The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-03-25

are not yourself today. l am sorry
that I called
With an imp!oring gesture she held
out her hand to him.
Can you do nothing to help ne, pa
pa-nothing?'
He looked embarrassed and per-
picked
What can l Go, my dear? l can
speak to Lord Caraven, but | have
| grave doubts as to whether that will
Improve matters. 1t is never wise
thing to interfere between husband and
| wife. l could ask him to take Just
little more interest in you, if you
like"
Mo- she cried. vehemently. You
do not understand. l mean, help me
that may not hate hini-help me that
| may be more patient. If hated him
should be compelled to leave him
and l am drawing near il fast
You must not, Hildred. am sure
he is very lovable.'
But, then, you see, papa she OBJ
| jected, ''he does not love me-
He will do so in time. Every one
likes Lord Caraven. He is called the
handsome earl l assure you, Hill
dred, that there is not woman in Lon
don who would have refused him--not
one'
II wish that I had refused him." she
said, dreamily. Papa, am so fright
ened at myself Do you know that |
DO not want him to love me now? l
am beginning to dislike him-the sound
OF his voice is positively unpleasant to
me. l would far rather be broken
hearted, longing for his love, than be
what | am now. l should be better
woman if wept for his love, instead
of feeling as ! do now, that it is not
worth having. My better self is dead"
My dear Hildred, all this is most alb
surd. You do not know what you
want. You tell me that your husband
does not love you-you make that the
groundwork of your .,,mplaint-and
then you tell me you can not regret
his want of love. The fact is, my dear,
you are not yourself-you are over
tired. After your quiet life at St.
Roche, all this excitement is too much
for you. l shold advise you to keep
quiet for a few days, and then you will
be all right" The tragedy of sorrow
seemed to pass from her face
Thank you, papa" she replied. Her
hands fell listlessly. You speak as
you think. 1t is not your fault that
say no more about it,
THAT is right" said Arley Ransome,
looking greatly relieved. Now you
speak like reasonable woman. Phil
osophers say that women have impulse
but no reason-I shall begin to think
that they are wrong"
He talked with his usual brisk cheer
fulness about many different subjects,
and then took his leave. But, al
though he had silenced his daughter.
he was not disposed to allow this kind
OF thing to continue. if he could help
it. 1t would end badly-his own
knowledge of the world told him that
Nv AAS SseAASu
there he found him as usual.
II have just been to Halby House,"
| he said, land have been spending half
an hour with Hildred"
The earl raised his eyebrows, which
was the only mark of interest he
| thought it worth his while to bestow.
II did not think that she looked
| wal n ,,,lo .I..
did not appear happy
Women never do unless they have
| new diamonds every day." declared the
earl
II do not think that Hildred requires
new diamonds, but l think perhaps
that if you-''
"I,'' interrupted the earl-"I have
| nothing to do with it. I have ner-
vous dread Of people who do not look
happy. Pray do not appeal to me.
| Hildred is all right see nothing to
| complain Of
Il should not like to see anything
that called for complaint" said Arley
| Ransome, sternly.
Speak frankly" cried Lord Cara
ven, 81 understand plain English. Has
your daughter been complaining about
me?"
"She has not was the reply.
$50 much the better for her." said
the earl, land so much the better for
me-"
Arley Ransome owned to himself
that the events of the day had not
been altogether pleasant
(To be continued)