The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-11-25


room. and shut the door.
But as soon as he found himself alone
with his ward, his courage deserted
him. All the way home he had been
planning in what words TO broach 10
her the subject nearest his heart; but
now that the opportunity had arrived,
he felt as shy as lad of nineteen,
The benefits it was in his power to
bestow upon this 'fatherless and moth
erless girl dwindled into nothing,
whilst her beauty and innocence eX-
pended and increased assuming pro-
portions of value far above his deserts
or his hopes. Margaret, on the con-
trary, seemed to feel no shyness. She
was blushing and smiling, it is true,
but apparently from the mere pleasure
of meeting him again-the realization,
as he trusted, OF Mrs. CARROTS proph-
ecy.
well, my dear" he stammered, land
are you glad to see me home again.
"Oh! very glad, Mr.. Ruthyen," she
answered, eagerly: Hamilton has said
every morning for the last week that
he wondered If you would be back be-
fore night. l am sure he will be so
pleased when he returns to find you
have arrived. Did you not find it very
warm in Paris? 1t has been so hot
here that Hamilton and have not been
able to walk out at all in the after
moons, and yesterday evening, just as
we were about to start for a concert
with Mrs. Garrett, tremendous storm
broke over the town and we were
Obliged to stay at home" She was
talking very excitedly now, and Ruth
ven mistook the reason of her mood
and heightened color.
Il am afraid you must have found
it very dull, Margaret, with only Ham.
ilton and Mrs. Garrett for company.
| felt myself compelled to leave home
for awhile, but did not intend to stay
away SO long. Had | been here last
night, you should have gone TO your
concert, notwithstanding the thunder
storm"
oh, We weren't dull, thank you, we
amused ourselves with music. / have
been teaching Hamilton to sing. He
has such-sU2h a-3uch a nice voice"
replied the girl, in hesitating man
ner.
Il am sure it is very good Of you to
take any trouble about him, Margaret.
| owe you thanks for it, my dear.
owe you something more than thanks
for service you have rendered me, far
beyond the pastime of an hour. Can
you guess what it is?"
Ruthven had possessed himself OF
hand during the last few
words, and she neither drew it back
nor did it tremble in his grasp. Il
have done you a service. Oh, Mr..
Ruthven, how can that be-"
Listen to me, my dear, and | will
tell you. | am not an old man, Mar
garet, as far as my age goes, but have
been an old man in heart for many,
many years past. / have lived in
crowd, and yet l have lived alone, be-
cause the members of the crowd were
for the most part, so uncongenial tC
me. | have seen plenty of beautiful
young girls, but with the bloom of their
Innocence brushed off and all the
modesty of womanhood died out of
them, and they have failed to interest
me. And the disappointments and the
rebuffs | have received hardened my
heart and made me feel as if | should
never love a fellow-creature as see
other men do"
Mr.. Ruthven. what has this to dc
with me?''
You will soon understand. When
| resolved to go to Paris last month,
it was because felt / could not live
on much longer as had done, and
Hello, uncle! are you back again."
exclaimed joyous voice at the door,
and Hamilton Shore, who had run
home for few minutes, for some rea-
son best known to himself, entered the
room. and turned the duet into trio.
Ruthven was very much annoyed. 1t
can not be pleasant to a man to be
interrupted in the middle of proposal
by his own nephew. He answered
Hamilton's greeting quite roughly.
Il suppose you can see I'm back
again. l don't understand wasting the
little time We have to spare in this
world by putting useless questions
It's only figure of speech" said the
lad, gayly. 1T took me so much by
surprise to see you standing there"
And what are you doing at homo
at this hour of the day?'
Il ran back for book had left be-
hind. Luckily, as 1t turns out, isn't it?
for I've been wanting to see you all
the week awfully. ! see Margaret is