The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-06-22
CHAPTER XVI.

liza A<Ab
Captain Cholmondely was enjoying his
solitary breakfast in his bachelor cham
/, bers in the Albany. this dull morning,
just before festive Christmas. He was
a picture. as he sat there-a good-tem-
| pcsed smile on his handsome features; a
fresh glow or his manly face.
Il wonder what she is really like? 20
he s~oliloquizes. Il never knew Maud
so enthusiastic before. And as brave as
a lion! She must be a rare girl! Well,
l shall see her soon; and a very happy
time we shall have of it, I hope" he
"From Maud's account, she
must be superlative. A wonder that my
mother has never mentioned her, except
in the most casual manner. before her
brave rescue of my sister; but perhaps
little Maudie is too enthusiastic"
His man has everything packed and
ready, and after a hearty dinner, Ernest
starts for Leicestershire. He is to stay
with the Colonel and Archie till Christ
mas eve. and then to go on to Brighton.
to spend the festive season with his
mother and sister.
lie finds it a very pleasant journey.
The stars are out, and very bright they
look through the car window, and they
seem to shine for him, this happy young
man; the sky is a deep, dark blue, and
the wind stirs with a gentle murmur.
And by and by the stars will have no
silvery brightness for him, and the sky
will be to him as heavy as his own act-
ing heart, and the wind will whisper
mournfully to him with a sad and plain
tive wall, that shall echo in its cadence
only the sigh that is going up to heaven
from the bruised heart within his breast.
Blu all this is mercifully hidden from
him. Once he sees n dark. pretty face
peeping out of a fur-covered. coquettish
little hat. and he thinks OF Maggie and
his sisters description, and wonders in
his smiling, happy way if she will realize
his vision of beauty.
He is at his journeys end at last, and
is met by smiling faces and hearty words
of welcome, and glad offers OF service.
The old Colonel greet him on the
early morrow morn. and. as it is not a
hunting day, takes him out with Archie
to look up the pheasants. and has no
fault to find with the Captains skill,
and no regret at having placed him in
the warmest corner.
So they have a pleasant day, with nc
frost looming in the distance to spoil
the hunting, and the Colonel is in high
good humor. They have a well-served,
easy dinner by and by, and very pleasant
the old ~oak-pnnelled dining room looks
with its polished floor and log fire and
old-fashioned dog irons on the hearth,
and a goodly display of gold plate on
the sideboard.
They were not very sorry that Christ
WAS y.lS ca non a,d fbaf %tnx- xr,uo
going home; for, however delicious it
might be for a time in this land of plen-
", this famous Bachelors Hall. Archie,
Mt least, longed to be by his dear
nj aude's side once again; and Ernest was |
wishing to see the lovely girl that was
being coupled. in beauty and bearing,
with the noblest and best in the land.
On Christmas eve there was great ex-
element in the Brighton home, for the
party were expected this evening, and
all was joyous anticipation.
Maggie had pretended to be very nerv- |
Gus and frightened, and Maud and Mrs.
had entered into a little jest
heartily. and had declared that dear Err
nest was a positive ogre as far as ladies
were concerned. and had never fallen in
love once all these years.
They were awaiting anyiousiy in the
room after dinner. And. pres |
emily, a great knocking. and hearty
end here They a. are. shaking
hands with Archie and the Colonel; and
the proud, fond mother clasps her stall
wart son in her arms and kisses him low
And then Maud, whom he places
at arms length, and declares that she
has grown quite a young lady. and that
Archie had not prepared him for such a
surprise; and she bushes and smiles and
murmurs, Dear Ernest!' and he kisses
tenderly.
Ernest has not seen Maggie yet; but,
as soon as he finds time to think, he Won |
dcrs where she is: and then Maud leads
her over to her brother.
Ernest. DEAR" she says-and the
young man jumps up with a start. as the
lovely vision-the face of his dream
before him-"this is Miss Dun
that I wrote to you of. Maggie.
dear, this is my brother Ernest"
There she stands, her long, dark lashes
sweeping her cheeks. and presently she
raises her eyes and timidly holds out her
tiny hand.
He actually catches his breath with a
sob, this brave soldier. as he takes her
hand, with a quick, tremulous grasp,
that sends the blood coursing through his
holly, and he is trembling like a
seLool boy.
He goes through the evening as in a
talking. and laughing. and listen
ing, but finding not a single word, even
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