The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-07-27


glance at Lilac as well as Sabina, ant
a trif1ing emphasis on the adjective.
The Californian girl could not ge
over her astonishment. Miss Emmot
certainly seemed to be we'll acquainted
with the handsome stranger, and JUS
as certainly she had spoken of him
little while before as if his face were
quite new to her.
II did not know that you We're &C
quainted with Mr.. Mowbray when you
pointed him out to me-" she said il
surprise; and Sabina answered hur-
riedly.
mo; only thought that I did. He
is so much like Lieutenant Cardew.
whom / met last summer in London,
that I expected him to recognize me.
I can scarcely believe now that it is
not he.'
"And Miss Enlmott was good enough
to allow me to take the lucky lieuten-
ants place in her circle of acquaint-
ances," explained the stranger rather
vaguely, and Lilac was left as puzzled
as before.
She could not believe that Sabina
had actually started an acquaintance
ship with an entire stranger by delib-
erately pretending to mistake him for
friend who did not exist. Sabina
crept round to Lilac's side as the Ma
jor, who had smoked his cigar. return
ed from below, and she whispered in
her ear:
For goodness sake, do not let papa
know that introduced myself to Mr..
Mowbray! Pretend that he is a friend
of yours. You had better introduce
him."
Then, as If fearful OF being seen in
the. strangers company, she hurried to
tell her father that their charge had
unexpectedly met an old friend on the
boat. She hung behind Mr.. ,Mowbray
till the necessary introduction had been
given by the girl who had remained
involuntarily talking to the handsome
stranger.
II thought that you must have rec
ognized Miss Marvel" said the Mapor
to Mr.. Mowbray as he shook hands.
when saw you looking 80 hard at US
from across the deck just now"
The stranger, warned by an implor-
ing glance from Miss Emmott, merely
smiled in reply, and Lilac said MOTH
ing. She was burning with indfgna-
ton at the manner in which Sabina
had dragged her into the deception she
was practicing on her father. but was
too generous to make an exposure OF
her to him. The very enormity of her
offence-as 1t would appear in the eyes
of the strict old soldier-made her hes
itate for his sake more than Sabina's.
and. before she could decide on any,
thing to say, the chance Of disclaiming
any previous acquaintance with Mr..
Mark Mowbray was lost
Major Emmott remained for few
moments exchanging commonplace
with the man who had just been in
troduced to him, in which Sabina Joined
modestly. Then father and daughter
wandered to the side Of the ship and
leaned over the taffrail. to admire some
maritime wonder that the old gentle
man had iscovered in the water, and
on which he wanted to found a lecture
on zoology for the benefit of his
daughters mind.
Mr.. Mowbray did not allude to the
acquaintance that Sabina had invented.
although there was an amused twinkle
in his blue eyes. He looked down at
the magazine which Lilac still held
open in her hand at the story which
she had been reading, and which had
interested er so much.
II am child Of the prairies myself"
she said. and, for Roy's sake. she was
glad of the look of surprise that flashed
into his blue eyes. Until few days
ago was living on just such ranch
as this story describes. therefore 1t was
full Of interest to me-"
81 expect, then. that you will be able
to detect any mistakes that the author
has made" said Mowbray; but Lilac
shook her head.
II think that the author himself must
have lived in a Californian ranch"
THAT is high praise from one who
knows" said he. "As a matter Of fact.
the author stayed only for a fortnight
at farm on the prairies."
"Then you know him?" Lilac's beau
tiful face was full Of interest, and Mr..
Mowbray smiled as he answered:
Eyes. You have not looked at the
author's name?"
The girl turned to 1t, full Of excite
ment, and her face flushed when she
read underneath the title. by Mark
Mowbray."
'Then you are an author?" she said.
with awe in her voice. 1T has always
been one Of my great ambitions to
meet an author"
Major Emmott. glancing round from
where he stood. noticed the girls flush
ed face and animated manner AZ she
spoke.
'sir Roydon Garth's nancee seems to
be much taken up with this friend Of
hers" he said to his daughter. II
wonder where they have met before?"
81 wonder. papa!' said sabina In
nocently. Lilac did not say"
She too had noticed the animated