Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1883-07-19

ma is agreeably unlike many young
ls,lies."
"Do you think SO p Elena querie,
significantly.
She was sitting before the piano il
Hilma's pretty parlor, and Mr.. Maur,
was standing beside her. At last he
opportunity for treachery had come.
He glanced at her rather blankly a.
she uttered the meaning nterrogatory
She evidently desired him to under
stand somethingthat might not be quit.
pleasant
am Hilma's guest, and you ar,
both my friends, the lady pursued apol
ogetically, and affecting pretty unself
ish solicitude for him that might hay,
fiattered one less sagacious or more sus
ceptlbie than her companion, "and
have no special taste for the role of in
termeddler. But perhaps it is better fol
you to know that our dear and charm
ing Hilma is not quite what she seems.
She has craving for tender sort o.
homage that may be quite natural ant
pardonabie n.ayonng beauty who has
been lndulged and flattered all her life
L do not suppose that her coquetry il
absolutely deliberate" Elena continued
still assuming the charitable aud pallia-
tive; "but often
:" EVIL is wrought for want of thought,
As we'll as want of heart.''
And you are not so fond OF her vel
that you will be disconsolate by know.
ing the truth. Hilma had fancy that
you were an obdurete woman hater, and
when she learned that you were coming,
she wagered-eome tritle, doubtless
that you would be her conquest before
the summer would be over"
F" A pair of gloves stabed on mans
heart-a bauble to be won by the losing
OF mans faith-was that 1t, Elena 2
he enunciated, in strangely mirthless
and bitter voice.
But Miss Champney had slipped from
her place and disappeared. There was a
look upon her face that had frightere &c
her; for the traitor is ever the coward
and beside, for an instant, she had beer
assalled by confusing sense of shame
for the despicable thing that she haC
done.
"But he will carefor Hilma no longer
she thought, in ignoble triumph. "Ht
will be grateful for my interest aDd syn
pathy, and he will learn to love me. .
For q moment Ala1ic MauIy stood
quite still, staring straight into nothing
ness. He was Il sensitive man, and on,
who trusted infinitely or rot at all; ht
had believed the fair, cndearing Him;
to be worthy of such trust, and what hat
been divulged to him was painful ant
bewildering.
II caunot believe her, so silly, 80 un
refined" he muimurcd..
And Just then he turned and behelt
Hilma standing by an open door.
Sine WIS gazing al hin tiimiGiiy and il
sweetest depreciation There was Il,
need for her to explain that she hat
unavoidably heard something of tina
cruel detraction of herself-that he,
presence had been unnoted SO long onl,
| because her modification had held he
| dumb.
He moved toward her irresolutely
but rs lie perceived her distress, til,
pathetic humility of her aspect, ali hi
heart went out to her in tenderest com
passion.
"It is otqu:te true ?" he questioned
gently regarding her with more yearn
ing than disapprobation.
T" / did make the wager" she con
fessed, and uncomfortable tears bega,
to glisten on her dropping lashas. "Bu
was not serious in the least. From
Miss Champney's description, I imag
ined that you were opinionated and un
feeling, and were preiudlced against al
women. And when you came, aud wer,
SO different, J. was sorry and ashamed
and miserable. was afraid that yo1
might learn about it, and misjudRe m,
i'll every way" she concluded, with ex
qulsite naivette.
lie bent toward her, his eyes eager
| his lace atlame.
"Do you care to know that you hay,
won your wager?" he demanded, pas
siona!ely. 81 love you, and / shal
love you always. In these two soft veal
hands, Hilma, you hold my happiness
Your conquest is as complete as you cal
desire" he added, with dint OF wag
gerry in his voice.
" deny any intent of conquest" sh
responded, with a delightful smile
| "And beside" she admitted, blushin,
like q rose, 81 lost my heart before an,
endeavor to win yours could have bcel
begun"
"That was your punishment for you
wicked vow to captivate the OGRE" b
laughed, as he drew her to his hear
with the kiss of betrothal. ~
Miss Champney was mildly amaze
some time later.
II am not angry with you, Elena, a
ALL" declared Hilma. II am reall
glad that Alaric knows about that alb
surd bit of nonsense.
" OF course l was persuaded that
was doing right" Miss Champpe
ayowed, with meekness that was edify
ing. "Sincerest friends often have thes
disagreeable complications to adjust" !"
And, luckily, Hilma was too guileles
and generous to guess how greatly th
truth had been distorted in its telling
and how very different denouemer
had been designed by her particular
dear friend-Miss Champney. u
|