Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-09-02

her, l suppose? and can tell me how
she was"
The major did not reply.
And the captain suddenly turned on
him, saying:
See here. Major Burns? here is
something wrong. Is my little Daney
III. that you do not replyy"
Upon my word and honor, / do not
know. | heard she was Ill; and
| have no reason to suppose that she
Is" said the major. telling n literal
truth. but a spiritual falsehood.
"IIumph, I'm fidgety, / believe"
| commented the captain, settling him
self to compOsure.
"All is well. Monsieur. l hope?' said
the lady. who had overheard n part of
the conversation.
"Oll. yes, Madame, except that l
am an irritable old bachelor, heaven
help me! And now observe. Madame,
how peacefully the little green wood
co isle reposes upon the calm bosom OF
the water. while the forest-fringed
shores OF the mainland seem to encir-
Gle the whole scene with an embrace.
Ten minutes more and we shall reach
that lovely isle. and your daughter
will be in your arms. Think OF the
surprise and joy for herr
Her daughter,
The captain had been betrayed into
speaking out the truth. Major Burns
heard and wondered. but did not ven
ture to ask an explanation of what
appeared TO him to be inexplicable
| woods.
The little boat sped onward, and
soon ran up into the tiny cove, the usu-
al landing-place at the isle.
The captain sprang upon shore light
ly. as though he had been eighteen in
stead of eighty landing out the mar
lulse. leaving the maid to the civil
ties Of the Young Law yer
II hope you will do us the pleasure
Of coming up to the house and spend
ing tie evening". Major Burns" said
the captaid, without, however, the
most distant idea hat the major would
accept the invitation.
Il must, | suppose" answered the
miserable little magistrate in n sepul-
chrll tone, and TO the infinite aston
tshmeIt of the old sailor, who again
muttered TO himself:
something quite wrong about
Burns, very wrong! can't think what's
t-ic ittdttCl WIN uihh. SOAhS tldHy, 4 III
afraid,"
But the moemnt was too interesting
| upon other accounts to allow the hon
est old mans mind TO dwell upon the
supposed caprices of his boon compan
ion; and so. taking the arm OF Mad
anne De Glacie within his own, he re-
| spectfully conducted her toward the
house.
The evening was still beautiful in its
| green and dewy summer freshness;
| the moon was still flooding woods and
waters with her pure and radiant
light; the island was always quiet and
peaceful in the extreme, and especial
ly so mt night: but now 1t was more
than usually so: an air of awful still
ness and solemnity seemed to over
hang the scene; every one felt it's in
fiuence. The captain sought to freak
| the spell by calling out ch%eerfully TO
his companions:
How astonisnad they will be to see
us, How little people ever know what
is about to happen 70 them nextv'
How little, indeedr' grOaned the
major.
There you are, again, you old kill
| Joy, Ill tell you what, major, you are
! suffering under a bad attack of indi-
gestionl You've been eating soft crabs
/ nd watermelons and curds and whey,
and deuce knows what else! and they
have all fermented together. and filled
| your brain with foul vapors. But, new
er mind, you come up to the house,
and the sight of my pretty Daney and
my brave Fulke will dispense them."
! said the old man. heartily.
"Um-mer' moaned the major. Cap
tain, as Don as you reach the house,
consign the lady and her companions
to Miss Hits charge, and then come
| away with me into the library. l wish
to have. a private interview with YOU"
What, before l have embraced my
| little Daney, or shaken the hand of
FulkeT'
"Yesr'
"I1l be dashed, then q was going to
say IL do.'
"Um-me!" groaned the major.
81 say it. and l stand to it, that soft
i crabs are bad things to take! just see
how they Cypress you nowr' grOwled
the captain. who. having arrived at a
satisfactory theory of the majors in
disposition, firmly cherished the illu-
sion.
A few steps further brought them to
the house.