The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-09-03
We drove straight from the church

aeACAShI LAoAl AS C1lIC41
to the railway station. When alone in
the carriage, almost the first words my
wife said. were: Julian, Eustace was
in church; did you see him?"
Yes. l saw him."
why did he not come and wish me
goodbye? 1t was not like him. |
must have offended him. l will write
and ask him how"
l hated the idea. of Eustace being,
in such a moment as this. uppermost
in my wife's thoughts. Never mind,
dearest" l said; what is Eustaee
Grant to u.s."
Oh, much; very much, to me, Julian!
He was my mothers friend; he has
beer my only friend ever since l can
remember"
I do not like him. I said.
But you will like him. You must
like him. He is so good, so clever.
Promise me, Julian, YOU will like him.
for my sake"
Although would not credit him with
the two first qualifications-goodness
and nobility was willing to believe
Il Eustace Grant was clever-perhaps
too clever. The disadvantage at which
ne had held me upon that night. when I
was, Tor the time, an impostor, in his
eyes ranked in my mind. But TODAY
| could afford to be generous. I drew
Viola close to me.
Dearest" I said, 81 will try and get
rid of my prejudice. will try and for
get that this man loved you, and would
nave made you his wife. l will try to
cease from wondering why, when he is
so good, noble and clever, you should
have chosen me-"
Viola laid her soft cheek against
mine. Julian, my husband" she
whispered, ARE you not all that Eus-
tace Grant is-and more? I love YOU"
With her words all my doubt, all my
tear OF Eustace Grant, fed-never, /
hoped, to return. With Viola's arms
around me, her kisses on nv Inns
could afford to pity my unsuccessful
wal. When We were installed in ths
compartment of the train which was
oy a Venal arrangement of the guards,
reserved to ourselves, l fell to consid-
erlng how | should best make known
to Viola that the name by which she
mad hitherto known me was assumed.
L was beginning, or fancied I was be-
ginning, to know something of nv
wires true nature; and 1 told myself
that the task before me was not 81
easy as L had once imagined it would
De. My confession was hurried on NV
a question she herself asked me:
Julian, what name was it you signed
III the book at church,"
hoped that in the agitation nat
ural to a bride who signs her maiden
name for the last time, she had not
noticed my autograph. But she must
nave done so, although she had said
nothing about it until now.
So [ made the plunge and told her
all; told her my true name; told her
OF the beautiful house in the west
winch would be ours; told her of the
lie, tree from care and anxiety as to
the future, which stretched before us.
Then l b%esought her forgiveness for
keeping her in ignorance of these
o" L Aou, NC ~ Sdlu, given nSr to
understand that I was a man with an
income just enough to live upon in
comfort.
Grant was right. He knew Viola
when he told me that, by revealing nv
deception, he might destroy the fabric
OF my happiness. She said little. but
her look told me sly was hurt and
wounded. I verify believe her first
thoughts were that she would rather I
had been what I represented myself to
be than to have the power of sharing
such a home and so much wealth with
her. How little men understand WON
en!-perhaps no two women are alike.
But Viola forgaye me. A woman al
ways forgives the man she loves, but
| knew that she was sad at the thought
that l could have dreamed that riches
might have influenced her. Neverthe-
less it was days before I could get her
TO join me unrestrainedly in the
schemes which l wove for our future
life.