The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1907-04-06
CHAPTER |.

One morning when / went to my Gus
somary place in the library l found
glove upon my table. With thrill of
| delight l recognized it, and glanced Gag
arly round 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 a letter and left the glove
there by accident. | 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
pressed the glove to my lips again, and
then, startled by a sound l 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 I had not dared to hope for.
will you let me keep this glove till
have told your father what has hap
pened?" l 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 a moment before we
parted our hands chung together as those
cling which may never meet again. AS |
turned from the window the door opened
and Sir Henry Duncan entered the room
with the quick, abrupt movement habituel
to him. He glanced suspiciously at me,
for he might have seen his daughter cross
ing the lawn beyond and then stood thun-
derstruek on catching sight Of her glove
In my hand.
What on earth does this mean, Mr..
ThorneT he asked in a peremptory tone.
was unprepared with anything clever
to say, and answered with the plain
truth:
."Sir Henry, 1 am in love with your
daughter, and this is her glove which she
has suffered me to keep"
"Are you mad?' he asked, after looking
at me in silence for a space.
/ thought that madness might be an
Co. hut
I did not say so, and he continued in
growing anger:
do you forget what you are, and what
my daughter is? Do you knoT what she
is to me? Do you think 1 am careless of
her happiness or her interests? Answer
me-"
mo, Sir Henry, l do not forget what
am. I 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. l know
that she is dearer to you than your life,
and that you would sacrifice everything
for her happiness and honor. l may add
still more to the disparity between u.s.
She is of gentle if not noble birth my
forefathers were smugg,ers, and two of
them are now living within five miles
of this house."
And yet" said he slowly and with
whitening scorn, you dare to think of
taking my daughter from me and making
her your wife, 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" he
cried, advancing on me with white fury
give it to me-" he repeated it in
still higher tone as l drew it back.
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 l
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 fstld me again, but his forehead was
beadAG with sweat and his face was ashley
gray.
"HiF long has this been going on?" he
asked hoarsely.
II Enve loved your daughter three years
--evc5 since came into this house. /
did ma mediate making her my wife. If
she had given me any reason to hope,
by OLE word or look, could not have
klein my secret. I could not have stayed
hs,es
THAT Is to say that now you keep your
PEE " no longer you do hopef"