Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-04-08
CHAPTER /.

49,
ffs CHAPTER I.
Really he says, contemplatiyely. rs
u . takes fleeting survey of the land
I rnpe. t.the place is not so bad after all.
n Ieally." he says again, in slightly amaz-
|II6 tone, ''the view is very fine. That
n lirrle mountain rising up beyond the
I 1uugh yonder, with those fir plantations
"a the lower slopes. all mirrored in the
D 4ecp. calm water below. is--really beauti-
HI And the house and grounds. the
dtace itself. il fine old place. only for
IN three Irish DIS impressed so plainly
SUuOr it--dirt, disorder and decay!
And Major Lewellyn shrugs his shout
sders with gesture of mingled hopeless
ness and contempt. as he turns away from
4 IN wide, lofty window. whose woodwork
n n wofully ID want of fresh paint: cracked
q md crumbling, in fact, in dry Old age.
here il nothing in the room which does
not speak Of fallen fortunes and present
u poverty but one-the huge, brilliant, flash.
q Ing, holly glowing fire, heaped recklessly
y NIGH with coal and small oak logs to-
d 1ether.
8 81 Irish extravaganza Major Lewellyn
II mutters, with cynical smile. "such
1re for fine morning in September!
S 50 much for taking your friend at his
word. Poor old Miles, and he looks at
81 the clock, which is nearly on the stroke
Il % nine. Leaves a note for me at the
n hotel last night when l arrived from
n Berkshire, to be sure and drive over the
M lfrst thing in the morning to breakfast.
n And like fool did drive over the first
n thing in the morning without my break
fast, = concludes Major Lewellyn, pathet-
4 ically, land am suffering the pangs of
& nlOw starvation in consequence OF my
folly"
He pauses abruptly as he speaks. for
u ne hears the approaching jingle of knives,
& forks and china, and, better still, through
n some opened door the delicious odors of
/ fragrant coffee and broiling ham and
freshly made toast become apparent to the
N Sentleman's hungry senses. He listens
with sort of friendly curiosity to the
h tones Of Irish voices.
s'Oh, niver fear, miss. I'll do every
I thing nate an proper, shure," one voice
B says, very impressively. IAN the mas
ter'll be there himself, SOS | can't make
no mistake!''
And then the second voice, in clear, low
b fones-refined tones. Major Lewellyn
would fancy, if he heard them in $50
ciety's drawing room--says very earnest
& Ii, in fresh. pleasant tone. with enough
4 tinge of Irish accent to make the tones
sweetly persuasive:
And Hannah please be sure you give
my message correctly about not break
fasting with them. when Miles asks fol
me, won't sou, now?''
ssfNs.h oI.,wfA ,,;x,r, frnr nnv al
4 Ill say It all sthrate an complate!" the
first voice answers. reassnringly, in a de-
cided stage whisper.
1ou are to say pursues the girlisl
voice, very low and earnestly still. '.ns
soon as Miles asks for me, Miss Murrie
desires me to say, with her love, that she
hopes You will excuse her this morning
! sir. And the other voice repeats Xix,
an echo. only not quite faithfully. Excuse
Il her this Mornin'. if yeh phase. sir" - As
she has breakfasted in her own room and
gone ont for an early music lesson.
concludes Miss Murrie
Whoever may she be-" Major Level
lyn thinks. II never heard Miles say tina
he had sister or a cousin. or any one lik.
n that, living with him. hope to mere.
he surely never has beef, mad enough t.
q etaiiccs Of body, sonl and estate. never
has been insane enough to marry som.
pinkf faced country girl. some pretty l:tt,,
] nUbody. thought she said Miss slur
RE. Who on earth is Miss Murrie. ant
what is she to Miles O'Eiam:''
4 The next moment is changed into til.
sli,shiEe Of genuine friendly pleasure Il.
Miles G..Iara himself enters the ruoh
-, II
bic .Eannuh,'' as Major Llewellyn sus
I tNcts comedy. elderly woman enter
by the second door beyond the fireplace
carrying In huge tray heapcd with TIL
china and silver of handsome break
fast service.
' ..Eric, old boy. how are you? neve
was 80 glad in all my life as am to Sc
YOU here Eric Llewellyn's host exclanis
graspiGg his right hand with both his own
How are you. my dear old fellow"
"Qnite WELL THANH you; but, Miles, IN
boy. you don't look over and above well
your old enemy. the liver. suppose:''
Elm, booked. Erie I'll never see anotl
er year out. the ,,oc;ors say. I've bee
AZ bad AZ man could be all night. ain
it has made me a bit late this morning, a
you see. You're quite ready for you
breakfast. I'm sure
Eric Llewellyn has scarcely expected I
sec on the Curraghdene breakfast tabl
several pieces Of massive plate. super
silver coffee service. and richly chase
silver covers to the hot dishes. all eli
tering imposingly on the fine old Iris
linen damask. smooth as satin, white q
drifted snow.
Hannah. does Miss O'Hara know tina
breakfast is readyY asks Miles. pausin,
with his hand on the back Of his chat
Hannah fingers her apron string ner,
OHsly.
u was to say, if yeh phase. Masthe
Miles, that Miss Murrie stint her love,
she says. and pauses, and Llewellyn a
most catches himself prompting her, "al
that she TUX her breakfast in her ow
room airly, an that she's gone over
Miss Magrath, o Derryiossary, for b.
music.
..Oh! Miss O'Hara gone for her mus
lesson?' Miles exclaims. ''Of course:
had forgotten. She takes a music lesso
twice week very early in the day.
u A,,ff Mira Mnprath's other enca yelnents