Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-02-19
Hidden
Perils
BY NARY CZECH HAY
CHAPTER VII.
BY MARY CECIL "A

cottage gate that morning when Rourk'
rode up to it.
"Why, AthoI," he exclaimed, as he dis
mounted, you don't mean to tell me you
start on your daily rounds so early as
this?"
mo, not usually, but l have an uncx.
pectcd and hasty summons into Alton
and as l am obliged to walk, ! must
start at once. No train stops at kumley
for the next two hours"
Then l am glad / happened to come
just now" cried T'renham, laying one
hand upon the chestnut, while he gave
Athol the other. "Athol. dear old fellow,
I've brought this as a parting gift, a Int
tie remembrance OF NE. It's a selfish
idea, after all, but | want you to have
cause to think of me often. Your thoughts
are always good thoughts, Athol, and
want a share in them. Try him now.
Mount and try him now. He carries
splendidly up to fifteen stone, and you
don't ride that by a very long way and
he is the quietest fast runner | ever saw.
You always said you must have a quiet
animal, because of needing him so often
held for you, or leaving him at cottage
doors, or something. We're, dear fellow,
I think you will like him; and it Will be
such a pleasure to me to picture you on
him on your errands of good
Athol's eyes turned hurriedly from his
friends face. Something in its gladncss
struck him sadly. He stroked the beauti-
full chestnut horse with a caressing touch,
but could not trust himself to speak OF
the thoughtful and most useful gift.
"Do you like him? Do you admire
him, VereT" asked Rourke. with boyish
eagcrness. "Tel me if you do, old fell
low. | so seldom have a pleasure like
this"
Then Athol told him what he thought
both of the gift and of the giver. but
the words were but broken and unsteady
ones, after all.
Thank you thank you from my heart.
Now mount and let me watch you out of
sight. Good-by, dear fellow, dear old
friend"
watch him out of sight," Rourke
had said but both horse and rider were
only a dim blur upon the road before
him; and Athol, looking back, saw She
watching figure at the gate,
through even a still more binding mist
Of tears.
Rourke Trenham was ushered at once
into Mr.. Gaveston's presence, when he
Rupert's Rest, and had not been
there many minutes before Una's father
had given a hearty consent to his suit.
'We can settle all preliminaries when
you return, Trenham," he said, in a mat
tone of business, though he
made an effort at an unusually genial
smile but I suppose we must look upon
hic &c n rppuIar on a pempnt." |
Rourke answered eagerly that for him
elf it was a binding and lifelong engage
nent, and that during the two years of
lis absence he should do his best to prove
,imself deserving of Una, and of the con-
idence her father had placed in him.
In his gratitude and his anxiety to go
o Una, he hardly knew what he said, but
t seemed to content Mr.. Galveston, and
heir parting was prompt and satisfac-
DRY enough. In the hall Rourke enqoun-
cred Miss Sheford,' who was Una's com
,anion now instead of her governess, and
he stopped him to Congratulate him and
o wish for him and her f~avorite every
happiness. The young man
banked her in his glad, courteous way,
hen be passed on to Una's sitting room,
nd found himself alone with her at
asst.
One long look-glad in it's affection,
ad in its foreboding-into her innocent
yes. One long kiss upon her shaking
fps. One long embrace, and then Rourke
away with never a backward
lance; and Una, dreading to be alone
With her first sorrow, hurried away to
Ter old g%overness.
At Kumley Priory Trenham halted only
or a few minutes. This was essentially
duty call, and one over which he had
desire to linger. Old Mr.. Surle was
lifting by the fire in his gloomy brown
library, and he neither put down his pa
Ter nor raised his head from it when his
entered.
'Good-by y he repeated dryly, after
aourke had explained the object Of his
,isit. whats the effect of saying that?
IT'S as senseiess and useless u ceremony
IS was that ball at Hohve last night.
lave you apologized to Newley YETI"
Rourke laughed. "Apologized of
he answered, gazing curionsly
it his uncle, as he stood opposite to him
IN the rug.
"How?'
This second question was more sharp
abrupt even than the first, and Digby
his keen eyes from the paper for
i moment.
.sThis way" replied Trenham, leisure
v 81 said ] hoped l should not come
sack until his presence no longer dark
med my fathers house
Indeed - observed Mr.. Surle, grimly.
And how did he receive that most abb
apology
VERY charmingly. He answered me,
his usual frank amiability, that he
thought | should
You are a random, headstrong, sense
ess fellow blurted out the old man,
and ali / can say is, you'd better stop
,efore you go too far. If you have a
Of sense left you, for goodness sake
.xert it aud curry favor with the mar IN
lower. There, don't interrupt me:
mean what I say. Your only way is to
70 straight to him now and make amends
.or your speech last night. Be quiet;
believe he was the offender. Not
le a polite. polite, self-governed fellow.
IIe would not burst out with an insult in
he hearing Of the whole county don't
Ery to tell me it was his fault. Go to
now and tell him you are sorry. Say
whether You are or not. Nobody cares
an apology is true or not, so that
It is spoken out"
1T Will never be spoken out in this
case remarked Trenham, coolly.s
Then take the consequences; you de-
serve them. Now what about Gaveston's
AE-G AK - 49, - i