The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-07-13
CHAPTER XXI.

- shbit " l<llICbI DldCtu HIS
foot once more on English ground. The
Preparations for Maud's wedding were
almost complete, and his presence only
was wanted to bring happiness to all
their hearts.
There was a great change in the hand
some Captain since he had left that dark
night for the morrow's rendezvous on
Calais Sands. He looked worn and pale,
and limped painfully as he walked. But
he had not forgitten his love for Mag
gle.
He drove straight to Eaton Square,
where all was commotion and prepare
ton for the wedding. The ladies were
ont shopping, not respecting the hero
home to-day; and so Ernest, after inquir-
ing for his mother and sister, and Miss
Duncombe, and thanking the servants
for their kindly inquiries, had gone into
the drawing room to wait their return.
1t is all very familiar to him. and he
looks out in the hot sunshine over the
dusty square, and goes back to the day
in the green-leafed spring, when he had
stood there with Maggie and the rest,
before that fatal night. He was stand
ing looking over there, and thinking,
forgetful of everything else in the world
but the dark girl as he had seen her last,
and saw and heard nothing till a great
r~ustling of silk and muslin, and his moth
err was rushing across the room, crying,
Ernest, my darling!" and sobbing over
him, and kissing him, and welcoming
him home. my dear boy" she says,
with trembling lips, why did you sur
prise us like this? I" And before he can
answer the question, Maud in his arms,
embracing him a~ffectionately.
Did you not get my letter."
mo, indeed" said Mrs. Cholmondely,
"or / should have been at Dover to have
met ycu. We have not had it."
All! it has miscarried, then. l sup
pose And then they look at him with
painful scrutiny, and note how changed
he is, and how grave and quiet.
he moves presently, walks over TO his
sister, and his mother almost gives a
sob of pain. Surely. surely her boy is
not always to walk like this, she thinks:
and even Maud. gentle Maud, starts yio-
lently as she looks at him. They had
told her that he would be a little lame,
but the reality is terrible. and brings
great tears to his mothers eyes.
And how is Miss Duncombe?" he
asks. presently; land where is she to-
dayT'
"She is very WELL says his mother,
rather coldly; and as she notes the light
in her sons face as he hears this, her
heart turns as cold as stone, and every
spark Of love for Maggie, for the time
being, goes from her. go and see if
Miss Duncombe has taken off her things,
dear" she says, gently, to Maud, and
bring her down. She is going to leave
us presently-that is. as soon as the we'd
ding is over" adds Mrs. Cholmondely.
lightly and carelessly.
Leave You mother! You astonish
me. indeed. Why should she leave?'
well dear. | do not want either a
Governess or companions; and, Of course,
Maud will not"
"She saved ny sisters life. mother,
end that is something to be considered"
Very true, my dear boy; she behaved
we'll upon that occasion, and it shall not
be forgotten"
And at this juncture, Maud and Mag
gle come in, and Ernest rises and Pushes
painfully as she gives him her hand, and
with real feeling in her voice says she
is glad to see him home again. And look
ing into her eyes and holding her hand,
the Captain is quite content.
There is a grand wedding in the house.
and all is bright and beautiful; flowers,
and ~favors, and bride cake and speeches:
and Maud is Mrs. Archer Grenfelf; and
the old Colonel, with a sigh of great
satisfaction and delight, feels that the
n great object Of his life is accom-
plished.
The bride has left to change her dress;
and Maggie. with a tear-stained face, is
waiting to help her, and to say "good
by"
She looks down upon the little dark
face, as she kneels at her feet, pulling
out a fold of her dress, and then the
shadow has departed. and they kiss each
other. and CRY happily over each other
like two dear sisters.
So the young couple start on their
honeymoon tour, and their voyage of life,
amid a shower of white satin slippers;
and the Colonel goes to the Continent.
and Mrs. Cholmondely and Maggie and
Ernest are alone.
Mrs. Benson had duly become Mrs.
Atkins just before this, and Mrs. Chol-
moDdely had made her a handsome pres
cnt. to help furnish the house, she had
said: but Mrs. Atkins had stored that
away, and had devoted much time and
ingenuity in completing the furnishing of
her house from secondhand furniture
shops, that she might not touch her gold
en- hoard.
Ernest was sitting talking to his moth
er. soon after the wedding, and looking
out at the open window. He looked
very pale and sad tonight, and yet with
a resolved look on his face. Presently
he looks up. and says, "And so Miss.
Duncombe is going TO- leave you, moth
err"