The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-08-26
0G9@Ga0@9@@S9@@@ 0@8G@@0@0G0@
so much that without YOU my life

so much that without YOU my life
Will seem a miserable failure, for
shall have lost it's greatest good, it's
dearest prize. in losing you. But don't
let me speak of loss: give me hope,
let me think you care for me Il little
and I shall be grateful, for l will fan
that little into Il fame
Il love YOU" she said simply, earn
estly.
MY darling" he cried out wild for
the joy within him, my dearest! Oh,
if you knew my happiness! Tell me
again and again that you love me-that
you really love."
She held out her hand, which he
covered with kisses.
ITO think that YOU really love mel"
he said marVeling at his incompatible
good fortune. Il can hardly believe it's
true"
Il love you," she repeated, as if
glorying in the words.
He put his arm tenderly round her
shoulders and kissed her with longing
and fervor to which his maturity lent a
force and depth unknown to youth.
A minute later and footman
brought in tea, and they We're presently
joined by the count and Lady BySshe
but Godfrey held his peace until he
was alone With his aunt in the draw
ing room before dinner.
" 1leH lie lOlu her she Sdlu. knew
it by your face when l came in to make
tea and Edith told me before she Went
to dress. 1 congratulate you with all
my heart
Il am the happiest man in the
world" he burst out.
You have reason to be. Oh, Goef-
| frey. l hope you will always be good
husband to that dear child
Trust me, trust me-" he answered
| confidently, reSOlutelV.
Il do" Lady Bysshe said quietly. her
eyes fixed on him.
Il hope we may marry soon" said he,
leaning against the chimney piece.
How impetuous you are!" she re-
piled.
Consider all the years of happiness
l have lost" he said.
Nothing is ever lost. You We're
gaining experience to prepare yourself
for your fate. And as to marrying soon
you will have to consult the count
about that; for she will not be of age
for nearly two years, and my poor deal
infatuated sister made him Ediths sole
guardian"
Accordingly, when Edith and her
aunt quilted the dinner table, and the
servants had left, Godfrey drank a
glass of claret at a gulp. and point
blank told the count that Edith had
consented to become his wife. The
effect was electrical. The count held
the cigar he about to light midway in
| the air, his eyes fixed themselves or
space and a look of disappointment
spread over his handsome, dignified
| face.
The news surprises me-" he said
after a moments silence. q had nc
| ea-that-that--''
II WAS not sure that she would ac-
cept me until today. But now she has
given her consent, l hope her guardians
will not be refused" said Godfrey, his
| eyebrows twitching anxiously.
! The count lay back in his chair If
silent consideration. 1t was plain thai
he was mastering all his tact ant
adroitness in his effort to hide from !;
| friend and guest the disappointment
this news brought him, and to franc
his reply with gentle heedfulness of hi.
hearers feelings. He began by saying
that the announcements had come upoI
him quite unexpectedly, that his posi-
ton as guardian was a great resDonsi
! bility that he was bound to take ever,
care to secure the happiness of tn,
girl left in his charge. who was as dea
TO him as if she was his own daughter
Edith had little experience of the world
was unsophisticated, was an heress
and too young to arrive at decision
that irreVocably involved her whole fu
ture
Godfrey WINGED at the reference t.
her wealth, and Immediately gave al
account of his income. which her in
heritance and his earnings combined t
make a handsome annuity
AS for her age" he said Il thinl
she is old enough to know her owl
mind, many girls marry younger"
Il disagree with you as to her beinl
old enCdVsh to know her own mind" re
piled the count, and you must forgiv
me if remind you that you are man,
years her senior"
IF she is sure enough Of her love 70
me-" Godfrey told him, ito accept m
as her husband. that should be suffic
ent for her guardian. At all events
she will be her own mistress in les
than two years"
Yes, and If 1 withheld my consen
until then. 1 should be free OF all re
sponsibility." said the count. But per
haps that delay would seem unkind t
you and her and my sole desire is 70
her happiness, to save her from tn
possibility of making mistake. There
fore. will say this: II at the end @
eighteen months from now she Is sti
willing to become your wife, l viii Civ
my sanction to the marriage"
The count could not prevent 1t bein
made public, SO he nodded his hea
in silent agreement, and rose from tn
table to end conversation whose sub
ject 1t could plainly be seen, was ia
from pleasant 10 him.