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

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has been crying, he thinks, poor darling;
and his great loving heart gives a bound
Of pity. and he looks at his mother ~
most reproachfully.
You look tired, child" Mrs. Cholmon-
dely said, softoning a little; and she al
most involuntarily takes the pretty face
between her hands and kisses hsf.
There, good night!.' and she releases
her; and the Captain, with q warm glow
on his face, limps across the room and
opens the door, and whispers, Good
night" as he takes her hand. He sits
down again, and there is a silence be-
tween them for a few moments.
Mother" he says, suddenly, ''befose
l met with this-this accident, you re-
member you were wishing that | would
get married. Do you remember it?'
Yes, my son, WELL" answered Mrs
~Cholmondely, with a sigh.
well / think the necessity is great
er than ever now. / shall never be a
very active fellow again, mother. l
shouldn't feel it so much if had a low
ing wife; and l fancy / could be very
happy, even if / have to limp all my
days"
well DEAR" said his mother, taking
his hand, what is it that you wish me
to do-choose you a wife?"
mo; only make me happy by approx
ing my choice. After all, you ought to
love her as dearly as l do; and ii l can
only win her, and get you to receive her
as a daughter, / think ] should be the
happiest fellow alive"
MY own boy the fond mother had
said. "as if / would not love any one you
cared for! Why, Ernest, it will be the
only object of my future life to mako
you Happy. Come, dear, who is the lady
not Mabel, / supposed"
mo, mother, not Mabel; a lady of no
family, for aught | know; one who has
only her beauty and grace and fearless
bravery to recommend her; but one who
to Inc is inexpressibly dear"
'IIer name, Erpest-who is she?"
Miss Duncombe, mother, or, as you
call her, Maggie-heaven bless her!"
mo, no, Ernest, not her-not Maggie,
my darling boy! You surely are not in
earnest?"
why not?" said her son, hoarsely. 81
say yes. / am perfectly in earnest:
have weighed the matter and counted
the cost; and, the world Notwithstanding,
I say yes!'
MY lear boy, you cannot marry her!
land, oh, heaven, that / should have to
tell you why!r
"Comc, MOTHER said Ernest, bend
ing forward and setting his teeth firmly;
''let me bear al-the best and worst,
il there is a worst-for my future life
is in your hands" And then he had
closed his teeth firmly, and stilled the
loud beating of his heart, and prepared
to listen.
close the door, and slip the bolt"
Mrs. Cholmondely had said, in a hoarse,
low voice, but very distinct in its tone;
and the young man obeyed her behest,
and came to her side once more.
The shadows had fallen very thickly
by this time, and for a quarter of an
hour there was nothing to be heard but
the monotonous trembling voice telling a
story, interrupted now and then by a
gasping breath, and then deep silence;
and then a laugh-such a hollow, fearful
laugh-and the Captain has risen like a
half-drunken man
"ImpossibleEof course it isp' he ex-
claims. "It would be madness, pure and
simple! Ha, ha! Excuse my laughing,
mothert' And then he had limped from
one end of the room to the other. md
come back and said. in a dry. hard voice,
Don't speak to me. mother!r' And she
could see the broad chest heave. And
presently his head sank upon his hands,
and he kneit at his mothers feet in the
darkness, Wrestling with his agony Of
heart. and crying in spirit for the tears
that would not come to relieve his over
charged heart.
BY and by the lamps were lighted, and
mother and son looked at each other
steadily, with the secret between them
shining darkly from their heavy eyes.
And then a solemn embrace, and a night
of restless tossing to and fro in dire ag-
ony of spirit.
The Captain had left next morning be-
fore Maggie had risen, so his last words,
too, were Of kindness and gentleness:
face for the last time.
He bade good by to his mother, by let
ter, and rushed off to the gaming tables
at Homburg and Daden-B Baden; and, for
many a dreary month after, tried tt live
a reckless, ~dissipated life.
And his mother, hearing all this bad
news, yearning towards him with all her
great love. has nothing but bitterness for
the dark girl who has unconsciously
caused it. And SO she Is breaking up her
home: she il preparing to travel, to meet
her daughter Maud. and Miss Duncombe
must really exert herself to obtain an
other situation. There were offices. she
believed. where these situations could be
obtained, and Miss Duncombe might adj
vertise. She should be very happy to give
her an excellent recommendation.
Cro be continued.b
r.--. LIZ. C.o.t Do.,