The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-08-31
gently and kindly she startled him by
the matter-of-fact voice in which she

RESPONDED, WOn0eflnSly-
my dear old Roy. what on earth has
made you talk such nonsense? You
know perfectly well that you are not
in love with me; and you ought to
know that am certainly not in love
with you-not in that way. OF course, l
am very fond of you as a sister: but.
as for marriage, would as soon think
Of marrying Aunt Gwen"
Roy stared at her calm face, and
could not believe that she was acting
part. Still he had Lilac's assurance
that his cousin had confessed her love
for him to her. In his establishment
he blurted out the fact.
"But you told Lilac that you cared
for mel" he said; and Eyangeline
opened her eyes.
II told Lilac that I loved you?" she
echoed incredulously, with pause be-
tween each word. did she say SO in
her letter."
Eyes"
'Then that is why Auntie Gwen
would not let me read it. wish l
had known!' For some reason her
manner was becoming quite excited.
"Show me the letter at once!" she cried
imperatively; and, when Roy produced
it obediently, she stood still upon the
grass to read it through from begin
ming to end.
Poor Lilac!" she said when she had
finished; and Roy was surprised at her
tone, for on the only occasion that Lii
lac had been mentioned Evangeline had
been much more bitter against her than
Lady Garth.
new suspicion which was very
ess's mind, but she was afraid to ex-.
press it yet, lest it had come tool tae
to save Lilac from sacrificing her
self, If that was what she intended do
ing. When Roy spoke again she start
ed as if from reverie.
well, there is the statement writ
ten clearly enough" he said, with
touch of playfulness in his voice.
What have you to say in reply?
Surely this confession of ours has not
been invented by-Miss Marvel? Really.
Evie." he went on more seriously, "if
it is true. and you do care for me.
you must marry me. am very fond
of you and would try to make GU good
husband"
Evangeline laughed outright.
my dear Roy; don't be so absurd!
tell you that do not care for you like
hot ;o lit Df I,a
willing to make such sacrifice on my
behalf, but it is really not necessary.
told Lilac that was in love with
somebody; and the silly girl jumped to
the conclusion that it was you. never
dreamed of her misunderstanding me
about it. poor girl"
You are making this up to deceive
me, Evie," he said, as the suspicion
crossed his mind: and his cousin
smiled bitterly.
Really, Roy, shall begin to think
you stupid and conceited If you insist
upon believing that want to marry
you! Will GU believe me when I tell
you that the man I spoke about to
Lilac, unfortunately without giving his
name, was somebody that met two
years ago in Yorkshire?"
mot fellow called Eric Damian?"
Evangeline blushed crimson and then
turned pale. 3',
What do you know of him?" Evan
geline asked quickly.
II met him in Nevada. He is trying
to find gold on your account. he told
me-he wants to grow rich in a hurry
to marry an heiress. 1t occurred to
me that 1t might be you that he was
speaking about. because he talked so
much about you: but did not think
you cared for him. as you never men,
toned him."
1T was not he was speaking about"
said the girl coldly. her face white to
the lips. "1t must have been Sabina
Emmott. to whom he was engaged be-
fore he last his fortune"
"Sabina? I swear it was not!' said
Roy impetuously. "And am sure that
they were never engaged. Why Da-
milan told me how she had run after
him, and he said was a fool to choose
her as companion for Lilac! We
got very confidential. you see. told
MIN my love story and he told me
some of his. He met the heiress at a
place called Westwood. and, on the
very day he would have proposed to
her, the news of the bank smash came.
and altered his position altogether. 1t
must have been you that he spoke Of"
"Don't-dont Roy! 1t could not
have BEEN" she said, afraid Of the new
hope that had come into her life.
But it must have BEEN" said the
baronet, deliberately. ION the night
before he was telegraphed for. you
were in the conservatory with Da-
milan when sabina Emmott interrupts
ed you?"
Evangeline nodded, unable to speak.
"Then. in another two minutes. If
that little mischief maker. as Damian
calls her, had kept out Of your way,
you would have had a proposal Of
marriage. because Eric Damian told
me SO himself. By-the-way, believe
that I promised never to tell soul.
He is desperately proud. He said, that
Lo would pover marry a voman with