The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-06-24
CHAPTER !.
A. knoNlesworth Hall

|
meath the southern terraces CT Knowles
worth Hall.
The beautiful and stately house, this
vast property in one OF the fairest and
most fertile counties In England, had
been inherited by her. the only child
of parents now some years dead.
She was just 10, and life With its
fairest promises lay before her, while,
so far, love had not touched her heart.
| Some seven years before the opening
of this story her first and only grief
had fallen on her. when she lost her
! mother a sweet and gentle woman,
sensitive and flaglc with a strain OF
romance in her character, which had
led her to marry for the second time,
the Count Massini, an Italian and a
widower, With a son three years older
than Edith. The counts sight had be
gun to fail before his marriage With
| Edith's mother. soon after he became
| totally blind.
His aiiliction had from the first APP
| pealed to the maternal and protective
instincts which lie dormant in every
| WOmanS nature and are laViShed on
those they love. Her life was devoted
to him, and in return he created her
happiness during the ten years of their
married existence. After her death he
| and his son Max continued to live at
Knowlesworth Hall, the family circle
being added to by Lady Bysshe, Edith's
maternal aunt. who was a childiess
| widow.
Maxentius, for brevity called Max.
| who wished to become doctor. had
been sent to Marlborough, and after
ward TO Cambridge, from where at the
opening of this tale. he had just come
down. bringing With him his intimate
bts ss,ior. >'''i'7' " eo''''e VI 'e<A'
AS Edith watched ,he erac;ons
curves made nv ewnllows in her tiirht
elt,s ana 1onli,l, - r sUl' 'sai 81
coming toward Nor
"Ua5pv eirl,,' lady py,ssha said as
she seated bersalf - sI,Innse NO bovs
haven't come hack vrt ~, we wnmiS
have heard them. Man is so noisy, 30
49,, i,,toi,,t Nd 10 81 lio''s' 10
In a way," Ed,lh answered ,honsbt-
fully "l;,cr instnIoa ,,,,s.,,. ga. ,
ynury man On e,eii,, i,ti,,,,rt,, &c NJ,
/ Gore: ali his IDEAS AFRO s,lnnlicI 10 Nm
h, N1,,.., MS 'NeS'' ~ u'p'ie'' W ''''''
.,W Mo no douht &c ,yil,ing 10 c;yo
what costs MIN sn li,tia md NV ha;7afi,
! himself so much
"rnt where is bis ottr,ctio, ror
I Maxi"
Mr., COTE js tho son of . vn,lth,,
! Namchoste,. n,ar,,fn,.t,,,,,,. ,,a ~,
one day be a rich man,
do Won him, mai ie v.h,. MAJ, c,1ti-
Yates hi.n?" F,dtth said
J Il know il is, His father scnt him 10
/ NIarlboroIrI, ma r., t,.,,,1l,,,i,7na ~ ~,
Z ,nio,,t ,,,nat via, tI1os w., ,,,t,,l
! wards be ot services 70 nm, ~ n'Ia If
the uges Of mathematics far v1;li[.l,' nyen
poor naronts ara Sometimes whine -,
pay more thln they cam afrnr1
! ''you don't like NJ" f,li;ti, cue
4 ,resteI GUS
Il hone YOU don't nv dear,
! "He mas aIvsays hoo, yr,I, l,;,a .,
me"
( nITie inte,estY ,,,,,,I7. To-, = l,i,,, - l., >,
Il am afraid YOU thjnk him ycr,.
nlercenary. As fo, me, flnn,f MINI,
7 he cares i'm the least ah0iIt nancy. he
never refers to it, bat ALWAYS sDeal;g
1 of his anxiety for my future happi-
/ ness
! "But remember dea,. cbil,7 t1,ot 10 is
I Mas father FIRST ana yonI. etnrra+ba,,
and guardian a1terward"
! II am Very fond of him" said Edith
| stGul!T.
But l hope not so fond as to obey
| him when he asks you to marry his
son. as he Will some day" said her
aunt, with some show of anxiety.
| That day has yet to COME reulied
Edith, who was amused at her aunt.s
perpleXity and fear.
| Edith. said her aunt after a few
moments, consideration, tell me- do
YOU IKE Dunstant Burb&Sc?'
on he is very nice, Edith replied in
lone OF indifference.
! lie is more than that, my dear He
IS handsome, distinguished looking and
clever. Now, II | We're Il girl"
lou You IKE MN very much, Auntie?"
H's parents are dead, and feel like
mother to him" she continued in al
solter zone.
Aui! ne, dear SAID the girl SYM
Pathelicaiiv, as she laid her hand
cafeSsinsly on mat OF the elder wom
| an.
f1aNe you never heard suppose
was 10 nave married his father, Col
oliel surpaSe? You VIII not wonder
'nat MS son Is very dear to me-
YES, ne must be-, the girl replied
syilipa' hetlcaiiy.
e'Ilce ne mas grown up have always
ASKED MIN 10 spend his holidays here.
chiefly in the hope that you might fall
III rove WIN MIN. That is why I
ASKED MN mere at present. You see
what conspirator l am
Edith smiled, but made no answer.
knoW, Gear, Lady Bysshe contin-
t ueu. 'hat me fact or his earning his
:, Nv a' i,ise ny ms PROFESSION would make
no ulllefehce IN your regard of him."
None Whatever Edith assented.
AS woman OF the world, who has
,ifa lnueh ana seen great deal of
ny, consloer myself judge of men,
ana l feel sure Dunstan would make
you h;ipPE.
but II cannot love him. the girl
I5 stTateu,
Lady Bysshe turned away her head
III slience unwilling that her bitter dis
"Ppoili.li,eiit snouid De seen.
w nre s5i me silence that followed
W. VAS lliea raIhef 1han interrupted by
. .ls ~ sMe'i!,s holeS OK an organ,
u .,.,4iI RON me mouse ana vibrating
with a delicious harmony that thrilled
''e sleepy summer ar.