The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-03-20
CHAPTER NJ.

"And now il is all over. and done with
Nuriel SAYS steadily 10 herself. as she
stands on the doorsteps the following
afternoon, and watches the dog cart driy-
ing away to Ra- hmore with Eric Llewel-
Ign and Miles. who is going to see him
off He is gone now. quite gone. away
out of her life and she sits alone by the
window. looking out at the gathering
clouds of night and wontcrin"-as young
souls will wonder at their first draught OF
"tho bitterness that the heart kn0weth -
what she shall 90 with all the rest Of her
days
Il shall not return af The end Of the
week. Miles" Eric says III ietly rs he and
Miles pace up and down the platform OF
tic quiet little station in baltimore wait
ing for the train which is sisualed.
Not return? | don't understand,
stammcrs Miles.
Easy enough" smiles Eric. "Murie!
has refused me. though that injudl-
cious speech of yours yesterday morning
would spoil my luck. SO it has. | was
rejected. decidedly and Internationally,
yesterday evening"
He does not know that Miles heart has
almost stopped beating in his surprise
and birter regret. and displeasurc. ii" IS
Guict in the intensity Of his feelings, ana
with the sensation Of "All is lost but
honor" feels for the present pride
through his misery that AIuriei has prov
ca she is not to be lightly won, even by
Eric Ilcwe}lyn.
Il am very sorry" he says slowly, once
more. - the train rushes laundering be
side them. and Eric steps into an empty
.first-cIass smoking" "Espccially rs YOU
sax it i quite st. ted. and there is no hope
Of her changing her mind was SO pleas
Cd yesterday" he says hoarsely. forcing
smile ON his pale. twitc.ing lips. Il
was a., glad as-ls If had come into Il
splendid fortune. Nothing on earth could
have given me greater pleasure, and now,
10 think il is all at IN end" And with
Tie spasn odic. miserable sInilc. his blue
eyes fl with tears. in spite OF himself,
rs he wrings Fries hand.
flush, Miles, Eric rejoins earnestly
and unfortunately, returning the pressure
OF Miles hand.
Just keep silence, and treat the affair
rs settled and done with. as | have done"
Eric says. succinctIy. she is going to
tell You. she says. Don't he surprised, or
vcyc6. or anything unusual Say you are
Muricl have time to think and make up
her mind. and unmale il. and be lonely.
or sorry. or cross, or anything she likes
for while; and then, when You send for
me without her Enowledge-she would
never send for me if life and death were
in the balance | suppose"-he laughs u
little sarcastically. then ] will come, and
| will be AIuricl's husband within twenty
four hours if you wish. There's my hand
on it, Miles,
And l will DO just as YOU wish, Erie
Niles says. fervently; there is my hand
on it. too, viii not be the obstacle any
more
It wants a quarter to ten when Muricl.
sitting at her bedroom window still. anx-
iously watching for Miles, hears the
wheels crashing on the gravcled drive,
hears the hail door uoisily opened. and
the quick, heavy step across the hall into
the sitting room, and the poor little sis
ter runs down stairs lightly and smiIngly
10 sit with Miles whilst he has his sup
per and then byanG-by, if he seems in
ciincd to talk, perhaps-if courage fail
her not-pcrhaps she will tell hm.
Bat on the lower step she pauses her
heart leaping wildly at what she hears.
F, Miles yoice-h0arse. fierce, unnatural
with pcnt-up ragc-furiously questioning.
and Sylvestcr's voice, shriil with excite
ment defiant and insolent. answering.
And then a scutiling, n chair fallen with
crash, a shrill scream and curse in The
/ boys voice, and horrible "swishng,"
| cutting sound of & stroke of 4 whip.