The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-07-26

& tened in dumb
HEGS alarm at the emo
va tions rising to meet
his avowal OF love
and longing.
To her, what would have sounded in
coherent to a third person, was explicit
and fervent. He knew her as his mate,
and would not give her up; asserted his
rights with a masters authority, while
his heart ached at thought of the woe
in store for her nominal possessor.
81 have startled you by my vehe-
mence," he continued, taking the hand
that lay upon her lap. II feared lest
this announcement might seem abrupt,
but the steamer sails at five o'clock,
and l last night obtained Evelyn's per-
mission to bring you to see her on.
She owes you debt Of gratitude for
your sisterly care of my lonely and
graceless self. She loves you dearly
already, as you will her when you have
bad one glimpse Of her face. You re-
meeting. have travelled with hei and
her sick father for three months, and
at parting more than limited at my at
tachment. With candor that would
have driven me to desperation had It
been less mournful, she declared her
intention not to marry while her father
lived. He needs my constant care
she said. Without it he would die in
week. He will never be better. The
kindest service you can do me, as the
wisest you can do yourself, Is to forget
me- have been steadily disobedient
to her advice. told her as much when
found out by chance two months ago
that she was in the city. She was very
resolute for a time, often refusing to
see me when called, and again begging
me, even with tears, to dismiss all idea
OF making her my wife. 1t is now
fortnight since her father Unexpectedly
announced his determination to return
to Europe, and, In the anticipation OF
our second parting, acknowledged that
my love was returned. Our engagement
would be an unsatisfactory one to most
people, but she is the earthly imperson-
alton of the angel Of patience. and /
can surely wait few months, or even
years, for gift 80 precious. Her father
is afflicted by complication of disor-
ders, the most serious being an organic
affection Of the heart. She Is the only
living child. 1t would be sheer barbar-
ity to separate them, and with an in
valid's obstinacy he will not hear of
taking up his abode In his daughters
house should she marry. My poor
Evelyn, my gentle love; she is martyr
and can do SO little to tighten her
burdenw
at is very hard" He had paused and
Constance must speak.
Too pre-occupied by his own reflec-
tions to note her thick articulation and
studiously averted face, Edward took
up the word warmly. Hard! What
could be harder for both of us?"
She interrupted him by an impet-
nous gesture. "You are talking wild
ly-wickedly! Think what you would
suffer II you loved without hope Of re-
quital."
He absolutely laughed. Gas II that
could be. Affection, full and fervent as
mine, holds a witch-hazel that never
errs in pointing to the fount of answer
ing love. Why, Connie, we were made
for one another-Eva and ~
Was no scalding drop of bitterness to
be spared from her cup? Whose, then,
was the fatal mistake which had opened
the sluices of that other fountain that
was drowning her soul with cruel hui
initiation and anguish?
Drive US near to the steamer as you
can, John" called Edward from his
window, and in the appreciation of the
truth that the sharpest ordeal was yet
before her and fearfulIy near at hand
Constance submitted to be handed from
the carriage to the wharf.
Through a bewildering haze she saw
the noisy crowd, the smoke-stack of
the monstrous vessel, stumbled along
the gangway connecting 1t with the
shore yielding pesslvely !, the nipc "a
| of Edwards arm and regained sight,
hearing and consciousness of brain
when she stood in a handsome saloon
small hand, warm as hers was lev.
fluttering in her grasp and pair of
dark; thoughtful eyes fixed upon her
| face
You were very good to come" said
a low voice, fraught with emotion. vet
steady. ALLOW me to present nv
n n r.