Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-04-08

mad better 90 back, and establish ourselves
comfortably in the parlor. When my
brother misses us he and your charming
niece will return to look for Us in the cot
tage." Under cover of this arrangement the
separation became complete. Miss Pink held
forth on education to Mrs. Dl1mblade in the
parlor, while Hardyman and Isabel were on
their way to paddock at the farthest limits
of the property
II am afraid you are getting a little
tired" said Hardyman. ''Wol't you take
my arm"
Isabel was on her guard: she had not for
gotten what Lady Lydiard had said to her.
"No thank YOU Mr.. Hardyman; | am a
better walker than you think"
II lrdvman continued tie conversation in
his blunt resoute way. 81 wonder whether
you will believe me-" he asked. IF tell you
that this Is one of the happiest days of my
lfe!'
II should think you were ALWAYS happy
Isabel cautious replied 'having such
pretty pace to live in as this"
Hardyman met that answer with one of
his quietly positive denialS. "A man is
never happy by himself,' he said ''He is
happy with companiOn. For instance |
am happy with you"
Isabel stopped and looked back. Hardy
mans language was becoming little too
explicit. Surely we have lost Mrs Drum
blade and my aunt she said ''I don't
see them anywhere"
You will see them directly; they are only
long way behind" With this assurance
he returned in his own obstinate way, to his
one object in view AMiss Isabel, | want to
ask YOU a question. I'm not a ladies' man
| speak my mind plainly to everybody-wo-
men included. Do you like being here to
dayr
Isabel's gravity was not proof against this
very downright question. Il should be hard
to please" she said laughing, 'if | didn't
enjoy my visit to the farm"
Hardyman pushed steadily forward
through the obstacle of the farm to the ques-
ton of the farms master. "You like being
hereH' he repeated. DO you like me"
This was serious. Isabel drew back little
and looked al him. He waited with the most
impenetrable gravity for her reply.
Il think you can hardly expect me to an
swer that question: she said.
"Why not"
"Our acquaintance has been very short
one, Mr.. Hardyman. And if you are so good
as to forget the difference between us, ]
think | ought to remember It"
''What difference!'
''The difference in rank'
Hardyman suddenly stood still, and EN-.
phasized his next words by digging his stick
into the grass.
''If anything have said has vexed you"
he began, tell me so plainly, Miss Isabel,
and I'll ask your pardon. But don't throw
my rank III my face. I cut adrift from all
that nonsense when took this farm and got
my living out of the horses. What has a
went on, with another emphatic die of his
stick. II am quite serious in asking if you
like me- for this good reason, that like you.
Yes [ do. You remember that day when ]
bled the old lady's dog Well, l have found
out since then that there's a sort of incom-
pleteness in my life which / never suspected
before. It's you who have put that idea into
my head. You didn't mean it, | dare say,
but you have done it all the same. / sat
alone here yesterday evening smoking my
pipe-and l didn't enjoy it. / breakfasted
alone this morning-and didn't enjoy that.
said to myself, She's coming to lunch, that's
one comfort-I shall enjoy lunch. That's
what l feel, roughly described. l don't sup
pose I've been five minutes together without
thinking of you, now in one way and now in
another, since the day when l first saw you.
When man comes to my time of life, and
has had my experience, he knows what that
means. 1t means, in plain English, that his
heart is set on woman You're the woman"