The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-06-22
NJ a G G ies II G a t

tie first time, something had rebelIed
against 1t in his heart; and now IL she
had spoken of her as anything but Mag
gle, he would have felt the change as n
sharp pain. He never swerved from his
allegiance, or ave one atom of his heart
to his betrothed's companion. but he
was none the less fascinated by her
charming ways, her perfect innocence.
The next morning they received a let
ter from Ernest. 1t was full of deep
feeling. and written straight from his
aff~ectionate heart. He had heard some
thing of the story at mess,'' he wrote,
before getting their letters, but it was
so wildly improbable, SO garbled, that
he could not believe il. But now-well,
now he sent all the kind, deep love of his
heart to his mother and sister, and to
Miss Duncombe he could only give his
thanks, and they were so wretchedly
poor on paper that he should count every
day till Christmas came, and he could
thank her for himself with all his heart.
There is great happiness this morning
in the Cholmondely household; and by
and by. when the horses are brought,
and Maggie and Maud are cantering
down the square in the most joyous spir-
its, Mrs. ~Cholmondely is reading an old,
old letter with quivering lips, and an
expression that is not all grief ON her
tear-stained face.
They meet again just before dinner,
and Maud says dreamily, and in a low
tone, II wonder if Ernest will lose you
as dearly as we do, Maggie?"
Il hope he will like me, dear" re-
turns Maggie, quietly, and with an in
nocent smile. why what has put that
into your head?'
Il don't know. dear, only that he
never wrote such a letter before"
And then, arm in arm, they go down
the broad staircase together.
Will he love her? Will he worship
her with all his heart, and soul, and
strength? Only d few weeks to wait
for the answer; only a few weeks, and
then a season OF holly and white-berried
mistletoe, and peace and good will to
mankind" Will he love her as dearly as
does his sweet sister? Will he meet his
fate by the sad sea waves this coming
Christmas time?
|
Archie had left Brighton for Leices-
tershire at last; and the ladies are alone,
looking forward to Christmas-merry,
Jovial Christmas time, with it's carols,
and evergreens. and joyous meeting of
old friends, and hearty good wishes for
merry times.
They We're happy enough in their ele-
CANT home, and every day seemed to add
to their love for Maggie, and to the dis
covery of new charms and enjoyable
traits ia her open character, highly graf
flying to Mrs. Cholmondely.
Maggie, however. was sad to-day-a
shade paler thar usual, and a little
weary. She had had a letter from Burn
ham, full of affectionate, loving kind
ness, and gentle messages of hope and
trust, and with many trembling words of
encouragement. They had heard from
George, they wrote, in answer to their
letter, and they gave just one little quo
tation from his epistle that set her think
ing deeply. when | have completed
time" the poor fellow had written
when | begin, please God. to lead a new
and more earnest life, l will take my
far way over the sea, and we
will m n new life. 1t will be
hard work at first, and we shall have
none Of the Injuries, even if we manage
obtain ell tie r~ecessarics OF lie; but
unaccustomcd as my gentle darling is to
rough it, | know she will make any sac
rifce for the deep love she bears me-"
And then a lot of heartfelt, loving mes
sages, that had been written as the
lava of love had overfowed his
heart. and had sent the scalding tears
swiftly down his worn cheeks. For If
ever man repented with his whole soul
If tears of bitter regret could ever wash
the sin Of the past-if yearning
is ever heard-if the recording
angel ever lowered over this despairing
building wherein poor George was vainly
against the bars. and wearing
out his heart in an awful despair-then
surely heaven would be merciful, and
give him great joy and content in the
future.
IT was so unutterabiy, awfully strange
to tliis poor young man that he often
whispered strangely to himself that it
must be a dream. He did his work me-
chanically; got up and lay down, did
the exac same things day after day in
hopeless. dreary, lonely fashion thas
was enough to drive him mad in this
ireary monotony of rule.
Poor fellow! he has heard that Maggie
IS at Brighton, living in a family as com
and guverness-"a kind, good
lady," his aunts had said. "who would
be sure to treat her kindly" And he sits
Town to his oa~kumrpicking. he sees her,
Imagination, very sad, quietly dressed,
a pale face and fearful eyes. in her
grief calling To him, iii a whis-
per. as she has to bear the petty annoy
,nces OF a dependents life; and he
the tears from his eyes. and raises