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

Dllnd was drawn up. ! saw Grant eEGM,
throw himself into the chair which I
had left vacant, stretch his arms out On
the table, and lay his head upon
them, like one in agonies of grief. He
was bewailing the loss of the happiness
that l had won.
| pitied him, but l hated him. 1t
seemed to me that if this man set his
heart upon a woman's love, sooner or
later She must give it 70 him. What
would it be if now he used all his power
to rob me of Viola? I knew that till
the ring was on her finger l should
have no peace Of mind.
The next day, when I paid my visit
to Viola, | was full of the fear that l
should find Eustace Grant at her side,
perhaps exercising all his craft. In
spite of mis- assumption of frankness, I
believed him to be crafty, to my dis
advantage. 1t was a fear which had no
foundation. Neither OF that nor the
succeeding days did Grant in any way
interfere with my monopoly of Viola.
once or twice I met him, apparently
coming from the house. On these oc-
casions he bowed gravely, but did not
stop to speak. His visits were evident
~ paid at such times as did not clash
with mine. / ragged inwardly to think
that he had the right to visit Viola at
any time; but | was too proud to re-
monstrate. 1t was some comfort to
near Miss Rossiter occasionally remark
that they saw little or nothing of Eus-
tace now.
Viola seldom mentioned his name.
NO doubt. with a woman's quickness,
she understood that it was distasteful
to me. Nevertheless, l knew that she
held her guardian in the greatest es-
TEEN, and looked forward to the time
when we should be friends. This 7
sWore should ,ver come. Viola once
my wife, the acquaintance between her
and this strong-willed, attractive man
should cease.
AS l said, | am indeed a pitiful hero!
But II l saw nothing of Grant, I
heard from him. He wrote me, tell
ing me he had been informed by Miss
Keith that our marriage was to take
place very shortly. He would be glad
TO know my intentions respecting the
settlement of her W small fortune.
There was a peremptoriness about the
wording of the letter which nettled me
extremely. I wrote back that it was
quite true that we were to be married
IN a few weeks time, but that it was
not my intention to settle my wife's
money upon her. The sum was too
paltry to trouble about, as it would be
quite lost sight Of in the large post
nuptlal settlement which I proposed
making. IT Mr.. Grant felt any doubt
as to my means, he could make inQuir-
les OF my solicitor, who had my instruc-
lions 10 answer all his questions fully.
To this letter he did not reply: but
l heard that he made the inquiries, as
suggested. No doubt, in Viola's in
terest, he was right in so doing; but I
liked him none the more for the ac-
ton.
Yes; Viola, overcome by my impas-
stoned prayers, had consented to an
almost immediate marriage. There was.
indeed, no reason why we should wait
a day. She loved me, and was willing
to trust her future in my hands. |
loved her, and longed for the moment
Which would make her mine forever.
Moreover, I longed for the time to
come when l might tell her all; confess
the innocent but foolish deception I
hSd practiced, and beg her forgiveness
not for mistrusting her, but her sex
IN general. l was sorely' tempted to
reveal the true state of affairs without
further delay; but Grants warning
rose to my mind, and 1 determined that
until the iraevocable words were spok-
en-, would xeep my secret.
We were married in the quietest wav
possible. Viola, it seemed to me, had
no bosom friends-no relatives who
would be mortified unless they were
asked to the wedding. The old SPIN
ster, who looked very prim, and ready
to apply her favorite word, "indecor-
ous," to the whole proceedings; a
brother, as prim as herself: and one
trusted friend of my own, Turned the
wedding guests. Eustace Grant had
been asked to accompany us, but Viola
told me that for some reason or other
he had excused himself. At this she
seemed deeply vexed.
1 was also troubled by his refusal. It
showed too plainly his feelings toward
me and toward Viola.
But he was in the church; he was
there even before I was. AS I walked