The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-08-03

Only a few lines, but such as make
such women us this hard and cruel as
the grave. Aud she sets her teeth firm
~. and her face Is as rigid as marble.
She gets up presently, stands up proud
ly, and throws back the beautiful head.
Never" she says, fercely-never!
Give up Randal-my love!-never. Soon
or death" And she tears up the little
sheet or paper in a fury Of passion.
throws them down in a little heap, and
stamps on them again and again. Il
defy you!" she says, pointing her finger
in the direction of the wood. And, for
my loves sake as well as my own, / will
fight to the last! Give up Randnl-my
love-neyer!' And she kisses the ring
he has given her for pledge of betrothal,
and the diamonds and opals fash back
the sparks from her eyes, that are filled
with passionate tears.
So she sits. stern and quiet, but plot
ting deeply; steeling her heart to do and
dare, and using all the subtle skill of
her woman's brain, which has never
been aroused till now, and murmurs, at
last, "Oh, for the day to pass, and Mr..
Royston at home once more. | shall not
be safe until he is back again.
The secret that has haunted her late
ly-the fear that when her story had
been told, this man whom she loved so
~passionately might cast her off as un-
worthy, was as nothing to the secret that
would have to be kept now that she has
read these few lines.
IF Mrs. Atkins will only GOMEZ she
murmurs; "she may help me! / have
read of such things being done, and why
not now? My only hope!" she says,
drearily. "But if she will help me, all
may be well! He cannot follow us
abroad, at all ~events!" And then she
blows ont the candles and PAGES up and
down the room. She looks out of the
window furtiyely, and starts, for she
fancies she sees a shadow passing to and
fro beyond the lawn.
Maggie writes a letter next day, and
after luncheon she and May drive down
to the village in the pony carriage. Al,
rived at the p~ostofice, Maggie jumped
nimbly out and posted the letter her
self, and then came and stood for a mo-
ment beside the carriage ere she got in.
There was Black Jem, as usual,
standing at the alehouse door, talking to
a very ~disreputable looking a whom
he seemed to treat with great contempt.
He points out the vehicle presently,
and its inmates: and his companion,
after two or three eager questions, sides
up the street, followed by a sneering
laugh from Black Jem, and presently
~orr~. Meet; xrhD IrolyS cft.oiubt M
him without f%1inching.
He mouths strangely as he passes her,
looking ms if he would spring upon her;
and when he steps a little farther on,
to watch Maggie get into the carriage
again, he laughs a little awkwardly, and
hangs his head, and, as the ponies start,
runs a little way after them; and Black
Jem calls after him mockingly, as the
ragged fellow sneaks round a by-lane,
and jumping over a gate, lies down I'M
der the hedge, shaking with convulsive
scbbing.
He would not be a bad-looking man
this, only that he is SO terribly thin and
gaunt, and has such a look of a broken
heart In his wan face.
why. that was a mailman May had
said, with a shudder. What can he be
doing here, and from what asylum has
he escaped, 1 wonderg'
II don't think | saw him very plainly,
dear; but ought not such people to be
kept from roaming about?'
'Oh, yes, dear, if he we're in an asy-
lum, he would never be allowed out
again. We had a poor fellow in the
village here. who really at times seemed
as sane and collected as you and |, and
at other times would tell the strangest
and most ridiculous stories, claiming a
queen for his wife"
ITO be sure," said Maggie; ''that is so,
of course. And what became of him,
this man who claimed another mans
wife? Where is he nowT'
"Oh, they got him taken to the county
asylum, and there he Is now"
Mr.. Royston comes home, tired, glad
to see his park and woods again. Mag
gle is so like q daughter now that the
old man kisses her and pets her, ard tells
May, whose heart is sinking terribly as
she watches his proud caresses, mot to
be Jealous
Ito be continued.l