Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-05-06
CHAPTER XII.


ing away to Baltimore with Eric Level
lyn and Miles, who is going to see him
%. He il 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 wondering AS young
souls will wonder at their first draught of
s'the bitterness that the heart knoweth"-
what she shall do with all the rest of her
days.
u shall not return at the end of the
week, Miles," Eric says quietly as he and
Miles pace up and down the platform Of
the quiet little station in Baltimore wait
ing for the train which is signaled.
''Not return? I don't understand"
stAmmers Miles.
Easy enough" smiles Eric. "Muriel
has refused me. I thought that injudi-
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 bitter regret, and displeasure. He Is
0uiet in the intensity Of his feelings, and
with the sensation of "All 10 lost but
honor" feels for the present pride
through his misery that Muriel has prov
cd she IL not to be lightly won, even by
Erie Llewellyn.
II am very sorry" he says slowly. once
more, ~ the train rushes laundering be-
olde them. and Eric steps into an empty
ss6rst-class smoking" Especially as you
eay It n quite settled, and there 10 no hope
Of her changing her mind. was SO pleas
cd yesterday" he says hoarsely, forcing
= smile on his pale, twitching lips. II
was as glad as-as If | had come into a
splendid fortune. Nothing on earth could
have given me greater pleasure, and now,
10 think II il all at an endr' And with
the spasmodic, miserable smile, his blue
eyes fil with tears. in spite of himself,
- he wrings Eric's hand.
flush, Miles, Eric rejoins earnestly
and affectionately, returning the pressure
OF Miles hand.
s..Just keep silence, and treat the affair
% settled and done with. as have DONE"
Eric says succinctly. ''She il going to
tell you, she says. Don't be surprised. or
vexed. or anything unusual. Say you are
sorry and let the matter drop, and let
Nuxiel have time to think and make up
her mind and unmake it, and be lonely,
or sorry, or cross, or anything she likes
Tor while: and then, when you send for
me- without her knowledge-she would
never send for me if life and death were
IA the balance, suppose"-he laughs a
little sarcastically, then will come, and
i will be Muriers husband within twenty.
four hours If you wish. There's my hand
on It, Miles,
And will do just as you wish, Eric"
Miles says, fervently; there is my hand
on II, too! l will not be the obstacle any
more."
II wants quarter to ten when Muriel,
sitting at her bedroom window still, anx-
iously watching for Miles, hears the
wheels crashing on the graveled drive,
hears the hall door noisily opened. and
the quick. heavy step across the hall into
the sitting room. and the poor little sis
ter runs down stairs lightly and smilingly
10 BIT with Miles whilst he has his sup
per and then by-and-by. if he seems in
ciined to talk. perhapsif courage fail
her notperhaps she will tell him.
& But on the lower step she pauses. her
heart leaping wildly at what she hears.
Miles voice hoarse, fierce, unnatural,
with pent-np rage-furiously questioning,
and Sylvester's voice, shrill with excite
sment, defiant and insolent, answering!
And then a scufiiing, chair fallen with
. crash, shrill scream and curse in the
boys voice, and horrible ''swishing,"
cutting sound of a stroke Of a whip.
CHAPTER XII.
Muriel has rushed into the room and
sprung between them-she scarcely knows
h0w-~in her horror at the scene that is
before her of Miles, white as death. his
very likeness changed with raging pas
sion, his blue eyes glittering with lurid
light, and Sylvester. with livid face.
struggling to escape from the grip of
Miles hand on his shoulder, whilst the
stout new riding whip in Miles hand
swishes through the air and falls again
and again ere Muriel can clutch at the de-
acending hand. and Sylvester writhes and
kicks, and curses horribly.
Whatever he has done! shouts Miles
hoarsely, holding Muriel off and pointing
Ut his step-brother. with the whip still
IN his hand. HE has slandered and Wilt
6ed you! He has ridiculed you, and made
Hight Of your name amongst his low-bred
Get. the Suttons, of Baltimore! And I
heard It this evening-my sisters name
and affairs made the town talk through
that malicious scoundrel's tongue! Let me
60, Murie1! I'll thrash him within an inch
st his life!''
And he filings on her OBTAINING hold
with fierce, sudden movement and leaps
IT Sylvester again, clutches him in spite
Of the boys frantic struggles and shouts,
and another merciless stroke comes down,
not on Sylvester's arm, but on MuriePs,
% she tries to shield him.
And then q sudden hush falls on the
room, for Miles is lying in an easy chair.
10 curious helpless-looking position: his
handkerchief Is pressed to his face with
both hands, and on the handkerchief is a
great stain Of wet blood. Muriel, seized
with . strange sinking Of deadly fear.
runs to her brother.
Miles! Why, Miles, darling brother.
ehe cries, and then tries to pull away tho
handkerchief with shrek.
n 1t Ii nix O'Clock the next morning ere
Auriel ventures to leave her brothers
bedside, where sha has watched through
~ night. Thu doctor has just gone, a.
euftne her there u no immediate dan