The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-08-26


so much that without you my life
will seem q miserable failure. for
hall have lost its greatest good, Its
iearest prize. In losing you. But don
ct me speak OF loss; give me hope
ct n thin. you care for me a little
and ! shall be grateful. for l will fan
hat little into a fame"
Il love YOU" she said simply, earn
.stly.
My darling!" he cried out, wild for
he JOY within him, my dearest! Oh,
4 you knew my happiness! Tell me
again and again that you love me-that
Fou really Lowell"
She held out her hand. which he
covered with kisses.
TO think that you really love mel
he said ma:veling at his Incompatible
rue"
Il love you" h repeated, as II
slorying in the words.
He put his arm tenderly round her
'houlders and Kissed her with longing
md fervor to which his maturity lent a
.orce and depth unknown, to youth.
A minute later and a footman
brought in tea, and they were presently
'oined by the count and Lady Bysshe;
but Geoffrey held his peace until he
Vas alone with his aunt in the draw
1g room before dinner.
When he told her she said: II knew
I by your face when l came in to make
ga: and Edith told me before she went
20 dress. l congratulate you with all
ny heart"
Il am the happiest man N the
Horld!" he burst out.
You have reason to be. oh. Goef-
'rey, hope you will always be a good
husband to hat dear child"
Trust me. trust me-" he answered
confidently, reSolutely.
Il do" Lady Bysshe said quietly, her
syes fixed on him.
I hope we may marry soon.' said he,
Gaming against the chimney-piece.
How impetuous you are!" she re-
Piled.
Consider all the years Of happiness
! have lost" he said.
Nothing Is ever lost. You were
gaining experience to prepare yourself
or your fate. And as to marrying soon,
vou Will have to consult the count
about that; for she will not be of age
or nearly two years, and my poor dear
infatuated sister made him Edith's sole
guardian
Accordingly. when Edith and her
lunt Quilted the dinner table, and the
'ervant had left, Godfrey drank a
Iiass of claret at a gulp. and point
consented to become his wife. The
effect was electrical. The count held
he cigar he about to light midway In
ne air. his eyes fixed themselves on
pace and a look Of disappointment
,pread over his handsome, digniled
ACE.
The news surprises me-" he said,
after a moments silence. 'I had no
dea-that-that-"
I was not sure that she would &C
sept me until today. But now she has
Iiwen her consent. hope her GUARDIANS
NH not be refused" said Godfrey, his
eyebrows twitching a%nxiously.
The count lay back IN his chair in
client consideration. It was plain that
ae was mastering all his tact and
adroitness In his effort to hide from a
:riend ana guest the disappointment
MS news brought him. and to frame
as reply with gentle h~eedfulness of his
nat the announcement had come upon
aim quite unexpectedly. that his posi-
aon as guardian was a great RESPONSE
olllty. that he was bound to take every
:are TO secure the happiness Of the
Flrl left In his charge. who was as lear
e nm as ~ she was his daughter.
sdith little experience of the world,
vas unsophisticated. was an heiress,
nd too young to arrive at a decision
mat ~irreVocably involved her whole flu
Godfrey winced at the reference to
.St wealth., ana immediately gave an
account of his income, which her In
aerttance and his earnings combined to
make a handsome annuity.
AS for her age" he said, II think
'he Is old enough to know her own
mind, many girls marry younger"
Il disagree with you as to her being
old enough to know her own mind" re-
Piled III count. and you must forgive
me If I remind you that you are many
years her senior"
II she is sure enough of her low for
me-" Godfrey told him. ito accept me
as her husband. h should be sutfici-
ent for her guardian. At all events.
she will be her own mistress in less
than two years"
Yes. and II I withheld my consent
until then. I should be free of adj re-
possibility" said the count. But per
.haps that delay would seem unkind to
you and her and my sole desire is for
her happiness, to save her from the
possibility OF making a mistake. There
Tore, I will say this: II at the end of
eighteen months from now she is still
willing to become your wife, I will give
my sanction to the marriage"
h count could not prevent 1t being |
made public, so he nodded his head
IN silent agreement, and rose from the
table TO end a conversation whose sub
Ject, 1t could plainly be seen u,as f.r