The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-10-09

changed my mind. I ran my hand
Soothlngly over Whitesocks shoulder
ana reviewed the situation.
The enmity Of my uncle and his re-
tanners was making Nant-y Bryn no
peasant place Of refuge. 1t is true
that my heart plucked at me to hold q
footing on almost any terms in tho
place where Enid Vaughan lived but
at terms which did not hold with gem
tie2nan,s credit and dignity 1 could
scarcely stand. 1t was certain that l
should become a still keener object of
dislike after the tale went about the
grooms fellows of the manner in which
l had handled him, ana the confusion
OF languages served his turn and him
defed' me from putting myself right
l. must so to Sir Arthur" thought /
and explain this affair. aud | slipped
Nhltesock's halter SO that she was
Tree in her stall. No one would venture
TO assault her While she was loose and
went to the house. My uncle had
peen crossing the courtyard as | went
to the stables, but he had avoided
speaking to me, and / now sought him
IN ms library. | was about halfway
down the hall to the door when voice
Which | had difficulty in recognizing
as Owains broke out into a shrielling
fury of defamation.
Welsh gentleman of pure descent
| could almost have smiled for when
ever OWain was very furious he always
stood upon his lineage But this was
no smiling matter. He seemed nearly
lnaruculate with rage, and was crying
out In Englich, always used in particu-
lar conversation as a precaution
against servants picking up Informal
ton.
You dare to propose this to me- You
you Anger seemed to choke his
voice, and there was q soft murmur
as OF some one else rapidly speaking
IN a low tone, then the scream broke
forth again Other lives to offer AZ a
sop to the authorities-'tis blackcr and
blacker-other traitors, You dare to
say the word 'traitor'' And Owain
gave loud shril laugh of contempt.
Upon hearing this outburst, I had
checked my steps and WAS about to
turn away, when the door OF my uncles
room was burst open. and Owain, his
face flaming with rage. appeared on the
threshold. At sight of me he stopped
and threw up his hand with dramatic
gesture, then went swiftly across the
hall in another direction Behind him
came Sir Arthur his fingers out
stretched, as If to grasp Owain and
draw him back; but when lie saw me
he started out of sight. It was certain
ly very awkward to come upon them in
the midst Of some quarrel, but as l had
shown myself It seemed to me best to
get over with what l had come to say,
and l went into the room.
l found that my uncle had returned
to his accustomed seat and was STAR
ing, with shaded eyes, into the fire. 1
told him plainly what had happened,
expecting some petulant outburst, but
he heard me without q word. I finished
my speech and stood silent, but he
neither lifted his head nor spoke. I
waited little while, then left him, and
crossed the hall in the direction which
Owain had taken. I glanced into the
room where meals We're spread and
| found it empty. A huge turf fire was
piled on the wide, cavernous hearth.
and I walked up to it and stood staring
into its glowing depths, bordering over
my future movements, when the door
opened and some one entered. 1t was
| Enid Vaughan. She came toward me
with a slow, steady step, the freight
shining on her beautiful face her soft,
dark glance meeting mine, earnestly
and sadly. I bowed and FASTENED to
| draw a chair forward for her. but she
stopped me With her hand.
| Master Heathcote," said she, in her
low. clear voice, you must not stay in
Nanty- Bryn. You are in danger here. .
Are we not all in danger?" said I.
II was not thinking of those wretch :
ed creatures who attacked us yester
day" she said. Surely they received
too dreadful a punishment to be dan
gerous any more. You are in especial
| danger"
Not only here, but everywhere
else" said I.
H er kind sweet eyes filled with pity
and she lifted her hand little, then
let it fall again.
Have you no friend who will shield
you, you have only followed a sacred
duty?" said she.
II came here in that hope I replied,
but" l hesitated a moment, and she
asked me in her quiet. direct fashion,
do you feel yourself safe here, Mas
ter Heathcote?'
'Trankly,' said !, Il do not. Mistress
Vaughan. My mcle's bullet skinned
my brain pan too closely last night for
me to feel at ease"
How do you know it?' cried Enid in
a low, eager voice. "Oh, how glad
am to find you warned" / scarce
knew how to tell YOU But to hear that
you know! She stopped and drew a
long sigh Of relief.
II cannot answer clearly TO! the
manner in which it has been impressed
| upon liz, piiSN' iNihSN 'ii't
lay down last night too confused to
think of anything. and that l woke W
| firmly convinced that his hand and nc
| other fired the shot"
"Siani saw it all said Enid
Vaughan. "Siani saw him running tc
the door With a carbine In his hand
| Perhaps he meant at first to fire at the
enemy 1t is certain that he laid the
piece deliberately for you"
II have it now" l answered.; ut was
his face as he peered into the ditch
which has been running through my
thoughts and guiding me to a sure
end" and I told her what l had seen.
"Why should he offer to do such q
| dreadful thing?" she asked. You, his
nearest knsman and fighting bravely
for him."
mot for him." said I; Il though!
only Of your safety
A faint, beautiful color rose into hel
face and she went on: "Siani told me
Of it last night after had seen you
and I scarce knew what to do. Now
she comes with other news, and
dare not let you remain ignorant OF
your danger These people would
| She stopped and I nodded my head
II understand" I replied; 'let him
but lift his finger and they
| I stopped in turn, and she drew a
| long breath and said, Yes" softly
II could not let them mishandle the