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

Sulue dreams were
being realized. AS the father of LADY
Caraven, people thought it worth their
while to conciliate him. He was in
vlted to houses which before this mar
rage he had never hoped to enter; lie
had been made welcome in the drawing
rooms OF Belgravia and Mayfair. What
was even better, his practice was in
creaslng. Arley Ransome was hap
py man.
lie was shown into the library where
the young countess sat alone, royally
beautiful, in close fitting dress OF
black velvst-velvet that fell in rich
1olds and swept the ground around
her. The charming head and face
were set off by the dark drapery: she
held a book in her hands, but she had
not read one word it contained. She
looked up when her father entered and
ne was struck BY the dependency of
ner young face, the WEAKNESS Of the
dark eyes, tbs dropping attitude. He
went up to her. and, as usual. COM
plimented her. She was looking so
well, so beautiful he must say, and
what a success she had achieved.
NO smile answered--the WEAKNESS
and the dependency deepened. He took
a seat by her side, and told her all
that he thought would interest her
most. Was she listening? He did
not know, for she made no reply. Sud
denly, and the shock of it quite star
tied him-she raised her eyes to his
face.
Father" she said, do you know
what manner of man this is to whom
you have sold me?'
MY dear Hildred, hush! Pray be
more guarded in your speech
Il repeat, do you know what manner
of man my husband is?''
"Oh, now you put the question in
better form, I can answer it, You
really should not use the word sold as
though you were a slave; we do not
sell people in England"
She laughed-surely the most dreary,
the saddest laugh that ever fell from
such young lips.
I'VE will not dispute about word,
papa. Answer my question-do you
huo" WudI mduucI VI HAL my nus
band is?''
Il know the earl is considered a
very handsome, fascinating man by all
who are acquainted with him." he re-
piled.
"Handsome!" she repeated, SORROW
fully. What has that to do with it?
Do you know that he is utterly incor-
rigible-that he spends his days ard
nights in playing and betting-that he
comes home at sunrise-that he neg
tects every duty
Little foibles, my DEAR he replied
quickly; you must not think too much
Of them
She folded her hands and they lay
listlessly on her dress.
Little foibles, papa? If men call
those things little foibles should like
to know what you consider great
sins?"
"We will waive that, my dear-it is
not a matter for discussion,' said the
lawyer, almost wishing that he had
not called on that particular morn
ing.
But she was not to be silenced.
did you know what he was when
you allowed me to marry him." she
continued
II knew that he was Lord Caraven-
and surely that was enough-a peer OF
the realm, man of ancient descent"
did you know that he liked gam
bling and betting better than anything
else in the world?" she asked.
Mere foibles. All men have their
weaknesses-those are his. You must
have patience, my dear"
did you know she continued
that he does not even like me, and
never did,"
Nonsense, Hildred! You have all
that you require he said, hastily.
"And a dead heart" she murmured-
"a dead heart! Papa, did you remem-
Der that I was young, and that youth
lives on love?"
"Nonsense!" he replied. 'You have
grown sentimental through having
nothing to do, Hildred."
1T was a cruel thing, this marriage.
was so young-I might have been
spared. 1t was cruel deed"
MY dear Hildred," said Arley Ran
some, growing alarmed. Il did not de-
ceive you. I never told you that Lord