The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-01-14

7
love him, but / admire him MOI than
any man / know. he is SO simple and
manly, 50 unlike that foppish Comta
Ede and all those fellows Of the
type Of Frank Dutton, you know. And
he seems to single mo out for attention
wherever we GO and--well, I think
could be happy with him, really .''
You are sureP '' very gravely.
Yes, I think I am surs. What
makes you look SO solemn, Marion Pr
"a human beings happiness in this
world is q solemn thing, little one.
Sometimes one misses it before one is
aware Is That must not happen to you,
Virginia y NJ: 5s55 a
"a month passed, and then one even
ing Marion came face to face with Hill
var at q ball 1t was a last breaking up
for the season, as it9Rere. The night
was warm and the windows stood open.
People who had been growing languid 1
IN their pursuit Of social pleasures 81
late, were galvanized into new life by%
tho feeling that society was disbanding
till8next year.
Marion, with q sudden resolution that
was the fruit Of many slecpless nights.
made g sign to Hilyar and stepped out
upon one Of the small balconies flower
cucumbercd which looked down upon 1p,l
the broad Partisan avenue, with its even
;processio of lights broken into here
and there BY the broad glare 81 q cafe,
and with its quietly moving forms Of
pleasure seekers enjoying the warmth
Of the night, Al 9..5 \.
10y gu will think what I am going TO-
say extraord binary, / know she began
at once. But let that pass. I Have d
duty to perform and viii not neglect
it. We were friends once-I want you
to forget all the past and be my friend
again. I. know all about Virginia and
you-and I wanted to tell you that I
will help you both, if you will let me.
There, that is all. Il: .,. t.3
She put out her hand bravely and he.
took it slowly in his. His eyes burned
SO strangely in his white face that IN
irresponsible nervousness took pos.
session Of her. 4. Ii.
Let me go, = she said family. Ho
paid no heed. a II .,s5EE.
Did you think / loved Virginia. he:
said in q voice that echoed in her inmost
soul. "Did you think I had forgot
temp ;si5l .3
You can'tyou cam IT, = she starn-
mered. :s :si.53s III:
Love you YETI All, Marion!'' His
grasp frightened like a vice upon her
hand, his eyes burned into hers through
tho darkness. If. Z. II II.
But I trcatcd You SO shamefully VI
| did not know then-I7 was crazy! Can;
you forgive me allp,I'J :$ / /.
SO Marion!n The passionately appeal
ing tone seemed to draw her to him,
and perchance the midnight stars might
have looked down on the lovers kiss
they know 50 well; had not Mrs. Harri-
man appeared at that moment with a
certain look Of naughty surprise.
Marion, aren't you dancing this
.yalse P'' s3s $
. Yes, aunt. With Nj. Hilyar.,n', Il
"IYhat viii your aunt sayp'' Owen
was asking a little later in the pauses Of
the dance. y. 81 3i5s3gs
81 shudder to think of itl'' she
laughed; but nevertheless there were no
signs Of overwhelming dread on the
charming face upon which Hilyar now
Hooked down, at last unrebukcd, with
adoring eyes, ,;;s5s
And virginia. Alas for the sclGsh-
ness Of poor human nature! The
thought had never come to Marion until
she had shut herself into her own room
on her return. But thentit caught her,
4 heart with cold spasm. Was her:
younger sisters happiness, then, to be,
wrecked because she, tho elder, had
found her ownp { 9535
She went to- Virginia's door and
knocked, Some moments elapsed and
4 then Virginia slowly opened the door
and stood before her sister in. her, long
!: white wrapper. The child-likc face was
4 paler than usual. Il I:
oh, Y,rginia!' said the latter, CON
scious- stricken, and could say no more
But if Virginia had q battle to fight,
she would fight it out, alone and in ST.
lence. s55 Al Z
II know why you have come, Marie,''A
she said quick and / know, that you
I. arc feeling badly about me. But you
needn't You had a first claim on him,
and he has loved You Ill along. didn't
A know anything. bout that at the begin
ming. but of late 7 have foundsit out. I
think he saws that that T was. getting
fond Of him, and he II don't know how
i he did i'll but he made mo understand.
And tonight, when 1 saw you two como
il from the alcony together, was
sure and I knew you had made il up.
Il Therel Don't cry, Marie! I'm sure
4 you're much more worthy Of him than
EI ever could be. And lin q scatter
j brain, you know, and I'm certain to pet
4 over IT'LL I RS IS
81 And, with q laugh that might have
I ended in y sob, had she permitted it,
i 4 Virginia reso lntely pushed Marion back.
Il and closed the door.
As little while, and il spite Of Mrs.
Hartman opposition, Owen Hilyar
4 and Marion were happily united.
The New Year. u