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

"a
in the library at that time"
Thanks, uncle, that will do admira-
bly," And then they go into the draw
ing room.
"Who is for q game Of whistT" asked
| Mr.. Royston.
mot IT, said Randall; Il can't be
quiet tonight. Besides, l want to talk
to May"
So the NO sit down, and Maggie plays
so badly that Mr.. Royston wins the first
game. which he announces with a chuckle
Of delight. But the room is empty by
this, and May and Randall are in the
conservatory, half-concealed by a flower
ing shrub.
Presently he speaks to her-very soft
! ly, very lovingly, as In the old days, be-
fore the dark, bewitching woman had
ever been heard of at Changmoor, and
seats her comfortably in one Of the lawn
chairs that are scattered here and there
through the glass building.
II have something to tell you, May.
1 may conidc in you, may | notI'
She murmurs something, and he
presses her hand; and she returns the
pressure ever so gently. and then he
continues. "You know, May, how / have
always come to you in all my trouble,
from the time we were children together,
how often you have consolied me, and
how dearly I have always loved you?"
She whispers, Yes, Randall" and
there is no pretense now to keep back
the happy tears.
Seeing this, he says, Dear Sister
May" and kisses her cheek. And then
he goes on. never needing the paling
face or the frightened, half-petulant at
tempts to withdraw her hand. well
dear, as / have always brought you my
grief first, so tonight bring you my
JOY to share with me-, and TO tell you first
my happy secret. l think you must have
half guessed it before this. l am in love
have been for twelve months past; am
now, with all my heart and soul, with
the loveliest, sweetest girl that was ever
created to make a man happy; and she
returns it, May. You sympathize with
me. do you not, dearestY"
Eyes, yes, Randall! But who-who is
the ladyY'
Miss Observation-Disclosures, your com-
panion-who else could | ever lover And
You have never guessed it! Oh, May, l
thought your woman's cunning would
have found it out before! Why"
But he says no more, for May throws
away his hand, with a hoarse spasm Of
pain, and rushes from him through the
lower door, and straight up into her own
room.
"Why, what is the meaning of this?"
exclaims Randall. with wide-open, trou-
Mod ay-ac nd fhan tt.ifh a p,,aft1l
face. he goes back to the drawing room
and says, Miss Duncombe, May has
been taken i'll, / am afraid. Will you
kindly run up and see if you can help
herY"
Maggie had rushed up to Mays room,
only TO find the door Locked, and to catch
the faint sound of so5bing. She knocks
presently, and says, Miss Dacre-
May, it is /. Pray let me come in,
dear"
mo, no; l am better, thank you," re-
turns a hoarse. strained voice. go
away. l shall not come down again. Say
good night for me-"
And the wondering Maggie takes down
the message, and May turns to the wall,
and pressing the pillows to her mouth,
sobs ready to break her heart.
She gets up III the morning, brayely
resolving to keep her secret well, the
tw;tching Of her lips Notwithstanding,
and stands before the mirror, wiping
away the tears that will keep coming,
TIL she can weep no more: and battles
her eyes for the iftieth time, and goes
down, with dark circles under the blue
orbs. and a face as white as alabaster.
She has wept her fill. and the tears
have only left a dull, aching heart; and
she feels that henceforth every day
will be a blank to her, and that her
young life, once so joyful is at an end.
They meet at their sumptuous table,
and May, choking back the lump in her
throat, kisses Maggie as usual, and gives
her hand to Randall, and looks at him
fearlessly, her heart brimful of bitter
love. There is a great constraint ON
them all, and not one enjoys the meal;
for ever Mr.. Royston is meditating so
deeply on the coming interview that he
forgets to eat.
Here is the purple and fine linen, and
sumptuous fare; and in a country road,
a beggar with a startled, frightened face,
| constantly looking over his shoulder, is
| saying to a good-natured looking gentle
man riding by, "Sir, sir, give me some
thing for bread!"
Something in the mans voice arrests
| the gentleman's at s%ntion; possibly he is
a superior sort z beggar, and so he
stops his horse. and the rough man peeps
| up w~istfully into his face.
Have you a wife?" he presently mum
bles, eagerly.
yes" says the gentleman, smiling.
For her sake, then-for her sake!
Who knows that you may not be like
me, some dayY'
And at this the gentleman laughs, and,
admiring the plea, gives the ragged feb
low a shilling. and trots on.
There is no connection between Chang