The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-08-03
M a G G / e S H e a

gle still occupied in Mrs. Cholmondely's
heart. Il saw the death Of e. 7. an
nounced." she had written. "You will
know who | mean by the initials. II
was very sad: but perhaps all was for
the best. But let me give you one piece
OF advice. Tell your husband that par,
OF your history at Fulham; because you
must marry him as a widow, and IL had
better be told him before marriage than
afterwards"
1t was very distasteful to Maggie, this
underlined piece OF advice about her
husband and her Fulham nome. 1t was
true, she thought she might say that he1
husband had died. without giving any
troublesome particulars: but would Ran.
dai love her as he did now, with the
idea that he was winning d fresh and I'M
touched love-? She feared not; and she
set her teeth firmly, and walked up and
down the room, and decided that she
would not tell him yet, at all events.
The young man had pressed for an
early wedding, and had been so ener
getically backed up by May in his spe-
cious arguments that he succeeded be-
yond his widest hopes.
The whole county, far and near, was
excited by the forthcoming event, and
visitors poured in from morning to night,
and Maggie, being the center figure OF
interest, called hither and thither every
bour Of the day, was of great impor-
lance and in her glory.
Thus the golden hours were numbered.
They had a last walk this hot autumn
hnu IN the old -rnnJc - H.. A..
both, and sat down on the ferns by the
little brooklet, with its FLASHING music,
end talked of the future.
Randall she says, somewhat merry
ously, IF there was a secret in my life
IL | was not what you think me, would
YOU love me them"
Il should love you always, dear, and
under every circumstance in life"
But, Randall" she persists, ~''suppos-
ng that | had been married before, that
you were my first love and second hus-
band, would you love me them
For the answer to this he folds her
to his heart, and says, passionately, "My
darling-my love, l would marry you! /
would give my life for you. and would
count it well lost! / would not care
for life itself, if anything came between
us, my own darling Maggier'
And the golden hour slips by, and she
does not tell him of the past, only dallies
with him, and pours out her heart to
him-this naughty woman; this felon's
wife, or widow; this proud. beautiful
creature, who is rushing on to her fate
~headlong.
1t has caused a sensation, not in the
n~eighborhood alone, but in Mrs. Chol-
mondely's household. That lady has told
Ernest, and he tells her he has seen 1t
in the papers, and they talk it over; and
IL poor lame Ernest does not win the
battle, he, at least, comes off creditably
after that long fight with his own heart.
But he comes down next morning almost
resigned, and whispers to his mother the
next evening that he has seen Maggie,
and she had rushed up to him and shook
hands with him, end made him come
irto the shop where they were buying
trinkets for the wedding. And the poor
fellow has to fight the battle all over
again.
But wedding wells are waiting to ring,
and two loving hearts TO be joined in
one, anu 80 dll lHuSl pc JOY anu luCIil
ment, and great content. Mrs. Down
ing is in her glory, choosing wedding
raiment; and Maggie is all aglow with
anticipation, and neither dream
that d~ark-haired Maggie will live and
die Mrs. George Temple.
CHAPTER XXyI.
The wedding day drew near, and
there was a great fear and dread at the
young brides heart. Every day she had
declared she would tell him all, and ev-
cry evening that came saw the task
unfulflled. So she put it off from time
to time until it was too late. for they
were leaving town, and Randall was not
to see her again before the eve of the
wedding day.
She is happy tonight; forgetful of ev-
erything but the present-forgetful even
of the secret that has to be told, how
sic knows not: thinking of neither past
nor future, but only watching the sink
ing sun. and catching the red light as
it flashes back from the western win
dows, dimly seen through the vista of
trees.
There are giant shadows falling
around her, a cool breeze Is just begin
ming to whisper through the leaves Of
the trees, and she stands listening to
the murmur, without a thought Of any
ting in the world but that 1t is exceed
irgly pleasant, and that just now she is
very happy.
So absorbed Is she that she does not
hear footsteps rapidly approaching her,
and starts violently as a hand touches
her, and shrinks away, half frightened.
Ii is only a grimy little boy, with his
mouth distended into a grin Of satisfac-
ton.
The lad gives her a scrap of paper.
pointing to a figure lodging behind the
trees: and presently a tattered, beggar
like looking man rapidly crosses the path