The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-06-15
M a G G i e S II e ar t
CHAPTER xIi.-,continued.,

SnAf ER All.-tOOutluue0.l
'Who is this Miss Duncombe, Archie
Aye know" asks the Colonel. Where
does she come fromi Her face is known
to Inc somewhere but 1 don't know
where Have you heard where she comes
from, ehT'
mo, sir; ! have thought the same
thing myself. Her face is strangely IA.
miliar to me; though who she is, OF
where I have seen her, is the greatest
mystery in life"
Doesn't Maudie know all about where
she comes from, and who sine is?'
well. | believe not, except that. she
Is young friend of her mothers; indeed,
she is SO delighted with her that / think
she has not stayed to inquire who and
what she is.'
ITO be sure not; that's just what
admire about our little girl. She knows
her mother is the best judge of what
is good for her, and SO she doesn't trou-
that music Ell? Why, that isn't Maud's
voice, surelyi"
No. uncle; that must be Miss Dun
combe's. Maud can't sing like that"
well. well: stay here a moment;
am a bit tired getting up these stairs.
i have heard a voice like that, Archie,
my boy, but where don't know; it was
III my younger days, but know was
foolish enough to cry over it. There,
there" said the old Colonel, petulantly,
as the voice stopped, and the music was
siler &; IF | am an old fool, don't wish
to make young one Of you. Come
along" and SO they entered the draw
ing room.
Mrs. Cholmondely whispers to the
Colonel to take his forty winks" IL he
feels sleepy, and that the young people
viii amuse themselves; but he says, mo,
no, Mrs. Cholmondely; want to have
little quiet chat with you, and am not
a bit sleepy"
So they spend very quiet evening,
the lovers playing at chess, and Maggie
looking on, and making a suggestion now
and then TO help both sides as the game
goes on.
Presently Mrs. Cholmondely and the
Colonel approach the little table with
smiling faces, and the lady says softly,
maggie, darling, we would like to hear
you sing one Of your favorite songs"
Certainly, dear madam" replies Mag
gle, gently and she goes to the piano,
and strikes a few sympathetic chords,
aud begins her song.
The chessmen are thrown aside as the
first bars are sung, and there is dead
silence in the room broken only by the
tremulous voice, and the wailing notes
of the music, as she trills out the beau
tiful ballad, angels Listening to her
Prayer" and, when finished, there is
stifled sob to be heard in the room.
The Colonel has pulled aside the cur
tains, and, looking over the moonlit sea,
Is murmuring the refrain of the old song
a loved one had sung In the old days long
gone by, when they were boy and girl
together, and he had given her all his
heart.
He turns presently, with the bright
tears still in his eyes, and seeing Mag
gle coming to him, he draws her gently
rcverently and sadly, and presses again
her hand to his lips.
They break up soon after this, and he
is leaning over the rails, with Archie
by his side. looking, with sad, but very
happy face. at the moonbeams quivering
on the foam-crested water.
lie turns to his nephew, and says
thoughtfully, "A rare girl, Archie; per-
feet in all her points, and as handsome
as picture, She has takca me back
years and years, and touched my heart
as l thought it never would be touched
again. God bless her, and make her
husband and herself as happy as you
and Maudie will bel"
II wonder If she will ever break a poor
fellows heart because she can't return
his lover murmurs Archie, with a
dreamy look in his kindly eyes. II won
der what Ernest is doing tonight, and
il he will manage to keep off the rocks ?
Who is she" he continues softly to him
self. "ana where have seen her?' And
there Is no answer to his thoughtful So
1iloquy but the gentle soughing of the
wind.