Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-06-17
CHAPTER XXX.

Ct1Ax l. EN- Aa<A.
It is a bitterly cold December after
| noon, with the snow flakes drifting heav-
lily down, and the chill wintry winds
bowling outside, through the mountain
glens and across the dense fir planta-
| tons, and through the leafess woodlands
around the ruined church. But within,
| in Curraghdene House, all is warmth and
brightness, with subdued sense of fes-
tivity and pleasant excitement, in the
well-warmed rooms with blazing fires, and
soft carpets, and ample draperies to ex-
clude every chill breath; the glitter of
evergreens, and the glow Of fowers-mid-
winter though it be--the bloom and per-
fume Of azaleas, violets, roses and came
las are everywhere.
For it is Christmas time, and the eve
of wedding as well, for Miss Edith
Cameron's engagement with Captain Lev
erson in more than three weeks old to-
day, and the day after tomorrow. Christ
mas Eve, is to be her wedding day; and
there exists hustle and excitement of
marriage preparations that ever SO quiet
wedding will occasion; for it is to be a
| very quiet wedding for one of the beau
ties Of London society for the last four
seasons.
II letter, miss. please" Hannah says,
entering. Hester has not been able to
drill any Of the old O'Hara servants into
correct forms of address.
''rhank you," Miss Stapleton says. for
maliy. II wish you would recollect, Han
, nah. that miss is an incorrect. title for
any young lady beyond childhood"
She goes over to the window in the
fading light to read it. A faint fiutter-
ing nervousness PUSHES over her from
some intangible cause as she unfolds the
large. stiff, white letter, and sees that
it fills all the FIRST page, closely written
| in Mr.. Farren's neat legal caligraphy.
She sees "Mnjor Llewellyn" few lines
down, and her eyes CLEAN and her lips
curl scornfully.
"Some news of Eric! He wants his
darling to 60 out to him, and is sending
directions through his solicitor" thinks
Hettie, with fierce pang of jealous envy
as she begins to read the letter. Begins
and reads, and holds her breath, and
stares. and looks back at the heading and
the address; and then, painting and star
ing, reads every word hurriedly to the
| end, not comprehending it--not daring to
comprehend it. And then again a second
| and a third attempt to read and under
stand the brief fatal news of the lawyers
| letter, and Hettie staggers against the
window sill with Mortified sobbing cry.
i "Oh, Eric! Oh. Eric! Oh, heaven, for
give me, dear Eric! Oh, Eric! 1t cannot
cannot he true that you are dead--dead
and drowned in the depths of the sea!'
! The letter is from Mr.. Farren, and be-
J gins with brief but earnest apology for
l ;a nbl t,
| az his medium of communicating the
grieyons news which he has every reason
| to fear is correct in all particulars, namely
that Major Eric Llewellyn. having ex-
changed into an Indian regiment, sailed
from Cape Town on the twenty-fifth of
November in the steamer Cyprus, and one
week later, according to advices received
at Cape Town. the Cyprus took fire off the
coast of Madagascar and was burned to
the waters edge--eleyen of the crew and
nine passengers only having escaped.
"And l deeply deplore having to tell
you that among those who are known to
have gone down in the burning wreck is
Major Llewellyn," concludes Mr.. Farren.
Il have made inquiries at the War Office,
but beyond ascertaining that Major Llew-
ellyn was gazetted to a lieutenant-colo-
nelcy Of an Indian regiment, and had GER
tainly sailed from Cape Town to join his
| regiment, could obtain no further in
formation. Should any such occur will
communicate with you Immediately, and
please to accept the expression of my sin
cerest sympathy with you and the other
ladies of Major Llewellyn's family under
this heavy bereavement"
1T can't be! 1t can't be!' Hettie says.
hoarsely, gazing blindly at the awful
words that seem to leap out Of the page
at her. "Gone down in the burning
wreck! Eric!-poor Eric!--brave, hand
some, gallant Eric!'-whom she has
known and secretly loved since the day
lshe first saw him, slender young lieu
tenant of fve-and-twenty and she school
girl of fifteen! "Eric--to meet with such a
fate. in the prime of his days--in the glery
and strength of his manhood! 1t Is too
horYible!"
j She GEES up to bed early, and complains