The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-12-13

manner. you will generally find us
in about four o'clock, for We are very
quiet people, and a few tennis parties
Or a dance or two are all that Dorothy
sees of life. Sometimes l wish that
it was different: but old trees, you
know" with a smile, ARE difficult to
transplant"
And Miss Dorothy does not look as
III she found life at Graveleigh insup-
portable" said Dick, with delicate
fattery.
mo; Dorothy is a good girl" Miss
Dimsdale replied in a tender under
tone, and then she gave a little sigh
which set Dick wondering what it
could mean.
Well, after this it very soon BECAME
an established custom that Dick should
find his way over to Graveleigh at
least twice in every week, and some
times Miss Dimsdale asked him to
stay to share their dinner, for she
was a oma of very hospitable ma
ture, though she was quiet and some
what stiff in manner, and a little old
fashioned in her ideas. And although
David Stevenson had all her wishes on
his side, she really grew to like Dick
the better OF the two, for Dick was
gentle and kind in his manner 70
each and all alike, content to let his
wooing do itself-if the truth between
you and me be told, happy In the
present, and a little inclined to leave
the future to be as long the future as
might be because Of the terrible old
uncle in the background. Then, too,
there was always present in his mind
the knowledge that, sooner or later, he
would have to make a clean breast OF
his identity to Miss Dimsdale and to
| Dorothy, and to cast himself upon
their mercy as regards the deception
which had really been no fault of his,
and to persuade them to consent to a
secret marriage. And whenever poor
tons, he invariably gave a groan OF
utter despair, for he had a dreadful
~foreboding that never, never would
Dorothy's aunt give even the most re-
luctant consent to anything Of the
kind.
So the sweet autumn days skipped
over-September died and October was
born, lived its allotted time, and in turn
passed away, and wintry November
came in. The last tinted leaves fell
from the trees of the great oaks and
horse chestnuts, and the tall poplars
which shrouded the hall were now but
gaunt and ~shivering skeletons, only a
memory Of their old luxuriance and
glory. But to Dorothy Strobe the bare
and leafless trees were more beautiful
than they were either in their summer
gowns Of green or in all the many
hued loveliness of their autumn frocks,
for to Dorothy all the world was light
ed and beautified by the warmth and
fire OF radiant love-better to her the
leafiess branches OF November with
love than the fairest blooms Of SPRING
time into which love had not yet come.
During this autumn she had seen
but little OF her old admirer, David
Stevenson. He had gone to the Hall
once or twice after he knew that "the
| UHdu Hull SOICucSIcI Ildu pcCJluc q
frequent visitor there-gone with a
savage assertion Of his rights as an
old friend and a lifelong intimate OF
the house. But when he found that
Miss Dimsdale had, as he put it, gone
over to the enemy" he gave up even
that much intercourse, and gave all
his energies to his farming, content,
as he told himself, to bide his time.
At last about the middle Of Novem-
Der when half the officers Of the regi-
ment were on leave, and soldering
and Colchester alike were as fiat and
dull as ditch water, Dick Aylmer got
into his dog-cart and turned the
horses head toward the big gates.
"Hullo, Dick" called out a brother
officer to him, where are you going?"
"Oh, a drive" returned Dick prompt
ly.
"Oh, a drive" repeated the other,
noting the evasion instantly-trust a
soldier for that. Got any room for a
fellow?'
Take you as far as the town II
you like" said Dick good-naturedly.
mo. never mind" answered the 9TH
TT. "Tll walk down with Shocks pres
emily" Z.
Didn't want a lift, you know" he
explained to Snooks, who in polite So
ciety was known as Lord William
Veryl, shut / did want to find out
where old Dick was going. But Dick
was ready for me-, and as close as
wax"
Eyes, / know-tried it on myself
with him the other day" said Shocks
refiectively. "Dick informed me he
was making a careful study of mares