The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-01-02

/ good plan TO rid ones self OF spirit
ed young man Ny obstinacy was but
increased by what she said, and
made IL point Of honor to remain.
And her solicitude for my safety still
more confirmed me in the resolve.
You must not think me inquisitive,
madam" | replied; but il Graden is
so dangerous a place you yourself per-
haps remain here at some risk"
She only looked at me rc9roach-
fully.
You and your father'-but she in
terrupted me almost with a gasp.
"My father! How do you know
that?" she cried
Il saw you together when you land
ed" was my answer; and l do not
know why, but it seemed satisfactory
to both of us, as indeed IL was the
truth. But" / continued, you need
have no fear from me. ! see you have
! some reason to be secret, and, you may
believe me, your secret is as safe with
me as If were in Graden Floe. / have
scarce spoken to any one for years.
My horse is my only companion, and
even he, poor beast, is not beside me.
You see, then, you may count on me
for silence. so tell me the truth, my
dear young lady, are you not in dan
ger?"
| MIR. Northmour says you are an
honorable man." she returned, "and
believe it when / see you / will tell
you so much, you are right; we are in
| dreadful, dreadful danger, and you
share it by remaining where you are"
"Ah!" said 1; you have heard of
me from Northmour? And he gives
me a good character"
Il asked him about you last night"
was her reply. Il pretended" she hes
itated Il pretended to have met you
long ago and spoken to you of him. 1t
was not true; but l could not help my
self without betraying you and you
had put me in a difficulty. He praised
you highly"
"And-you may permit me one ques-
tion-does this danger come from
Northmour?" I asked.
From Mr.. Northmour?" she cried.
ooh, no; he stays with us to share it,"
While you propose that / should
run away?" l said. "You do not rate
me very high.
why should you stay?" she asked.
You are no friend of ours"
/ know not what came over me. for
had not been conscious of a similar
weakness since was a child, but
was so mortified by this retort that my
eyes pricked and filled with tears as |
continued TO gaze upon her face.
mo, no." she said in a changed
voice; Il did not mean the words I'M
kindly"
1T was 1 who offended" / said and
| held out my hand with look of APP
peal that somehow touched her, for she
] gave me hers at once and even eager
ly. / held IL for awhile in mine and
gazed into her eyes. 1t was she who
first tore her hand away and, forget
ting all about her request and the
promise she had sought to extort, ran
at the top of her speed and without
turning till she was out of sight.
| And then / knew that loved her,
and thought in my glad heart that she
she herself-was not Indifferent to
my suit. Many time she has denied
1t In after days, but II was with a smil-
ing but not a serious denial. The fol-
lowing day we again met.
The next, and that was the fourth
day OF our acquaintance, we met in the
same spot, but early in the morning.
with much familiarity, and yet much
timidity on either side. When she had
once more spoken about my danger
and that, I understood, was her ex-
cuse for coming-I, who had prepar-
ed great deal of talk during the night
began to tell her how highly valued
her said interest, and how no one had
ever cared to hear about my life, nor
had ever cared to relate II. before
yesterday. Suddenly she INTERRUPTED
me, saying with vehemence:
And yet. if you knew who 1 was,
you would not so much as speak TO
mel"
told her such thought was mad
ness, and, little as we had met,
| counted her already a dear friend: but
my protestations seemed only to make
her more desperate.
My father is in hiding!" she cried
MY dear" l said. forgetting for the
first time to add young lady" what
do ] care? If he were in hiding TWEEN
ty times over, would it make one
thought of change in your"
"Ah, but the cause?" she cried. "the
cause! 1t is" she faltered for a sec
ond-''it is disgraceful to u.s."
Ito he nontinued