The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-07-27
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
There was a hue and cry throughout
the prison. and the new governor was
furious with rage. He was as unpopular
with the prison officers as he was with
the prisoners themselves; and although
he swore by all that was good that. I'M
less he was found. or the whole thing
made clear, he would discharge as far as
he could every official under his control,
they heard him with great calmness in
his official capacity, and wished in their
secret hearts that the escaped prisoner
would get clear off.
In vain the governor fumed and fret
ted, and raved and strobe to and fro;
1t did not help the matter, or do any
more good than the advertising of it in
every newspaper in the kingdom. 1t was
never very clear, even to the clever men
who inspected the grim building with q
view to locking the stable door now that
the steed was stolen, only that the work
men had been at work on the roof, and
that there was missing a coil of rope
and a workman's rough pilot jacket.
at will be remembered" said a news
paper paragraph, "that Notwithstanding
the extraordinary vigilance displayed by
the governor and officials, a young man
named George Temple. who was commit
ted for five years penal servitude for the
crime of forgery, had managed to make
his escape. Nothing had been heard Of
him till Wednesday last, when nearly the
whole Of the prison clothing, though
much worn yet perfectly recognizable,
was found OF the banks of the river, and
there was little doubt that the unfortu-
nate man, finding it impossible to live,
had committed suicide, or been drowned
In attempting to cross the river
This sensational paragraph was read
with flushed cheeks and palpitating heart
by Maggie herself. 1t was one of her
favorite amusements, reading the inter-
esting part Of the newspaper, and SO she
saw this minute account Of his death,
this George Temple, forger and escaped
convict, and for the moment that she
remembered him as her husband, a great
sol' had risen IN her throat, a great pain
in her heart; but having paid this tribute
to his memory she felt so lightsome and
gay, she breathed so freely, and was
80 happy. that she could not stay in the
house. but roamed into the woods. trip
ping along with a great joy in her heart,
and a great song in her voice.
She has known Randall st. John just
twelve months-only one year-and
what delight, what ecstasy she has
known in that year! She stops presently.
leans against the trunk of a giant oak,
ard looks back to the day she met him
first, when the woods were just putting
on their russell suit, as they were now.
"Randal." she murmurs, with a happy
sob--"Randal, my lover
Then there is a great crash through
the brushwood, and the voice she knows
so well. the music she loves so dearly,
that fills her heart with an exquisite
pain, says. Maggie, Maggie, my dark,
beautiful darling. l love you! l love you.
Oh, let me tell you or my heart will
break! Say l am not indifferent to you,
dc arest-say you care for me ever so
littlel oh, Maggie, Maggie!" and there
are sobs in the young mans voice as he
looks UP at her. Love me. my darling,
as I do you-as / do you!'
He Is kneeling here, at her feet, on
the russell moss. and trembling ~anxiously.
And what does Maggie do? She kneels
beside him in an earnest, loving. wom-
anly fashion, rare to see, and she whis-
pers, "Randal. my sweetheart, | love
you--Iflove your
Then there is a passionate embrace,
and they seal the confession with a long,
loving kiss. There they sit: Randall
very exacting. now, till Maggie pulls out
his watch in imperious playfulness; and,
arm in arm. they stroll homeward, meet
ing May, across whose sweet, fair face
passes a dreadful spasm of suspicion and
pain. Then to dinner, with the happy
secret between them, that Is to be a ser
cret for such a few hours nov, and
dreaming and wandering in fairy land,
this newly hetrothed couple.
1.-THE world for love, and the world
well lost" is Randal's thought as he
dresses this evening, with a new joy
and content irradiating his face. And
May, In her own room. Is speaking COM
fort to her heart. with a nameless fear
and dread for which she cannot account.
and . trembling apprehension in her
voice very pitiful to see.
Randall does not speak OF his love to-
night, bur says lightly. as they prepare
to leave the roonr soon after the ladies',
IF you can spare me an hour tomorrow
morning, should be glad"