The Bemidji pioneer., 1901-08-08

W. Il
z,3KlsSdf Arley Ransome
m IRMYN went OFF to bush
lEsA1zN ness early. The
4. -. first thing he did
was to send note to the earl, saying
that all difficulty was removed; his
daughter had consented; the only
thing remaining was for him to ask
her to settle the wedding day.
Lord Caraven read 1t through, then
crushed it in his hands, and finally
tore 1t into shreds and threw 1t under
his feet. He had not brought himself
60 a proper state Of submission yet.
He would have given the whole world
to escape from Arley Ransome; but
the choice was plain enough ruin,
shame, despair, or marriage with the
dark-eyed girl who was mot his style
and whom he was quite sure he should
never like &
The marriage should take place IN
due course. The Ransomes had as It
were drawn him--nay. forced him
into it; the consequences must recoil
on themselves. In his own mind he
considered the daughter quite as bad
as the father indeed he made little
distinction between them. The union
was to be; there was no further need
OF scFnple. They wanted his title, he
wanted their money. He would be
civil to them, they could not expect
more. 5s
On that evening Hildred Ransome
received letter and ring. The en-
yelope bore crest and she knew at
once that 1t was from Lord CaraVen.
The contents were short, but to the
purpose; 1t was not a love letter, for
there was no semblance OF love In It.
MY Dear Miss Ransome: ! have to
thank you for your consent to my
then came a word that had been care
fnliy obliterated and wishes" written
over 1t. with your permission I will
call tomorrow. ! have sent you an en-
gagement ring will you wear It?
am your" here there was an illegi-
BILE word
"ULRIC CARAVEN.'
She laid the letter down with sigh
and smile. She had fancied that a
love letter would be very different.
sShe opened the little parcel that ac-
scompanied the note; 1t contained a
magnificent diamond ring her engage
Inent ring. She placed 1t on her fin
ger, and the sun falling on 1t made 1t
shine like fire. Still, as she looked at
lit, her eyes filled with tears. She
i would have liked some one to put the
ring on her finger; although she was
engaged to be married, and was to
be countess, she felt very lonely
and desolate.
Arley Ransonle smiled when he saw
4 the ring At least 1t was an earnest
OF good things to come.
tVery nice, very appropriate" said
che lawyer really a ring suitable
for the coming Lady Caraven.
The day after brought Lord Caraven
himself
That Interview was something to be
remembered Mr.. Ransome, hoping to
make matters smooth and pleasant,
had Invited his future son-in-law to
dine with him, and that he might not
feel dull had asked the humorous and
brilliant talker Mr.. CARNEY to join
them.
nc was well that he had done 90, for
the actual presence of her lover seemed
ito strike Hildred dumb. She looked
ait him whenever she found that he
was looking elsewhere. She thought
him very handsome. His indolent,
careless grace contrasted so favorably
with her fathers sharp, brisk manner
She wondered why the earl looked
worn and haggard. He was only
twenty-eight, her father said. She
wondered, too, why he was not more
-empresse In his manner. He took her
down to dinner, and the only words
sa,ey exchanged were about the warmth
OF the day During dinner they never
smoke, save for the most ordinary civ
flities. When dinner was over, the
earl evidently preferred the society Of
aMr. CARNEY to hers.
tsWhy had he asked to marry her il
nc did not care to talk to herr" she
said to herself 'tHow strange IT
was." Then her father invited Mr.
CARNEY to have a game at chess, and
the earl walked slowly across the
rooom to where she was sitting. He
stood by her side, tall, stately, de-
spite his INDECENT grace OF manner
Her heart heat What was he going
to say? He bent his head somewhat
stiffiy.
az have to thank you. Miss Ran
some he said "for honering me by
wearing my ring.
She looked UP at him, and there was
something in the calm gaze of the
pure eyes before which he shrank as
her father. had done.
you wished me to wear 1t, did you
not?''' she asked. My father thought
So
Certainly. am delighted"
Try as he would, he could not con-
zeal tone of irony. She detected 1t
and looked at him again. He bowed
and continued
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