The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-04-28

W!icn, think, had never been between
a woman loved and man VINO. loving
her, was Yet constrained to play the
part of her true lovers friend
| If played this part but stumblingly;
| If at times the madness of my passion
would not be denied the look or word or
| hand-clasp not of poor cool friendship;
! have this to comfort me: that in after
| time, when my dear lad came to know,
he forgnve me freely-nay, held me al
together blamcless, as | was not.
| or what these looks and words and
| hand clasps meant to Margery l had
no hint. But In my hours Of sanity.
| when ] would pass these sippings in
| review, ! could recall no answering
| flash of hers to salt the woundings Of
the conscience whip. SO far from 1t. it
seemed, as this sweet comradeship
| Dudded and DlOSsomed on the stock Of
! II better acquaintance, she came to hold
me more as If | We're some cross be-
! tween a father or an elder brother, and
some closer conlidant Of her own sex.
You are not to understand that she
was always thus, nor over-often. More
| frequently that side Of her which | soon
came to cali the mothers was turned
| to me. and | was made to stand a tar
get for her wit and raillcry. But she
! was ever changeful as a child, and in
the midst of some light testing mood
would sober instantly and give my age
! its due.
III some of these, her soberer times. l
| felt her lean upon me as my sister
! might. had ! had one; at others she
would frankly set me in her fathers
| place, declaring | must tell her what
! to say or do In this or that cntangle-
! ment. Again, and this came oftener
as our friendship grew. she would talk
to me as surely woman never talked to
amy but n kinsman. telling me naively
| of nor &c ri,
liant of them all save only Richard Jen-
infer.
And of Dick and his devotion she
| spoke now and then. as We'll, though
/ never mockinGlN. as OF the others Nay.
| once when pressed her on this point,
asking her plainly If my dear lad had
not good cause to hope she would only
smile and turn her face away, and say
that of all the men she knew the hope
full ones pleased her best. SO | was
thus assured that If 1t We're a scale for
love to tip, my lady's heart would fall
to Richard
Now took this to be hopeful sign.
that she would tell me freely of these
| her little heart affairs; and seeing her
so safe upon the side of friendship,
held the looser rein upon my own UNI
chartered passion. SO long as | could
keep my love we'll masked and hidden
what harm could come TO her or any
If | should give it leave to live in
prison? None, | thought; and vet at
times was made a very coward by the
thought. For love- like other living
things, will grow by what 1t feeds upon.
and once full BroWn, may haply come
to laugh at bonds. however strong or
cunningly devised
With such fever in my veins it was
little wonder that my wound healed
slowly. AS time passed by, with never
q W
If Margery knew aught of the fight
ing she would never lisp a sylla BILE to
me-and With Gilbert Stair still keep
ing churlshly beyond the sight or
sound of me- | fretted Sorely and would
be gone.
Yet this was but \ passing mood.
When Mfargery was with me was not
ill-content to eat the bread of Suffrance
in her fathers house, and angry pride
had scanty footing But when she was
away this same pride took sharp re-
VenSes, getting me out of bed to bully
Darius into dressing me that l might
foot 1t up and down the room While I
was stlil unfit for any useful thing.
One morning in the summer third of
June my lady came early and surprised
me at this business of pacing back and
forth. Whereat she scolded me as was
her wont when | grew FESTIVE.
What weighty thing have you to do
'
1t, Monsieur Impetuous?" she cried.
Fl done! you'd try the patience of a
saint"
(Which you are not" ventured
But truly, Margery, | am growing
stronger now. and the bed does irk me
desperately, II YOU must know. Be
sides"
Wen. what is there else besides? DO
l not pamper you enough?'
| laughed. "Ill say whatever you
would have me sny-so it be not the
truth"
IN have you say nothing until you
sit down.
wickerwork into place before the win
dow-bay, and when l was at rest she
drew up low hassock and sat at my
feet.
Now you may go on she said
You have not told me what you
would have me say"
The truth, she commanded.
What is truth" said testing
PLATE quoted. why do you sup
pose my Lord Bacon thought the Ro-
man procurator TESTED at such time
and place."
You are clubbing. Monsieur John. l
want to know why you are SO impa
tient to be gone"
Saw you ever a man worthy the
name who could be content to bide in
active when duty calls?'
That is not the whole truth" she
said, half absently. You think you are
| Anweicome here"
Twas YOU said that: not L. But l
must needs know your father will be
relieved when he is safely quit of me-"
Twas you said that, not l, Monsieur
John. she retorted. giving me back my
/ own words Has ever word been
| brought YOU that he would speed your
| parting?''
Surely not since l am still here.
But YOU must know that have never
| seen his face, as YET
And is that strange? You must not
forget that he is Gilbert Stair and you
are Roger lreton's son."
am not likely to forget IT, But
sun word OF welcome to the unbid-
Den would not have come amiss. And 1t
Mas none OF my saek!ng-this asylum in
his house.
Irre; but that has naught to do
Win any GOODNESS of my fathers
nat is 1t. then?--besides the fact
that | am Roger Iretons SOM.
think twas what you said to Mr..
Pengarvin."
That little Sinking wretch? What
a was he to say or do In this?',
She looked away from me and said.
HE Is my fathers factor and a man of
affairs"
An, have always to be craving
your pardon. Margery But said
4 naught to this parchment faced-to
4 this Mir. pappnryip tbo3