The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-03-09

the highway leading to that city, stood
young man leaning against huge
chestnut trunk, and gazing silently up
on the picturesque scene spread out be-
fore him.
The sparkling waves OF the Isire
danced along merrily through a vine
covered valley, lying like an emerald
between two precipitous hills, closely
wooded with chestnut trees, interspers-
ed here and there with birch or larch
Beyond him lay smiling tract Of Gull
tivated land showing the rare ming!ing
of orange and lemon with apple and
cherry trees; and browning a gentle
slope was the oddly shaped Chateau of
the noble proprietor, Count Beauvais.
Still further across the undulating
country rose the stately towers and
high parapet walls of another chateau,
and scattered here and there, between
humble daisies in the greensward, were
the low walled dwellings of the peas
ant dependents of these warm friends
and close neighbors, Counts Beauvais
and German.
But it was on neither lordly dwelling
the fine dark eye of the solitary gazer
turned so eagerly, but upon the point
directly between him and the river,
where the highway came out into the
sunshine again, after its cool and shad-
owy passage through the chestnut
woods From this his attention was
scarcely for a moment diverted, and
presently his perseverance was well re-
warded, judging from the glow that
mantled his cheek and lit his dark eye.
A cavalcade of some dozen persons,
ladies and gentlemen, came sweeping
out gaily from the dark green arch
way Of the woods, their gay dresses,
flying plumes, and sparkling equip
ments lighting up the scene in just the
way to suit an artists picture or
poets fancy.
The youth drew closer before him the
leafy screen of down-reaching boughs--
but peered through them eagerly as the
train drew nearer so that the silvery
laughter of the ladies came distinctly
to his ears.
Foremost, side by side, on pair OF
spirited jet black horses rode youth
full pair, chatting merrily, and now and
then leaning toward each other to give
an earnest gesture TO add spirit to jest
or tender talk, whichever it might be.
On these the wild dark eyes of the hid
den gazer seemed to flame now with
tenderest love, and anon with the ferc-
est ire; and as they approached still
nearer, he set his teeth against his lip,
till the receding blood left white line
around each indenture, while his
breath came laboringly Even when
they passed on, and the remainder of
the party came opposite TO him, his
glance still followed the graceful fig
ure of the maiden, with wistful de-
spairing tenderness that seemed impos-
sible from the same eyes that moment
before had glared SO angrily upon the
youth who rode beside her.
But the face Of Lady Violante Beau
vais was enough to explain away much
madness upon lovers part. Such a
face as we meet often in pictures, but
so seldom in reality. All the sweet
loneliness of childhood in the rose-tint-
ed cheeks, and lips moulded in loves
own type-the lilies and dimples OF in
fancy, but In the large, dreamy and un-
fashionable dark yes--womanhood's
shy reserve and tender mysteries.
She carried her beautiful head
haughtily. so that the snowy plumes o.
her blue velvet riding cap swept The
sloping shoulder; and yet II seemed {
pride more than a cultivated sentiment
albeit none knew better than she thu
most effectual way of keeping presump
lion at bay.
Not even the young Count German
her friend and warm admirer, hat
dared so much as touch Familiarity thu
white little hand, that. released from
the gauntlet glove, stroked the silk!
name Of the horse And now as he rod
gaily beside her. drinking in, will
greedy delight the charming grace ant
sparkling changes on her expressly
countenance--he dared not, for the lif
of him. breathe a word of the soft fiat
teries that rose to his lips-because sh
had checked, with queenly dignity, hi
first attempt at compliment.
And while he listened to her swee
Joyous tones, the young Count wa
wondering what was going on at Beau
vais Chateau, and If, as he had prom
ised, his stately father was laying bt
fore the Count his long cherished pla
of uniting the two houses by the MAJ
riage OF the beautiful Violante to h
son. That son looked over shyly
the fair equestrian and queried VIII;
new light would come sparkling int
that dreamy eye, what change wou
come over thst joyous face, could 81