Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-05-03
CHAPTER I.

glove upon my table. With a thrill o!
delight ! recognized it, and glanced Gag
erly rocsd expecting to see Miss duncan
with a book in one Of the cosy chairs.
My heart fell there was no one in the
room but myself. She must have come
In to write n letter and left the glove
there by accident. j took it up and put
It to my lips. 1t was soft and cool and
sweet, with a delicate scent of spring
flowers. / laid it on my palm and looked
at it. There was the form of her hand
in it: it had the tint of a fair skin. But
oh, in color, texture, form and sweetness
how poorly it represented the dear hand
that had worn it it was charming to the
senses only because it suggested some
thing infinitely more adorable.
With some such rhapsody as this l
pressed the glove to my lips again, and
then, startled by a sound, | turned and
found myself face to face with Miss Dun
can, who had come back for her glove.
There it was, within an inch of my lips.
The position was embarrassing What
was to be done? Would she take the
glove with my kiss upon it, or would
she turn her back on me and leave the
room in Indignation? She took neither
course, but stood there with a deep blush
on her face and an ~unspeakable tender
ness in the glance that met mine, and
then she dropped her eyes, but still she
stood there. 1t was a confession OF love
that | had not dared to hope for.
"Will you let me keep this glove till
7 have told your father what has hap
penedy' / asked.
Yes, Bernard she answered, lifting
her eyes to mine and speaking quite
firmly.
! led her to the window that opened on
to the lawn. and for n moment before we
parted our hands chung together as those
cling which may never meet again. As l
turned from the window the door opened
and Sir Henry Duncan entered the room
with the quick, abrupt movement habitual
to him. He glanced s,ispiciously at me,
for he might have seen his daughter cross
ing the lawn beyond. and then stood thun-
derstruck on catching sight of her glove
in my hand.
what on earth does this mean, Mr..
ThorneY" he asked in a ~peremptory tone.
l was .unprepared with anything clever
to say, and answered with the plain
truth
"Sir Henry, ! am in love with your
daughter, and this is her glove which she
las suffered me to keep" ~
Are you mad?" he asked, after looking
ut me in silence for n space.
l thought that madness might be an
excuse for not loving Miss Duncan, but
I did not say So, and he continued in
growing anger:
do you forget what you are, and what
my daughter is? Do you know what she
is to me? Do you think / am careless of
her happiness or her interests? Answer
me-"
mo, Sir Henry, I do not forget what
] am. l am your secretary, your servant,
with nothing beyond the wages l earn.
Your daughter has a fortune in her own
right and is heiress to another. I know
that she is dearer to you thar your life,
and that you would sacrifice everything
for her happiness and honor. l may add
still more to the disparity between us.
She is of gentle if not noble birth my
forefathers were smuggiers. and two of
them are now living within FIVE miles
Of this house."
And yet" said he slowly and with
whitening seorn, you dare to think of
taking my daughter from me and making
her your wifel Knowing what you are,
you have meditated dragging her down
to your level! Knowing what she is, you
have had the insolence to offer her your
love-you have taken the glove from her
hand" The sight of the glove mad |
dened him. give me that glove,n he
cried, advancing on me with white fury; |
give it to me-" he repeated it in a
still higher tone as l drew it back. III
thought he meant to take me by the
throat, when suddenly he checked him
self, and turning his back upon me stood
silent, trembling with the effort to con-
troll his passion.
He was a man of strong emotions,
which he habitually kept under control
by constant watchfulness and timely eff
fort Of will. Only once before had III
seen him give way TO immoderate anger,
and then, as on this occasion, the out
burst sprang from an event which seemed
to threaten his daughters welfare. Then
also by . supreme effort he governed his
fury at . point when it menaced homi-
eide. He was comparatively calm when
he faced me again, but his forehead was
with sweat and his face was ashley
gray.
How long has this been going on 2" he
nsked hoarsely.
II nave loved your daughter three years
since 1 came into this house.
did not mediate making her my wife. If
DAC Ah6tA LIZ IL AC1Soh u uoQCyt
by one word or look, I could not have
kept my secret. i could not nave stayed
THAT Is to say that now you keep your
secret no longer you do hope."
EYES,"
slope what?"
"Hope one day to make sour daughter
wife. Listen to me. Sir Henry. l
have shown my position at its worst. l
have told yoa that my mothers parents
smugglers, but my father was an
man. Your daughter can say no
more for you than that. My character is
unstained. / claim moral equality with
any man that lives, what more than love
and honor do you wish for in the man
must one day be your daughters
husband?'
What more?-position, wealth. Your
moral excellence should enable you to
zee that yon cannne naintaIn my daush-
ter in the station Jo which She has been
accustomed on the salary of a secretary.
Would you ask your wife to pay your
tailor's bili?"
II must have money!" I said, with a
faltering voice. Il never thought OF
that,
You should have thought of that be-
fore you asked my daughter to be your
wife"
4 rave not asked he's, and L added.
piqued by his tone. Il will not until L
can lay . fortune at her sect.'
Now, I believe that you are a man
of principle" said Sir Henry. giving me
His hand with a cynical smile ~ mn