Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1901-07-20
BisaDear little Girl.

had always called her, ever since
they had met and loved each other.
He was in Ireland now with his
regiment, but he wrote very regular
ly to his dear little girl, and though
there was no question of any for
NAL engagement between them, he
had assured her that their under
standing was as sacred bond to
him as any public betrothal, and of
course she believed him-for she
was young, and she loved him.
She was thinking of him as she
walked down the path to meet the
postman this was her letter day,
and Irish letters always came by
the midday mail to the Devonshire
village, where she lived within sight
and sound OF the moaning sea.
1t was late in June, and the Sum-
mer wind tossed her pretty hair
against the cheeks, which were soft
and flushed like peach. The post
man was coming up the hill a smile
crossed his weather-beaten face as
he caught sight of the waiting figure.
1.-TWO letters, missy, this morning"
he said, as he sorted them from his
bundle "that's all, miss"
Two letters!
She went out on the cliff side with
them one was, of course, from Ter
ence how well she knew his dear,
untidy writing! She smiled as she
put it in her pocket; that must be
kept as a bonne bouche.
The other one was in quite strange
hand writing, and she tore it open,
looking at it's contents with bewilder-
ment. A blank sheet of paper en-
closing small newspaper cutting
met her eyes. What could it mean?
The color faded from her cheeks.
ave understand that an interest
ing engagement will be announced
before the end of the Summer, and
we may safely offer our good wishes
to the beauty of the year, Miss Sar-
geant, at the same time congratulate
ing the gallant fsnce on his luck.
Mr.. Dawnay is well known in Dub
lin, where his regiment is at present
quartered."
The little bit of paper tell to the
ground. OF course it was not true!
Someone was trying to make mis-
chief between them. That was all.
Why, he was hers-he had been hers
from the very first day that they
had met! The newspaper did not
know what it was talking about;
she eyed the envelope with disgust;
who had done this thing? And who
was Miss Sergeant? Terence had
never mentioned her.
She pulled his letter out of her
pocket and opened it, reading it with
a sudden chill, which quenched the
happiness in her pretty eyes.
my Dear Little Girl have hard
ly moment tor a letter, so l am
afraid this will be very short, but
there is so much to be done here Just
now, what, with polo and goodness
knows what else besides, that l have
enough to do to get everything done
in the day. I'm going down to stay
near Cork next week with some
people called Sargeant-jolly house
and no end of gayeties, OF course; l
wish" (there something had been
scratched OUT II could have man.
aged to run over to you, dear, but it
is quite impossible. You see, there
are our maneuvers coming on, and l
must be within easy reach of head
quarters. l don't know that there is
anything of interest to tell you. l
have been thinking lately that it's
bit rough on you to be kept hanging
on for such an interminable time
not that I've altered, you know that
but, you see, things are not looking
very bright for us, are they? It's
awfully late, / must stop. Good
night, dear little girl. Ever yours,
"TERENCE."
The sun was hidden by thick
cloud, the sea moaned on the rocks
below, and light wind rutfled the
waves. 1t looked like a change in
the weather. But the girl did not
notice the signs OF change. Her eyes
were fixed unseeingly on the letter
in her hand. She stopped and pick
ed up the little paper, which she
had allowed to tlutter to the ground
unheeded. No need to read it again.