The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-07-11


w VIZ her husband which
UAN had begun TO
aS spring up in her
heart. She tried
hard to do her duty, to school herself
In the knowledge that for her life was
TO be without love. But 1t was hard.
She was young and impressionable !;
the earl was handsome and fascinat-
ing. There were times when an ire
sistible impulse came over her-an i'm
pulse to beg him to love her. She re-
sisted 1t, and every time she did so re-
sist her heart grew colder and harder.
II is difficult for flower to blossom in
blighted cold-the buds droop, the per-
fume dies. 1t requires the warmth
and brightness, the kisses and smiles
of the sun to bring it to perfection. SO
1t is with half-formed character like
Hildred's- the sunshine of love and
happiness would have brought it to
fair and blooming maturity. The chill
OF neglect and indifference changed it.
Lord Caraven," said Hildred one
day. who is the gentleman,
should say, perhaps-who comes here
so often?
do you mean John Blantyre, my
faithful friend and steward?" he
asked laughingly. Gle comes every
day"
us that his name? do not like his
Gace."
why not, Hildred?" he asked
1t is not the face of an honest man,
UNLESS Nature has for once made a
mistake in her own handwriting"
1T is not handsome face, certain
iy," said the earl; far from it.
Il am not speaking of mere beauty
OF feature-and perhaps / judge him
harshly," she replied. But it does
not seem to me an honest face. would
not trust the man for-do you trust
him, Lord Caraven?"
Il trust him mplicitly-indeed, / do
not believe / ever overlooked his ac-
counts"
She looked at him in wonder.
Never overlooked his accounts!
How very careless of you'll" she said.
Il am not careful by nature" he told
her. laughing.
But" she observed, earnestly, "such
carelessness is wrong. You put
terrible temptation in his way by not
keeping check upon him."
II suppose" said Lord Caraven, IN
dolently, that l find 1t easier to let
myself be robbed little than to look
after matters for myself"
The dark, eloquent eyes, as they
were raised to his, expressed great
deal
{ What do you do with your life?"
she asked ut seems to me that you
have no idea of duty"
Nor have I. know well what to do
with my life-I enjoy it,"
There can be nothing more to add"
said Hildred. but If I were you, Lord
Caraven, should look after my ac-
counts"
She thought great deal after that
conversation. 1t had opened her eyes
more fully to her husbands character
She decided to study him.
Was he generous? She thought at
Yirst that she might say yes" They
were riding one day. and they met a
poor woman begging with little child
In her arms; she was poor, hungry, all
in tatters, with pinched face and sad.
weary eyes, pitiful spectacle of want
and restitution. AS they passed by the
earl took out his purse and literally
emptied 1t on the ground at the wo-
mans feet She looked daZed and be-
wildered at this sudden bounty of for
tune. He did not wait for any thanks,
but rode on.
II WISH" he said, "that / could col
leet all the poor people in the world
together and make them rich"
"Was that generosity" she said TO
herself Eyes. it,must be-"
They rode on until they came to a
small cottage-one belonging TO the
Ravensmere estate-at the door OF
which stood a man still young BUT
crippled and bent double with rheu-
matism. A little cry of pain came from
Hildred's lips as she saw him, but the
young mans eyes were fixed with an
evil light on the earl's face.
Hildred stopped to say kind word
to him; the cripple came out and stood
in front of the earps magnificent horse.
MY lord" he said in a hoarse
voice, II have you to thank for these
pointing to his shrunken limbs