The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-04-30

E:inor followed, looking and feeling Terri
bly, frightened. What had this grand; Inn
perious Miss Darrell to saSto her? They sat
down side by side under the shade of a urge
magnolia tree, the white blossoms of which
filled the ;ir witt, sweetest perfume; the
smiling summer beauty rested on the land
scape. They sat in silence for some minutes,
and then Pauline turned to Elinor.
Miss Rocheforl, !" she said, II am come to
give you q w~arning-the most solemn warn
ing you have ever received-one that II you
have any common sense yon will not refuse
to. heed. l hear that you are going to marry
my uncle, Sir Oswald. Is 1t trie?g"
.Sir Oswald has asked me to be his wife"
Elinor replied, with downcast eyes and q
faint blush.
Pauline's face CLEANED with scorn.
s'Thcre is nc need for any of those pretty
airs and graces with me-" she said. II am
going to speak stern truths to you. You. a
young girl, barely twenty. and nll your life
before you--surely you cannot be so shame
lessly untrue rs even to pretend that you are
marrying an old man like my uncle for love?
You know 1t is not so-you dare not even
pretend 1T"
Elinor's face flushed crimson.
Why do you speak so to me, Miss OAR
rell" she gaspcd.
Because l want to warn you. Are you
not ashamed-yes, l repeat the word, asham-
ed-to sell your youth, your hope Of love,
your life itself, for money and title? That Is
what you are doing. You do not love Sir
Oswald. How should You? He is more than
old enough to be your father. If he were q
poor man, you would laugh his offerto scorn;
but he is old and rich, and you are willing to
marry him to become Lady Darrell, of Oar
rell Court. Can you. Elinor Rocheford, look
me frankly in the face, and say 1t is not sop
No, she could not. Every word fell like a
sledgehammer on her heart, and she knew 1t
was all true. She bent her crimson face, and
hid 1t from Pauline's clear gaze.
Are you not ashamed to sell YOURSELF If
no truth, no honor, no loyalty impels you to
end this barter, let fear step III. You do not
love my uncle. 1t can give you nc pain to
give him up. Pursue your present course,
and l warn you. Darrell Court ought to be
mine. i am a Darrell, and when my uncle
took me home it was as his he!ress. For q
long period | have learned to consider OAR
rell Court as mine. 1t is mine," she contin.
ued-"mine by right, for I am q D1rrell-
mine by right Of the great love l bear it,
mine by every law that is just and right!
Elinor Rocheford, l warn you, beware how
you step In between me and my birthright-
beware! My uncle is only marrying you to
punish me; he has no other motive. Beware
how you lend yourself to such punishment
l am not asking you to give up any love. II
you loved him, l would not say one word
but 1t Is not q matter of lovc-only of sale
and barter. Give it up"
"How can you talk so strangely to nc,
Miss Darrell? / cannot give it up; every
thing is arranged"
"1on can If you will. Tell my uncle you
repent of the unnatural compact you have
made. BE a true woman-true to the instinct
Heaven has placed in your heart. Marry fol
love, nothing eise-pure, honest love-and
then YOU will live and die happy. Answer
me-wlll you give it up?'
II cannot" murmured the girl.
You will not, rather. Listen to Inc. ]
am q true Darrell, and u Darrell never breaks
a word once pledged. If you marry my uncle,
l pledge my word that l will take q terrible
vengeance on you-rot a commonplace one,
but one that shall be terrible. l will be re.
venged upon you ii you dare to step in be
tween me and my just inheritance! DO you
hear me?!"
u hear. You are very cruel, Miss Darrell
You know that l cannot help myself.
must fulfill my contract"
Very well, /" said Pauline, rising; "then
have no more to say. But remember, L have
given you full, fair, honest warning, I vii
be revenged upon YOU"
And Miss Darrell returned to the house
with naughty head proudly raised. while
Elinor remained in the garden, bewilderet
and aghast.
Two things happened. Elinor never re
vealed a word of what had transpired, ant
three weeks from that day Sir Oswald Oar
rell married her in the old parish church o
AGdleigh ROYAL.