Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-04-28
CHAPTER VII. Continued.

stolen meetings, brief though they
Were, yet requiring infinite secrecy ana
strategical management.
It WAS obvious 10 them all that were
Fergus or Mordant 10 get wind OF their
frysts. il would but result in the girls
being keIt close prisoners 10 the house
for an unlimited period. Elsie IN
despite her ignorance Of aught pertain
ing 20 the tender passion. instinetlyely
10 understand the position OF things.
and was perfectly content ut Geof-
frey's preference for Pansy, What
more natural than that ne should al
mire her beautiful cousing
Her childish heart. so long starved
by GOODNESS aud neglect. expanded UNI
der the influence Of their youth. happi-
ness and gaiety.
Pansy wandered along under the
shadow of the trees, and at every turn
Of her solitary walk missed the htlai
quaintness of Elsie's company.
At length she caught sight OF Geof-
frey's light tweed suit, and in another
he was mt her side.
You should not she said. %reproacll-
fully. though she suffered him To hold
her hand. II am always afraid CotlS'
in Fergus will get TO know you are
here. And YOU are so early this morn
ing. | did not expect you"
II could not keep away-your lniu-
ence il magnetic" he said. smiling
down at her. And your cousin-wnele
is she!" feeling. for the tirsI time. that
her absence vas %opportune.
Elsie is i'll. they tell me. very i'll.
she said, with Il little frown Of per-
plexity upon her white brow. Il can
not understand it. She was quite well
yesterday. as you know indeed. ! never
saw her brighter. They will not let me
see her."
n am sorry-poor child!' Goe.frey
said, sympathetically. II fear She is
delicate; she looks very fragile"
II do not think she Is really so: but
the depression of her life here Is wear
ing out her youth and elasticity Pan
sy said.
And you? You must wish for a
more congenial life, Miss vereker."
Godfrey was watching her ~changeful
face as he spoke. surely. you are mo-
going to spend all your life nj Craig
eerie!
mo: hut some years OF it, l am
afraid" said Pansy. reufuliy. Ger
tainly four y~ears-until | become of
age / shall be compelled To remain,
willy-nilly."
The girl had instinctiyeIy refrained
from mentioning the circumstance that
she was an heiress. and Geoffrcy felt
that he loved her the more that she
had only her sweet face for her for
tune.
Miss yereker." he said. suddenly.
''for some days past | have been await
ing an opportunity to say to you some
thing which our short acquaintance.
perhaps. scarcely warrants. The pres
ent occasion, however. Is SO fur propi-
tions that. we being alone, | feel EN-
boldened 10 speak
Pansy. With 4 woman's instinct.
knew whit was coming. but with an
equally feminine contrieiy. fcigncd en-
tire ignorance. and asked, with provok-
Ing sweetness:
''Iias anything happened!
"Yes.' said Geoffrey. smiling. de-
spite his earnest mood. something
which is 10 me of considerable i'm
%portance, has happened. Miss were
ker. since I have ben in Cornwall |
have lost my heart.
.Indeed.'' answered Pansy. with an
III vi NtNiu-It l1ttsiAtttbtt. ttiVh-h ~
heart beat fast-with joy. was it? She
scarcely knew herself. Il fear | can
not assist O TO find IT,"
Not when it is you Pansy. and you
alone. who are responsible for its
Ioss?' exclaimed Geoffrey, with such
tender passion in his voice that the
girls color rose and fell rs she heard.
at Ii in your keeping TO be held by
~..,, IN. G...i, anpfanlt,f *np aSt,sAfl 1S
your fancy shall suggcst-but, unalter-
ably, it is yours. Pansy. dearest. love-
Hest. will you promise me nothing III
return"
lie had taken her hand, and tried his
best 10 catch a glimpse of her down
cast eyes.
II believe you would be happy with
me-. continued Goefry, earnestly,
.and you will ike my family. | hcpe,
] haye no fear but that they would
love you dearly-indcel, who could
help it? LII is true that we shall have
10 ask your cousin. Mr.. Thunder's con-
sent; but. surely, he would not be OBJ
duratc. for | am not n Door nan. 1
have n good and assured position il,
my fathers office. and a small private
fortune. as well: so | hope | shall he
dDtt 10 SMILEY hN WINS /" !Vti w
ture welfare.
Still Pansy would not meet his love
lii eyes though his arm had stolen
round her waist.
..Sreak to me darling. | have not
startled or offended you, have II
YES. both" said the girl, mischiey-
ously. though her trcmulous voice be
trayed her. despite herself. You are
d~readfully abrupt: but one cannot X
pect consideration from a man. SO
viii overlook your precipitancy for
once, Now. please let me go, Mr.. Cars
lake
''Say 'Geoffry.' and | will, he said,
iuyously, for he read consent In her
smiling lips.
Whether or not Pasy complied is n
matter OF conjecture. They roamel
away together bet Q the bolcs OF the
apple trees. ard there was something
~suspiciously like an arm around Pan.
ey,s waist still.
Two days elapsed. but still Elsie was
not allowed TO he seen by her cousin
Several times Pansy had ventured as
far as the door OF the sIck-room. hop.
ing 10 be able to see and tell Elsie O.