Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1902-02-21

were under cultivation; the dairy con-
tanned the produce of n hundred cows:
and altogether Mount Pleasant was con-
sidercd one Of the finest and most profit
able estancias in the province. The house
was llow worthy of the estate: the inside
fence had been removed fifty yards fur
thcr off, aud the vegetable garden to :,
greater distance, the inclosed space being
laid out entirely as a pleasure garden.
Beautiful tropical trees and Shrubs, sor-
gcous patches of flowers. and green turf
surrounded the front and sides: while
behind vas IL luXuriant and most produce
tive orchard.
The young Hardys had for some time
given up doing any personal labor, and
We're lncessantly occupied in the super
vision of the estate. \. year previously
Mr.. Hardy had, at one OF his visits to
Buenos -Ayres. purchased a piano. saving
nothing OF what he had done upon his
return; and the delight of the girls and
their mother, when the instrument ar
rived in a bullock cart. was unbounded.
From that time the girls practiced almost
inccssantly; indeed, as Charley remark.
ed. it was as bad as living in the house
W. AA ClOO VI Kills.
After this Mount Pleasant, Which had
always been considered. as the most hos
pitable and pleasant estancia i'm the dis
'flct' became more than ever popular.
and many were the impromptu dances
got up. Sometimes there We're more for
nal affairs. and al the ladies within
twenty miles would come in. These We're
more numerous than would have been on
pected. The Jamicsons were do:m- well.
and in turn going Cor IL visit to their. ma
tive country. had brought out two bright
young S%cotchwomen as their wives.
Their n%cighbors at Canterbury were
still their most intimate friends: they
were shortly, however, to lose one of
them. Mr.. Cooper had heard six
months before of the death of his two
elder brothers in rapid succession, and
he was now heir to his fathers property,
which WAS very extensive. 1t had been
supposed that he would ut once return to
England. and he was continually talking
of doing so: but. he had under one en-
cusc or other, put off his departure from
time to time. He was very frequently
over at Mount Pleasant, and Was gan-
orally II companion of the BOYS upon their
excursions.
II think Cooper is almost as much here
as he is at Canterbury" Charley said,
laughing. one day.
Mrs. Hardy happened to glance mt
Maud and noticed Il bright flush of color
on her checks. She made no remark at
the time. but spoke to Mr.. Hardy abou.
it at night.
"You see, my dear" she concluded,
W are still considering Maud as IL child.
hut other people may look upon her as a
woman
Il am sorry for this" Mr.. Hardy said
after a pause. 1--WE ought to have fore
seen the possibility of such a thing. Now
that it is mentioned. l wonder we did not
do so before. Mr.. Cooper has been here
so much that the thing would have GER
tainly struck us, had we not. as you say.
looked upon Maud as a child. Against
MIR. Cooper l have nothing to say. We
both like him extremely. His principles
are good, and he would, in point of
money, be OF course an excellent mattel,
for orr little girl. AT the same time. |
annot permit anything like an engage
mcnt. At the end of another two wears.
when Maud is 10. il Mr.. Cooper rcnev,s
the acquaintance in England. md both
parties agree, ! shall OF course offer no
objection. ana indeed should rejoice much
at Il match which would promise we'll for
her happiness"
Mrs. Hardy thoroughly agreed with
her husband. and so the matter rested
for Il short time. 1t was we'll that Mr..
Hardy had been warned by his Wife. Tor
81 week after this MIR. Cooper met him
alone when lie WAS put riding. and after
some Introduction. expressed to him that
he had long felt that he had loved his
daughter. hut had waited until she MAS
seventeen before expressing his wishes.
Mr.. Hardy heard him quietly to the end.
II can hardly say that / am unprepar-
cd for what you say. Mir. Cooper. al
though l had never thought OF such IL:
thing until two dass since. To yourself.
personally. / can entertain no objection.
Still. when | remember that you are only
; twcnty-siN. and that for the last fofs.
| years you have seen no one with whom
you could possibly fall in love. with the
exception OF my daughter. l can hardly
think that you nave had sufficient oppo,-
tunity to know Your own mind. Next
, month she proceeds to England with her
mother. and for the neNt two years she
| will he engaged. upon finishing her elu-
| cation. AT the end of that time l shall
myself return tt England. and we shall
! then enter into society. If at that time
YOU are still of the same Way of think
| ing. and choose to renew our acquaiut-
ance. l shall be very happy"
Mr.. Cooper c%ndcavorcd i'll vain TO alter
Mr.. Hardy's determination. and was az
last obliged 10 give the required promise.
Two or three days after this he rode up
and said that he had come to say good
him To return at once. and had therefore,
made MP his mind to start by the ncNt
mail from Buenos Ayres.
For Il few days Maud was unusually
quiet and suhdued. but her natural spir-
it's speedily recovered themselves, am!
She was soon as lively and gay as ever.
About n fortnight after tho departure
Of Mr.. Cooper an took place which
for Il while threatened to upset all the
plans which they had formed for the fiji
turc.
One or other Of the girls was in til"
habit Of frequently going over to stay TO.
Il day or two with Il Mrs. Mercer. Onu
evening Hubert rode over With Ethel.
and Mrs. Mercer persuaded the latter TO
stay for the night; Hubert declining IN
do 50. as he had arranged with Charley
to so over carly to Canterbury 10 assist
nj the branding of the cattle mt that sta
tion.
In the morning they had taken their
coffee. and were preparing for Il start.