The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-04-07
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FESTIVITIES were in full swing at eve ing. 1t seemed to .


The festivities were in full swing a
h charming little villa of the Honor.
able Mrs. Norton. the rooms were
crowded to excess. the foor perfect
and h champagne all that 1t should
be, the girls charming-the pick of tn
seasons beauties always found theil
way to little Mrs. Norton's informa,
dances: and last, but by no means
least, the larger proportion of the men
were first rate walters.
Through the long French windows
which opened on to a lawn sloping to
the riverside-one or two couples had
found their way into the cool, sweet
scented garden. gay with Chinese Ian
terms. the lights on the river cleaning
softly through the evening haze, While
the low murmur of the water formed
an accompaniment to sweet voices and
o manly ones.
They look like business. don't they"
Bald pretty little Lady vi to her hus-
band, glancing towards a pair of tall
figures. Il wonder If he'll propose to-
night-what do you say?"
Given a sufficiently. pretty woman,
4 more Or less romantic spot. and
there's no knowing how great a fool
a man will maxi of himself. especially
after supper and when the cham
payne is as good as Polite Norton's.
The girls not bad looking, is she, Vi?'
he added, pointing to the tall, straight
figure OF a woman. evidently too en-
crossed with her companion-a dark.
eager looking man, with the unmistak-
able carriage of a soldier-to pay any
attention to the notes and
of the ~byStanders.
For my taste 1 think Angela Car
isle too tall and big-altogether too
much in evidence" said Lady vi, who
funny what SO charming a man as
Douglas Lyle can see in her. BY the
by. [ never rightly understood who or
what Angela was. Did Mrs. Norton
ever tell you where she picked up her
protege. Lionel?"
csontcally. Il heard something about
her being an heiress; anyway. she's a
beauty. and Polite Norton is not the
woman to. AXE up an angel without
evidence OF her occupying a decent
position in celestial society. Come, vi,
let's sc indoors"
The two figures at the bottom of the
garden,apparently impervious to damp,
continued to gaze upon the river-the
silvery Thames. hat has seen innum-
cradle lovers come and go.
"The water sounds dreary tonight"
said Angela dreamily. 1T always mas
a peculiar fascination for me; it seems
n feels"
Dol you 0On want TO voice any
thing dreary, Angela. You are the
very incarnation of life and laugh
teri"
Not always" she answered in a low
voice.
He turned oward her quickly.
Something is troubling you, Angela;
o are not like yourself tonight. I
have so counted On this evening, dear;
10 longed for the opportunity to tell
o that which already you must have
guessed, and now. when at last / haze
you to myself, I find you changed. cold.
almost constrained"
mot changed" she said, ..but-"
He interrupted her.
What is 1t, Angela. that has lately
come etwee us? You know, you must
Know, how dearly, how fondly, | love
you. ! had thought you We're not alto
0ether Indifferent to tina love. thousn
% ave so often. so cruelty denied me
the chance OF telling it. Put an end TO
my suspense. Angela. Answer me one
way or the other. Tell ne here ana
now, will o accept my love, my nam.
become my wife.
The mist was rising from the river,
towering about them like a SOFT white
cloud and shutting out the lights, the
sound of the music, the soft laughter.
n gay voices; they two seemed in u
world apart.
The girl stretched out her arms to-
ward the liver. Her face, raised to the
Die white moon, looked pale and wan.
She stood silent for Il moment, and
then. with a quiet gesture, she laid her
hand in his
Yes" h said, IT will be your wife,"
But even as she answered him she felt
. thrill akin to fear run through her;
ne vas so strong, SO determined, so
masterful even in his love, that it SEEM
ed impossible that he could ever be
~ n ~ nj - .J-
n yet he loved her very much, and
she saw his eyes light up with passion,
while his strong arms trenbled as he
held her close. and his voice sounded
strangely tender. gentle beyond belief.
You shall never regret your choice,
my darling!" he whispered. "You shall
have oil my thoughts, all my devotion,
all my Lowell"
But your peoples Douglas?" she
asked after a while. ''Win they be Will
Ing to receive me? You know. dear. 1
am not your equal in wealth. though I
have a fair income-G2,O0O a year at
the least-and-"
whether or not you have a penny,
Angeln?" he interrupted hastily. Her
words Jared upon him; it seemed SO
incongruous to mention her income in
the middle Of a conversation Of such
vital Importance.
lhousLl 1 SnOuld like you to
know" h said almost humbly;
things get so exaggerated. and Polite
Norton Is always fond of drawing the
long bow: besides. 1 have heard SO
much about your peoples particularly
how do you know YOU mother viii
like me. Douglas?"
r. darling. how could my mother
help liking you? She is as ardent a
Worshipper of beauty as l am; the only
stipulation she ever made with regard
to my wife was when she laughingly
old me to be sure to choose a beauty
n a lady Imagine my being at
tracted by any M else!"
What do YOU call a lady Douglass,
my dearest Angela, 1 beg of you not
to PROFOUND n more conundrums.
Those pretty lips were never meant to
tantalize your lover in so cruel a fash
ion. I will answer all your questions,
sweet heart. with a kiss" and, STOPPING
a little. he held up the winsome face
aEa pressed her lips-not once, but
twenty times.
"My wv tell me you love me-" he
demanded, in his masterful sort of fash
ion; but she broke from him, and. with
a little laugh. disappeared through the
--s-A SO