The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-08-27

loved me, | would draw her from her
dull home, and show her the great
world and the glories thereof. How
was to WOO her? We were not like
~ TO meet at any mutual friends
house. | had no sister, cousin or any
one who could do me a friendly turn in
the matter. Yet every moment of sus-
pense would be an age to me. l must
90 something. So one day l waited I'M
I'll l saw Viola leave the house. l
watched her tall, graceful form pass
out OF my sight, and by q great effort
repressed my desire to follow her. Then
l walked to her house, and requested
to see Miss Rossiter, the prim old
maiden lady aforesaid.
told her in plain words the object
OF my calling. I spoke frankly of my
love for her companion, and begged thai
my nearer would aid me to remove OBJ
stacles which stood in the way of a
closer intercourse. No doubt, with a
lovers cunning, I made myself most
agreeable to the ancient old gentle
woman. Permission was graciously
accorded me 70 visit the house-as a
friend.
wanted no more. l rose to take my
leave, longing for tomorrow to come,
as l. did not like to venture VIC visits
on he first day. Just hen the door
opened, and Viola appeared.
A look of surprise flashed into her
face-surprise, but not lispleasure. A
faint blush crossed her cheek, and these
signs told me l should win her.
Now that my foot was inside the eta
del, l vent to work fierceiy, impesuous-
ly, to gain my desire. The days that
followed are to me too sacred to be
described; but not many passed before
| knew that Viola's love was MY own.
We Went to the kindly spinster, who
was responsible for Viola's safety, and
told her the glad news. The old lady
dropped her knitting-needles, and look
ed bewildered.
mo, no., no. she cried, in Mortified
tones: you can not mean it,
Viola's blush and my words showed
her We were in solemn earnest.
"Oh. dear! Oh, dear!' sighed Miss
Rossiter. what shall I = do? You have
only known each other a week."
"a day would have been long enough
on my part!' cried, looking rapturous-
ly at Viola.
1T is SO sudden" continued Miss
Rossiter. Il never dreamed of such a
thing. In old days matters were man
ageC much more decorously. Thought,
Mr.. Vane, you would be at least three
months in making her acquaintance.
Oh, dear! l am. too much to blame!"
The old soul seemed SO distressed
that Viola ran over and kissed her.
"Oh! what will .Eustace say? He will
blame me terribly. He is so master
full, you know, Viola"
who is Eustace?'' I asked. I thought
that Viola's face grew thoughtful as
she heard the anne
"Mr. Grant, my guardian and good
friend" she said.
"Then I must see him. Where can I
find him.
"He is away said Miss Rossiter,
pldlltlVClS. VII, du1 ~ HULL W
blame! l ought to have made all sorts
Of inquiries about you Mr.. Vane."
your friend can make them or his
return. When will that be-"
mo one knows. Tomorrow, per-
haps; next month, next year. One never
can say. Oh, dear! Oh, dear!!"
I laughed and drew Viola away. We
were so happy that we forgot all about
Miss Rossiter's p~laintive signs, and 1
troubled nothing about Viola's guardi-
an. I did not ever ask what manner of
a man he was. "
But two days afterward 1 knew. In
the evening I called as usual at Miss
Rossiter's. Viola heard my knock and
met me in the hall.
"Eustace came back to-day. He is
here" she said, joyfully.
I kissed her and followed her into
the room to make the acquaintance of
her guardian. Although she called
him by his Christian anne l fully ex-
rected to find him a sober, middle-aged
man; but in the easy chair, lounging as
if the place belonged to him, and talk
ing vclubly to Miss Rossiter, I saw a
strongly built, sun-burned man who
could be but a few years my senior. He
rose as I entered, and Viola shyly intro
duced us.
He was tall-taller than I was. His
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