The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-08-24


arrangements are made that she shall ac-
them to England to make the ac-
luaintance Of Sir Roy's aristocratic moth
CHAPTER XVII.
At the Seven Cents mine in Nevada,
Sir Roy was thinking every hour of
Lilac. and working hard to enable him
to get home quickly to end her trial,
the hardness of which he could only
partly realize. It was very pleasant to
cit at night in his log hut over fire
Of pine logs. and think Of the girl who
was 30 simple. 30 good and 30 un-
selfish. His loneliness In q camp of
rough men. uncheered by the society of
women. made him feel more than ever
in love with her: and every night he
wrote parts Of diary-like letters. to be
to Delverton a. soon as op-
portunity offered.
While Lilac was wondering at home
whether the baronet really loved her.
Sir Roy was every day counting more
and more upon her love. He looked
forward anxiously to the time to
come for him to receive q letter from
her saying that she had reached Eng
land safely. little guessing what would
that letter.
II was q happy evening for him
when he was able to add to his long
spistle, full Of expressions Of love and
tenderness for the girl he hoped soon
to make his wife:
my now darling little girl. thanks
70 the energy with which the thought
Of you has inspired me. was able to
see the end Of my work here definitely
approaching today. In Q week at the
utmost now shall be able to start for
England to join my little wife-elect-a
fortnight earlier than thought possi-
BILE. The journey will take three weeks;
% that two months from today will see
you my own little wife. It seems almost
too wonderful to be true. wonder
whether you have been a. lonely as
have. darling. and have looked forward
~ much to our reunion?"
He stopped when he had written
these words and paused with his pen
in his hand to enjoy the thoughts that
crowded into his mind. How pleas
ant 1t was to think that. while he was
looking forward SO much to the time
when he could hold his little prairie
flower In his arms again, with no
doubts to disturb their perfect happi-
ness. Lilac herself at home was look
ing forward just as eagerly to his re-
turn. 1t really did seem too wonderful
to be true.
he sat thinking Of her with the light Of
true love In his deep. grave eyes-if she
could only have read his words! But
she was never to see them. AS Sir Roy
dipped his pen in the ink again, prepar-
atory to writing another sentence. he
paused and then laid the pen down, his
attention attracted by sound that he
had listened for every evening Of late
the sound Of horses hoofs on the
road that led from the nearest town
ship nifty miles away.
With an Involuntary movement he
covered the sheet on which, he
had revealed the tenderest emotions Of
his heart. and walked to the door Of his
log hut. A horseman was approach
ing at . gallop. and Sir Roy hailed him
a soon as he was within hearing.
''Ahoy there! Letters?"
His heart beat little more quickly
when the answer came that he ex-
pected. He was to hear from Lilac at
last, and the world looked very beau
tiful to him.
The man pulled up his painting horse
at the door. and from the mailbag
fastened around him handed out three
letters. Roy glanced at the writing
quickly before he said a word. One was
addressed In Evangeline's neat hand,
and one in q girlish hand not 80 well
formed. This must be from his love.
The writing on the other he did not
recognize. and he threw It with
Evangeline's upon the table behind him.
dilac's was the only letter he could
think Of ct that moment. But. before
he allow himself the luxury Of read
ing It. re had to offer some hospitality
70 the messenger after his long ride.
It was ten minutes before he could
tear open with reverent fingers the
message sent to him: and the new
conner. who had spent the time in at
tending to his horse. was sitting at the
table. improvised out Of packing
case to0 much enRr0aaed IN doing 4,,s.