The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-01-14

"She is not vulgar at least" he said
to himself, as the grave, dark eyes met
his own. II should really have run
away had she been what my fancy
painted her-thank heaven she is not!
Uniformed, shy, inexperienced, half
frightened, what a wife for me-what
mistress for Ravensmere! I have
no fault to find with her, but I shall
never like her.
So he thought, as in few brief words
the money lender introduced his client
! to his daughter. There was nothing
awkward in her manner, but she was
shy-frightened. She answered the
lew questions he asked-her voice was
sweet and clear, with true ring about
1t that he liked-and then relaDsed in
| to silence.
| Her father asked her for set Of en-
cravings, and, as she crossed the room,
Lord Caraven saw that she had a
queenly head, crowned with profusion
of beautiful dark hair; she also had a
pleasant grace of movement that for
an uniformed schoolgirl was rare
rs it to be Yes or Mop" asked Ar
ley Ransome, as his daughter passed
for minute or two out of sight "You
have seen Hildred now-you can judge
for yourself; give me your answer"
With sudden smile-and it was
wonderful how that smile changed his
face-Lord Cuaven turned to his
host
Il really think" lie said "that she Is
emphatically nice girl--too nice to be
sacrificed"
1T is no sacrifice-she will be hap
py,' replied her father. do you say
Yes or No. my lord? Time is money
to me-
You give me less time for consi..
alton than you would give to a ma.
buying picture he replied. 81 see
no hope in any other way; if l did, l
should refuse. I tell you frankly that
l shall never like your daughter; you
thrust her upon me, you make her the
only plank between my miserable SELF
and the dark waters of death. l shall
never like her-frst of all, because she
IS your daughter; secondly, because
she is not at all the style of girl that l
do admire
You are very frank, my lord Will
you answer me one question? Do you
love any one else?"
The young earl looked puzzled.
The fact isl he said, that 1 have
loved so many I realty
What l mean is, you are not be-
trothed-you have never made an offer
of marriage to any one else?'
II have not had time even to think
of narriage-that is why I dislike the
idea Of it now
Then that settles the matter. You
say Yes and say Yes Hildred will
be Willing-girls love position, and she
is very proud"
Something akin to pity stirred the
earl's heart
What is Miss Ransome's age?" he
asked. ~.
"she will soon be eighteen" replied
the lawyer.
And" said Lord Caraven, $50 young
as that, do you feel no reluctance at
giving her to man who tells you hon
estly that he will never like herr"
you will like her we'll enough in
time replied the lawyer. Some of
the happiest marriages in the world
have begun with a little aversion.'
There might be more hope if mine
were little aversion" said Lord Car
aven. 1T is something worse. 1t is
profound, fatal Indifference! Your
daughter may be Countess of Caraven,
if that be your ambition, but she will
never be loved wife of mine. She is
not the style of girl that admire. She
is shy. uniformed. l like a graceful,
lovely. radiant woman; that she will
never be-
"She has the clearest sense, the
soundest Judgment, and the best dispo-
sition of any one l know
"Possibly," said the earl, carelessly.
*'Now you know the terms, it remains
for you to say Yes Your daughter
shall be Countess of Caraven; she
shall go to court; she shall be the lead
ing lady of the county; she shall have
the family diamonds and all that vain
women most desire-but 1 shall never
love her, and, what is more, shall
never even pretend to do SOL
Arley Ransome laughed.
Mildred will do very well without
that" he replied. ''Then the bargain
is struck, my lord. We will say moth
ing to my daughter today; tomorrow
I will speak to her myself. Allow me
man now Lord Caraven, and a wealthy
one