The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-08-24
appalled,. as she would have been . few

1T must about Roy" she said to
herself excitedly. and she waited In a
tremor OF anticipation until Evange-
line had left the room.
She crimsoned with pleasure when
her ladyship came and seated herself
by her side on the low settee.
you are wondering what it Is
want to talk to you about, expect?"
she said in her least formal voice, and
Lilac blushed against as she answered:
II think I can guess. dear Lady
Garth"
you know that he cares for you.
then?"
"Yes-of course do. should new
er have come here II Roy had not told
me that he loved me-"
"And so Roydon told you that he
loved you, did he. dear?" she said II
was afraid that the romantic circum-
stances of your meeting had made him
indiscreet. You must not think too
seriously of what he said when he was
ILL.,"
Lilac's flush had disappeared leav-
ing her face deathly pale; but she did
not reply, and her ladyship went on
rather hurriedly:
been placed in a position In which he
could not very well avoid Offering you
marriage as the only solution Of the
difficult problem what to do with vow.
Mind can quite understand that he
was attracted greatly by your personal
charms, which do not deny are very
great" She smiled graciously. as II
she expected the girl to be pleased
with the acknowledgment; but Lilac's
pale statuesque face did not relax.
'You must remember that know
Roydon better than you do. dear"
IT prefer to think not. Lady Garth. .
said Lilac quietly: but her ladyship
FASTENED ON without noticing the in
terruption.
my feelings are hostile to the idea
Of your marriage with my son; but
you may pardon me when you know
its cause 1t 10 not that have the
slightest dislike to you, dear. Per-
sonally I am becoming very fond Of
you. in spite Of the havoc you seem
destined to play with the happiness Of
those hold dear and with my swn
most treasured projects"
There was pathetic tremor. IN her
stately voice which touched Lilac.
'Indeed would rather die. Lady
Garth" she said earnestly. "than bring
unhappiness to Roy's friends. II by
dying I should not make him unhap-
pyv'
Her ladyship wiped her eyes.
''You are a dear. good GIRL" she said.
"and I believe, that you mean what
you sawy! I cannot tell you how pain
full It is to me to have to speak to you
in this woy. should not do 1t II I
were not sure that you wished to DO
what 10 best for Roydon's interests.
Let me speak to you candidly. dear.
I has always been my fondest hope that
Roydon and Evangeline should marry.
Not only do them seem particularly
suited for each other. but the marriage
would tend to reunite the estates that
have been in the family for many
years. At present Roydon has not
enough, apart from what he earns BY
his profession. to keep up the hall as It
always has been kept up. It Is ne
cessity that he should marry wealth.
But it Is not a question Of money that
affects me so deeply. 1t is my fear that
Evangeline's heart will be broken II
she loses my sons love. The dear girl
carries her troubles very bravely. I
know, and possibly she has not allowed
you to guess her secret"
"Her secret?"
''Her love for her cousin. To me.
Of course. It 10 no secret, for have
watched them grow up together. and
have been more anxious than care to
confess at the change which has come
over my beloved Evangeline since you
were first mentioned in Roy's letters.
How can help all my sympathies go
ing out to the girl whom have al
ways loved as my own child?''
"But do you not think Evangeline
cares for Roy only as 9 sister," asked
Lilac, who had almost persuaded her
self that It was 80.
Lady Garth shook her head.
"You cannot have observed her very
closely If you have not discovered that
the poor girl Is deeply in love"
II have more than suspected IT,
said Lilac thoughtfully: "but I did
not think 1t was Of Roy that she was
always thinking. There may be an
other"
'.No-1 am quite sure there 10 no
other" said her ladyship. honestly be-
lieving that she was speaking the
truth. IT have watched her very 5eal-
ously for Roy's sake"
She spoke with eager conviction,
stealing herself against the look Of
pain and fear that had come into Ii
laos eyes. The girl spoke calmly,
however.
II hope you are wrong, Lady Garth.
but even II you are right. It does not
rest with me to confer happiness upon
Evangeline. I cannot make Roy love
her"
IT do not think that there is much
making required" said her ladyship
quickly. Before you crossed his path