Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-24

tiers Of an hour later. she entered the
parlor of her cousins residence. and Mr..
Marshall rose up, from the sofa, with
a couple of his most graceful bows to the
ladies.
Helen's surprise was well acted. rs It
possible, Mr.. Marshall? Who expected
to find you here, and to what, or whom
are we indebted for the pleasure?"
company, Miss Howard?" said George
Marshall, as he : restored Cecilia the
handkerchief which had fallen from her
hand to the floor.
II haven't quite decided" r~ejoined
Cecilia, as she received the handkerchief
and forgot to a the gentleman, her
face full of indecisiOn and pain.
Helen turned around and faced her
cousin with her large dark eyes. why.
Cecilia, you promised me that you
would 60"
against my best Judgment. and I think
now that I mus recall it."
The low. steady voice made Helen
think hat. after all. her cousin might
not be over-persuaded against her best
Judgment, but at that moment the door
opened and Daniel Eustis entered.
Daniel, you've come just at the
right moment called his sister. "Fol
some unaccountable reason. Cecilia's ta-
ken it into her head to go home. Per-
haps your entreaties will avail to keep
her; mine mt"
Daniel E,ustis came up to his cousin
n kissed the peach bloom on her
ways existed in their intercourse: then
he took both her hands in his playfully.
You're my prisoner; shan.t let you
go. Cecilia" he said, without the very
best of reasons"
SO the matter was ended, with a little
nervous laugh on her part. and a well,
as I'm your prisoner. there's nothing for
me to do but to surrender as gracefully
as possible"
Alas for thee. Cecilia Howard!
They had a charming ride up to the
park. The beautiful gray ponies SEEM
ed to enter into the spirit of the day, as
they dashed along the newly fallen snow
to the silver chime of the sleigh bells.
AS for the skating, that was charming.
too: and Cecilia shook off the shadow
from her spirits. and for the next three
hours she gave herself up to the enjoy
ment of gliding over the crystal base
ment built by the frozen waters.
1t was impossible to skate all the time
with Daniel. Mr.. Marshall often took
possession of her. in a manner winch she
could not decline without marked rude
ness; and in a little while she submitted
to it. and forgot all about the disagree
able necessity.
''You are not sorry you came, after all.
are you, little cousin" asked Daniel, as
he assisted her into the carriage. Just
as the short winter day was being gath
cred up into the night.
"Oh no." was the quick response. And
then the menor of Horace's visit flash
ed across Cecilia Howard and she was
not certain that she had spoken the
truth, after all; and she was so quiet
during the ride home that her cousins
rallied her several times on her silence.
but it was in vain.
The six days that followed were
dreary ones for Cecilia. At last Horace
returned, and, strange to say, one OF
|. his first questions was, And you haven't
been to the park. as you promised me,
notwithstanding the fine skating"
ooh, no, of course not" Ce-
ella, drawing her breath. and feeling a
cold shudder run over her. why, what
can have put that idea into your head?'
busy with the velvet cushion, so that
Horace Nichols did not see her face
while she spoke.
II don't know. I'm sure..--half apollo
g~etically. II asked the question without
reflection. as I know that you wouldn't
60"
At the end of an hour Horace tore him.
self away, and he little imagined that
as soon as she had closed the door on
him Cecilia Howard returned to the par
Tor, flung herself into a chair. and, lift
ing her and broke into a wall of ex-
ceeding anguish. II have told a lie!
have taken a great sin upon my soul!'
"Halloa, Horace! Can you stop long
enough to shake hands?"
The voice. loud and g~ood-natured
ISdSiISu LIIG SouiAo iio oo III 90 ~
ing up the street. He turned hastily, and
confronted Daniel Eustis. The young
men shook hands cordially, and Their
Daniel asked:
Where dc you keep yourself nova,
days?"
i've been out of tow for a week, an
got back within the last hour"
> Seen my pretty cousin?" asked Dan
iel. with a significant smile, graceful,
shaking a few gray flakes from hi:
Cigar.
"Certainly I have" answered Horace
Nichols. And his smile said very plain
ly that he was quite ready, and proud
to avow the fact before the who'll
world.
Daniel Eustis was fond of a joke
This time he put on a slightly mystic
rious expression, and continued: "Well
it's fortunate you've got back again
for your own peace of heart, and tina
of my pretty cousin. too"
"What do you mean?" asked the other
half indifferently, supposing that thi
was merely some of Daniels nonsense.
"Oh, nothing; only Helen insists that
Cecilia wasn't just the little saint tina
she is, she should certainly be jealous
for George Marshall was so deeply i'm
pressed the day they were out together
He says she's perfectly charming. an
he's a man of taste. Horace; you ma
be glad to have him indorse your choice.
Horace Nichols did not seem to fee
the force of the latter part of this re
marx. he Orousnt MS deep, gray eye
on Daniels face with an expressio
which the young man had never see
there before.
when and where were George Mar
shall and Cecilia Howard out together
What do you mean, Daniel?" TIL
voice was that of a man who would nc
be put off.
why, man alive, nothing serious
only that Mr.. Marshall and Cecil
Howard were out together in the par
last Thursday aftprnOnn with Helen an
myself, and We had a capital time
it,"