks, as
they walk on in silence. miles ought
to keep him at Il strict school for year
keep him in admirable order What is he
preparing forT'
Nothing" Muriel answers bitterly.
ITO grow up just what he is now, and
inherit his grandfather Sutton's money
and land, and be a semi-educated, semi
civilized squireen to the end of his days."
THAT is bad outlook for him, poor
lad!' Eric replies, with genuine regret
and kindness in his tone: and Muriel,
recognizing it with glow of secret glad
ness and trustfulness, feels for the mo-
ment as if it were quite possible that
Eric Llewellyn and she should be friends
real, true friends, in spite of his
hauteur and GOODNESS and cynicism-in
spite of her mingled dread of him and
shy fear of him. and innocent girlish ad-
miration of his handsome face, his tall.
well-knit figure, his well-bred mein, his
intellectual cOnverse-in spite of-Oh,
worst of all!--the terror that hangs over
her like the sword of Damocles that poor
Miles secret wishes and desires and plans
respecting her should ever become visible
and revealed to Eric Llewellyn's keen
understanding.
''Now the plantation goes no further
along this road, Major Llewellyn. and this
is the lane up the hillside, the way l
spoke Of" she says. Are You sure you
care to come? 1t is long walk"
'If you care to come l shall care to
come with you. of course" he answers
with grave gallantry, and wonders why
Nuriel shrinks again from him, and why
the deep rose red flush mounts to her
brow. what a shy, distant little mortal
she is" he says mentally, and feels again
as he did little while since, that curious
ly pleasant glow Of the feeling he terms
satisfaction" "As timid a. fawn, and
as innocent. A fair, sweet girl she il.
indeed
They have climbed the heights of the
Rock Hill, and on the summit they pause.
Muriel with familiar pleasure, and Eric
Llewellyn with surprised admiration, to
survey the fair view over plain and river.
and woodland, stretching far below them
away to the range of purple mountains to
the south
SIS it not all very beautiful" the girl
asks, with sigh of intense enjoyment.
ut is all very beautiful" Eric says,
his eyes suddenly returning from the fair
landscape and fixing themselves on the
fair face. with its rapt expression of
peace and pleasure, whose deep gray color
has deepened into purple from emotion.
Il did not imagine. when I used to hear
Miles talk about his home: that should
find so much that was charming in Cur
raghdene. Let us sit down and rest. you
look rather tired, Muriel."
He begins very softly and patiently