Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-06-10

ed. as far from her as il the Dark River
rolled between them twain also.
He who had been lover and husband in
that brief, brief glimpse of happiness Is
neither lover nor friend now, and the tie
that binds him and her has shrunk and
narrowed into the one loose, cold fetter,
but the fetter is of steel, and naught but
death can break it. Deep down in her
girlsh heart there is a passionate love for
him vet existing, in spite of his GOODNESS
and cruel desertion; but her fear of him,
and a shrinking dread of the ideal she
centuries up for him, are almost equal to
her love.
She does not know-poor, hapless girl.
how should she?-that there is deus ex
machina ever interposing in the shape Of
Hester Stapleton's cruel hands filching
remorselessly the message of love that
would have gladdened her "as cold water
to thirsty soul" Hettie is so quick and
clever and writes such charmingV graphic
letters, and ''dear Eric" being quite like
a brother" she has quite taken upon her
the part of family correspondent, and SO
she fills the broad sheets of foreign post
with her clear, incisive, blackly written
caligraphy; reading aloud all the merry.
witty, well-turped sentences to her aunt;
provoking smiles and tears from the
mothers heart; and emitting few of
those sentences and interpretations which
are for Eric's benefit and not for his
mothers eyes and ears. She woulq NOT
have permitted that cleverly sketched tale
Of her daughter-i n-law's escapade-which
Muriel felt obliged to confess to her moth
er-in-law-in which poor Muriers name
and Captain Leverson's name were un-
pleasantly entwined-to be sent to Eric,
and to be read by him with darkening
brow and ranking pain, WHICH settles
into hardness and numbness as the wound
heals. But he receives no enlightenment,
for he seeks none; and Muriel's cold. brief
letters grow rarer as the year passes on;
and Edith never writes to him.
The year passes on, and the month Of
August comes-a dull, arid, sultry August,
which does not ripen the grain quickly
enough, and parches the aftergrass, and
destroys some of the market garden crops
altogether, and when life itself seems a
WEAKNESS and the wheels of existence
drag. Danefeld Priory is not a jocund
abode at any time-as, indeed, is not to be
expected in a feminine household of the
upper middle class under the staid rule
of a prim, elderly matron-but in these
silent, sultry, depressing summer days it
is almost dreary and forlorn.
Mrs. Llewellyn sits pale and silent and
shivering by her bedroom fire, striving
hard to meet the blow that has fallen on
her as q Christian and gentlewoman.
hn nv fo1 GU
representing all her savings, in foreign
securities, which are now worth little
more than the paper that represents them
The price is down to something not worth
mentioning. She will lose all but pitiful
fraction if she sells out: she may lose even
this if she holds the bonds still, as she
has done, hoping against hope, these six
months.
No wonder the poor woman shivers and
weeps q little, and reads her Bible dole
fully. and gets small comfort from it, a.
doleful and weak-faith Christians always
do. She rather shrinks from her clever
niece in this time of trouble, and poor
Muriel she peevishly looks upon as only
an increase Of responsibility. So she be-
walls herself to Edith alone, finding a
balm in even the sunny temper and bright
insouciance that she yet dolefully chides.
"She can't do anything at present."
Edith says, gravely to Hester. "She is
good deal crushed, and we must make
every allowance for her"
Does that mean that we are to give IN
our allowance?' Hester asks, sharply.
with an angry Brow. A'For won't. most
assuredly! Sooner than stand any more
OF aunt's stinsiness, and pinching, and
saving, I'll 80 out as a governess, or an
actress, or telegraph clerk, and earn
my bread"
Il have got a notable plan in nv head.
Hettie, with which hope you will help
me-" Edith says. Nothing will do aunt
so much good as change of air and scene
change for a good long time and the deli.
cious idea that she is saving little money
by the change at the same time. So a
plan flashed across my mind like a posi-
tive inspiration, by which we could all
have change of air and scene, lake and
mountain scenery, too, at q mere nominal
rent-shut up Danefield for six months.
dismiss all the servants but Clarkson and
his wife, and let him have the sale of the
fruit and vegetables and ten shillings n
week, as we did when we went to Cannes
You know, and let us SO over to Ireland, to
Curraghdene, Murieps old home, which
she Is longing most passionately to see, as
those funny Irish people always do long to
see the country again and again that they
don't care to live in at any price. There!
what do you think of my plan?"
THE very idea is wretchedness ITSELF"
Hester says, with much indignant dis
gust, land l should like to know the ar.
riere pensee that tempts you to exile your.
self from all society in a horrible place
like thatw