Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-08-17

SAID, when, entering the bras.as. vl
room one morning, George ,S.eaxlast
father and brother with radian.n nl
He was not long In learning J. iacts
news. The next day Sir .John.s" e scod
Agnes and Hera Burtell. wou,a "aels
at the bungalow as his guests a'rlvs
"Ah" murmured George. .a,,..
yes" answered Sir John. .ara auyf'
row Edward will again 500 Ls'uor'
trothed and you shall know vons o.
ture wife. But you appear ln suSr ~
and cold" efent
George forced a constrained sn,,.
II am enchanted. he replied ~
I have never seen Miss Bnrtei, Sut
must be charming. since Won sn, que
so; but still, you understand ~. ai
my heart beats Mt the prospect az I Ut. y
Ing this beautiful child, it is with ou.
osity. rather than with deeper ~. .u.s
ton" quo
You are right" answered Sir ro..
"My blood flows too warmly Co. a
old veins. / fancy you in love alra. y!
1t Is. however. but a question Of ,ia,.
To-day you r Indifferent. To'ma'
row my predictions will be fnlGras.
Alone, George shuddercd a. :.
thought OF this arrival, which = W
father and brother gave such dalich. ~
He now exaggerated the links whsa
bound him TO the unknown. only .asa
surfing himself with the remembrsrs
that he was at least OF an ace ~ -.
pose of his own heart and hand sns
that his father, in seeking to inauan..
him, was not only unwise. but eyerc;.
ing an abuse of his authority.
In short, lie took the immutah,a ,o.o
luton TO resist the parental win an
not to allow himself to be drawn ipta.
marriage of convenience.
II am Free" he said TO himself a.
will remain free. Miss Agnes Burtsn
can marry whom she pleases. / va
yield to her the world to choose I'm,
will answer that her husband does MOI
call himself George Malcolm"
This i~rrevocable decision taken n.
felt immense relief.
Tomorrow will be time to begin n.
battle" lie thought; and so put II from
him.
But at ten O'clock he waited in n.
garden with more impatience than N.
wont, for the expected signal. Thu
hour began to strike. He listened m.
til il seemed to him his heart ceased N
beat; but to the last stroke of the tim
hammer, silence alone succeeded. Sin
he waited. But no interruption cana
TO the unbroken calm of the night.
Bitterly disappointed. a prey for ts
first time TO jealousy, lest the unknown
should sacrifice him TO some new ca.
price, he returned to the house and
threw himself upon his bed. He tossed
feverishly through the night, not once
closing his eyes, until at daylight, ah
solutely exhausted, he fell into a truu.
bled slumber. He was awakened by
joyful EXPLANATIONS uttered beneath
his window. Sir Johns wards had Al.
rived. Shortly after. one Of the SCI.
wants of the bungalow entered Tie
room
"Sir John Malcolm" he said, 'bea
that your honor Will descend to The
drawing room"
Say to my father that | will be with
him in a few moments" answered
George.
When. in obedience TO this redles,
he appeared on the threshold Of the
salon, Sir John, slipping his hand
through his arm, led him toward ts
young girls conScrsing with his bOth
er. and said. in a joyful voice, whSa
keen emotion rendered somewhat trel'
ulous:
Agnes. Hera, my dear children, h
me present TO you, one of whom you
have so often heard me speak, my ee
est son. George Malcolm"
George bowed before the young girl,
who. according TO English fashion, e.
tended their hands with gracious u
miliarity.
Raising his eyes, he felt, for the EN-
time in his life. a sudden, bewiiderins
fascination. They were neither, per
hp as. possessed OF the marvellous pr
fections described in the pages o. ~
nance; but there was about them =
wonderful grace and charm-a sons
thing such as we see or recognize y
the unfolding flower.
Agnes, the eldest, was eighteen Ea
figure a little above the medium :
height and exquisitely proportions
her thick and wavy chestnut na
formed a perfect contrast win ~
dark blue eyes and the peacn-tms y
her cheek. Her face, lighted WIN Y
telligence. expressed at once frankpss
and firmness. Hera, not so tall as ~
sister. was yet wonderfully seducu's
Her hair was light. her eyes black, "
her face. although denotins uu'
sweetness, possessed less trnlness.
George. standing m~otionless, a sss u
ue of admiration. before Agnes, w.
not withdraw his gaze. The youns ~
involun;arily smiled and blusneu, =
smile he detected, but the blush Z
capped him. and, fearing ridlcuie ~
violent effort. he regained con,v' ~
became his usual self, q oriuan. ! =
thoroughbred man OF the wofiu, .sa
ing readily into the conyersativn X
followed. and which was sustainsu .ox
the young girls with an lnteihs NJ
and cleverness which eyidencea "A
only bright minds, but careiu
thorough educaS,c1. ~.
In George Malcolm had taken -.
n sudden ard complete m~etaInV'p ~sr
The provoking and enhancing -
OF the unknown in the viewer : n
which had held place, no. M
heart. at least in his inn sinauVnu
vanished as a dream from the mnOsri
when his glance had rested, entn N
upon Agnes Burtelrs classic ~
He remembered the unknown " Y
err. and he whisperel IL himscr N