The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-04-20

Marcia found an opportunity to ask Flor
cnce If she had heard from Vance.
| "I--why, yes, l have" said Florry,
hesitating to tell
DO you know where he is now Flor
enceT
He was in New York. l do not
know whether he is there or not. He
said he had business there to attend to-"
| Yes, papa had one letter saying the
same said Marcia, signing
| When the guests left River View, as
they were going home Marcia told Louis
| OF her short conversation with F'lorry.
And Mr.. Louis knew that Florence had
not told Marcia all she might have done.
| There was reason for keeping his visit
| to New Haven n secret, then. That it
mt all concerned him was not likely. but
Mr.. Louis would have given much to
know what it was.
| Whatever might be going on at the
North, Mr.. lie Dru's case seemed to be
in fair way to prosper in Kentucky.
Lionel and Maggie left home for we'd
ding tour of four weeks the day after
they were married They intended to re-
turn in time for Marcia's wedding.
| Vance, also, would be home by that
time, and the day would soon be fixed
upon.
But Mr.. Louis intended to be married
l'and gone before Vance got home He
did not mean to return to South Carolina
at present, but winter in Florida would
not be a bad idea. il Marcia was his
companion, and he had plenty of money
And the Squire certainly could not OBJ
ject to a lengthy wedding tour.
On the Monday morning after Lionel
and Maggie went away, the very day on
which Vance had hoped to start west
with Nettie, Mr.. Louis rode to Frankfort
| for the mail
He came back with a long face, ate
scarcely any dinner, and seemed so de-
! jected that when, as they rose from the
| table, he turned to Squire Douglas and
| asked for a few moments interview, the
good old Squire hastily said, "Yes, GER
tainly, certainly, my boy. But do trust
you have received no bad news
| Louis led the way to the library before
he answered. When they were alone he
said, with a deep sigh: II have had
news. sir Ii rests with yourself and
Miss Marcia whether it is to be consid
cred good, or bad j received this morn
| ing n letter concerning my property in
Florida which demands my presence at
once-will keep me there for two or
three months most likely"
II was not aware that you owned land
in Florida, Louis"
| Il suppose not, Squire. l have not
been wont to boast Of my possessions"
The truth was it had never occurred
TO Mr.. Louis before to say that he had
/ property in Florida, simply because he
did not have any.
| Are you obliged to leave us at once,
LOUISE
Yes, sir. 1t must postpone our we'd
ding, unless the wedding comes first.
And what difference would it make? We
| should go on eur wedding trip in three
or four weeks; anyway, it is only IA few
days earlier, Squire is
ALL"
/ Yes, l see, my son! Well. send for
Marcia. If she is willing to hurry her
preparations little, it's all right with
me-"
Thank you, sir! oh, thank you!" cried
Louis, eagerly seizing and pressing the
old gentleman's hand. II consider my
| cause won, for almost know i can win
1 Marcia's consent"
| muTCM WAS SuiiiiHOneu anu the case
presented. 1t seemed to her almost a re-
! lief to be married and gone before Vance
came home. 1t was wrong for her to
| love him now--after her marriage she
would surely be able to forget him. and it
was but difference of few days after
| all--what did it matter? She readily
consented to go to Florida. and they
concluded to send out the cards for Tues
day. the 24th. just a week and one day,
| MS early, Marcia said, as they could
possibly get ready.
Maggie would not he at home. but the
1 Squire fervently hoped that Vance would
be there. Marcia earnestly hoped he
would not. SO did Louis, but for differ
ent reasons. However. Louis thought
there was no danger of his arriving by
that time ~.
When Florence received the news ii
struck terror to her soul. Only week.
| What If Vance did not Gomez But he
must come. She must get him word.
Letters were too slow-there was only
one way--to telegraph. She had his adj
dress both at New Haven and Willow
/ bank.
Vance was not ut New Haven. A
message sent there would never have
reached him. TO dispatch from Frank
fort. Fiorry did not dare. They knew
so many people there, it might chance to-
come to Louis knowledge-that would
not do to risk.
So Florence suddenly discovered that
she must have some articles before Mar
cia's wedding, which she could not find
in Frankfort, but must go over to Lex
ington TO procure. She went, the very
next day--on Tuesday morning. But
from the train she almost few to the
telegraph Office. and sent to Vance this
! message: