The Red Cloud chief., 1884-05-23

~ W Ia GIL -
sort of way. he saw no plausible ground
for interfering.
Nothing could have been more d:s-
Greet and retiring than Miss Elton'S be-
havior, but the perseverance of a man
who finds himself bored 10y too much of
his own and his alter ego's society. is
an incalculable force against which no
woman can successfully intrench her
self. and SD it was not long before Drake
found himself eliminated, as \ super
fiuouS factor. from the sum of his
friend enjoyment. whenever AliaS FL
ton appeared above deck. His sue esS,
however, was more apparent than real.
for although he knew her name, and
was allowed to carry her book and her
shawl, and arrange her chair in the
most comfortable position with refer
ence to the wind or the sun, he had
really made no great progress in her
confidence. Who she was, or WHY she
had chosen to make the voyage in this
unconventional and eccentric way, re-
NAMED as great a mystery as it had
been on that memorable first day. 1t
was the close of the tenth dav, dating
from that of his discovery. and Julius
sat beside her in that intimate fashion
bred Of the isolation of the sea.
He had been reading to her, but the
story WAS finished. and 4 silence had
enSued. she appearing To be wrapped
in thought ami he watching her face
with half-Neilrd chances.
Three more DAYS and We shall be at
home" she said. rouS;ng herself.
You count the days he said. "Are
you eager to be there?"
! No: neither eager nor reluctant.
The voyage has been pleasant, but it
viii be nice to be on Shor again, too
What. or rather who is going 10
make it nicc?: Anybody in particu-
lar?'
She put the question aside with q little
wave of her hand.
You are curious she said, mis-
chievouSly.
Julius lit his lip. He was curious.
and his was not the first time she had
foi!ed him.
You want much TO know just who
and what | am" she went on. You
have made 4 dozen attempts to find out.
Tell me WHY. What difference would il
make to YOU? If | We're I'D tell YOU that
l am a niece of the Governor of Ken
tucky-mind, I"dDn't say that | am. y
she cautioned. As julius made a gesture
of surprise. Il say if L Were To tell
o so. and aid that | am mistress Of
an independent forum, would that en-
nance my value in o Ii eyes,"
Julius drummed upon the arm of his
chair. AMI looked al her in silence.
"Suppo>e. on the contrary" she went
on, impetuouSly. and with a certain
warmth o. rone that seemed to spring
from injured pride. IL were to tell YOU
that | am an orphan without fortune;
that l had Just none enough to carry
me through the conservatory at Paris.
and that / am hoping and expecting to
make my living 10y teaching music.
would that lower me in our re-ard?"
Julius still remained silent. perhaps
Il little abashed by the results OF his own
tcmerity.
Il see that | have embarrassed yoI."
she said, laughing. Il shall not insist
upon an answer. leave You 10 adopt
whichever hypothesis best suits you.'
She gathered up her shawl and book
as she spoke. and made a motion to
rise. but Julius laid a detsinng hand
upon her arm.
NO. no.. you mustn't 90 vet" he eH-
claimed, and ne fancied he per elved 4
dewiness in her eyes. aS she turned
them toward him, which touched him
inexpreSsihly. Il am embarrassed, not
Sc much by your hypothesis as by some
thing in myself. Since you leave me TO
choose between these hypothesis, l will
take the latter. You are. then. an
orphan without fortune. hoping and ex-
pecting to make Your living by teaching
music. To prove To YOU how little 1 de-
serve your implied :~eproach. will CON
fess what | should have concealed from
the Governors neice. Miss Elton, |
adore YOU
Mr.. Hilder.'' she exclaimed. spring
ing TO her feet, with flashing eyes.
''Well.' he said, quietly. you chal.
lcnged me-"
You are impairment. SIR and she
swept away with dignity.
She remained closely shut in her own
cabin during the remainder OF the al
ternoon and until quite late the next
morning. when Julius. who had main
tanned an anxious and impatient watch
on deck. found her in the saloon sip
ping a cup of tea and nib6ling a piece
of toast by way of breakfast.
Il hope You have forgiven me-" he
said. taking 4 seat beside her.
.But | have not" she answered with,
decision.
(which have I ofended-the Govern
or's niece or the orphan music-teaca-
err" he asked, with a saucy smile.
Both. 1t was a daring impertinen-e
to the one and a piece of ~insolence
toward the other"
well, l don't see what Tn TO do
abou: it. 1t isn't the sort of thing you
can expect a man to take back
No" she said, looking absently into
her cup. then suddenly realizing that
this was not Just what she should have
said, she hurried to add, amid q con-
fusion of bushes: THAT is. of course,
YOU must taxi il back: at least YOU
mustn't say ANYTHING more about it."
Never"
"Never.
"But that's impossible"
Mr.. Hilder"
Miss Elton"
II think we've hsd enough of this.
II was my fault, l am willing to admit
that. 1t was wretched taste on NV