The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-03-04
BY CHARLOTTE NJ. BRAEME.
CHAPTER XII.-(Continued)

table," said Hildred laughingly; but
the earl shook his head.
1T may be for you," he replied; "but
it is not for me-"
Lord Caraven," said Hildred, "a
thought has just struck me- We have
been married-how long?-since the
third of August, and it is now October;
and do you know that you have never
once addressed me by name? My
school-fellows used to call me 'Dreda,
my father calls me 'Hildred.' You
have SO contrived as never to give me
any name at all. You do not say Lady
Caraven,' 'Hildred,' wife,, or anything
OF the kind. How is it,"
Il cannot tell,' he replied, blankly.
The question had evidently puzzled
him.
Il do not expect you would ever care
10 use any pretty familiar loving
name, but do you not think you
might learn to use my own? Lady
Courtenay used to look at me, when
you addressed me in that general Kind
of way as you Could you not say
'Hildred'?"
II really do not know" he re-
piled; "it is an uncomfortable kind Of
name Hildred'
She raised her charming head with
naughty little gesture.
do you fancy so? I think you do
not know what uncomfortable means.
am rather proud of my name; it may
be quaint, but it is not common. If
you cannot say 'Hildred,' can you not
call me Lady Caraven'? I am tired
of being spoken to so vaguely"
Il will not do it again, Lady Cara
ven, If it annoys you,' he said; and
then there was silence between them,
broken only by the soughing of the
wind.
Would he let this hour pass without
speaking freely to her? They were
alone nowhere was no one to listen.
She raised her face, all bright with
play of feeling, to his.
Lord Caraven," she said, will you
be very angry with me if l ask you
a question:" ,u;s,a4
mo; without knowing what the
question may be, I predict that-cer-
tainly not"
This question has troubled me
very much; it has been the one thing
which have pondered night and day
question that I cannot answer, one
that l feel is the key to secret"
"You alarm me with that long
prologue. Briefly. what is your ques-
ton, Lady Caraven?"
Briefly, it is this: Why did you mar
ry me. Lord Caraven?"
why did 1 marry you?" he echoed
in establishment.
II ask you the question:" she went
on, because I have watched you and
studied you, and I am convinced at
last that you did not marry me for
love-"
Love-! he cried. "Why, what has
that to do with it?'
II thought" she continued, chat
you had married me because you loved
me. knew that you were cold, I'M
demonstrative, that you had no SYM
pathy, little kindness; but believed
implicitly that you married me for
love-"
Il had never seen you'll saw you
only once" he said in establishment.
II know I remember Still, l re-
peat what have said to you; II
fancied-I am quite ashamed to tell
you the truth, but will do SOL fan
cied-that YOU had seen me some
where and had liked me-
He laughed, but the laugh was not
pleasant to hear.
'Did you really think that?" he
asked musingly. Poor child!" Then
he turned to her with sudden brisk
ness. do you really mean to tell
me. on your word of honor, that you
do not know why married you?"
She raised her fair, proud face to his.
II assure you most solemnly that 1 do
not. 1t is the greatest puzzle I have
ever had
did your father tell you that II
loved you?"
No" she replied, thoughtfully, che
did not. Indeed, he assured me that
love was not needful Cor happiness.
He never said you loved me. He said
you wanted to marry me-"
"And what else? Go on. What
else?"
THAT it was grand position, in
which should be suprenely happy"
What else: asked the stern voice.
hardly remember. That if l con-