Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-11-13
required.

The distant manner Of Miss DAILY trouble j
the major mora than he could account TO-
1t was evi' ent that in some way or other be
had given her offense. unless-and this wa.
the horrid thought which damped and dis.
heartened ,im-she was grieving that youre
Todd was forever set apart from her. HaG
she disguised her emotions so completely rs
to deceive him in this wav? Was it possible
that he had hcan so grievously mistaken ir
his cs' i nate of her character?
He ven away disconso!atcly. Twice that
day hal he gone from the shelter of the
International with n heart exceedinrlr
heavy. What a trouble and a nuisance a,
his years to lot the words or the manner O.
a gi.l-a mere ~child-afPect him in this uu.
%acconntab e way! What was the use o. it
What was Ii. thinking about.
Was he thinking too much of Ruth DAILY.
then?-a young woman who could neye.
think anything Of him-who thought SC
little of him, i, fact, that only that morn.
ing sl,c hal asked ii il wa his wedding day:
strong evidence that she could rot havc had
him on her mind. OF course that was no.
likely. he being on his way to fifty and gro..
ing iron gray. He had never paid her any
attention, for that matter; and as for "ma.:.
ing eyes" that process was for lunatics W..
der twenty, or fools who went on thei.. way
unblushingly and in a chronic etate of lee-
Alb, yes. he was a failure; his scheming haG
been O failure, too, and she had loved yourc
Todd, after all. Or. il it were impossibe
to love that youth-and. upon his SOU. he
thought it was i.npossib!e--then she wa
worldly and selfish. and was regretting ,:ow
the chance wi ich sh had let slip by her "a
serve. She had been quietly waiting fo,
young Todd, making sure Of his ccmino
presently, AMI her disappointment at las;
had been more than she could disguise.
Well, he was sorry. he was vexed, and h.
brooded until a late hour upon the whole
position. and g to bed Struggling his
shoulders at the weakness of women-which
he had done all his life. for that matter, be-
fore he had met Miss DAILY. Nevertheless,
Maj. Crawshaw did not give up the Inter.
national; he should do so by and by, but he
did not care TO part with Miss DAILY on bal
terms, and he thought he should prefer the
final meeting to he pleasant and friendly, SO
that there might be a fair "reminiscences o.
her forever afterward in his memory. Con.
found it! he was getting an old fool-his sis
ter was right i'll her fears. He was softenine
with uncommon rapidity. Miss Daily con.
tinued grave and distant in her manner
almost as II she owed him a grudge. She
was always terribly busy with those abom.
Unable account books, and would not look at
him except when he entered the %countin,
house, and then it was with so much calm
surprise at his appearance-ath his impudence
in intruding upon the private apartments of
the International, perhaps-that ths poor
major was fairly bewi.dered and discomfte;l.
He had it out OF last, though. The reader
is aware he plumed himself on being straight
forward. miss DAILY, {" he said, one morning,
Tin what way have l offended your
II have not said you have given me
offense," was the slow reply. Il lave no
right. possibly, to take ofRense."
"But still you are offended, and you are
too truthful a girl to deny it."
"And you too clear-sighted a man not to
know what is the cause, said Ruth DAILY,
facing him suddenly.
The major turned red and then pale. In
all lis life he had never felt in q more awk-
waro position, but he acted as a gentleman
should to a pretty woman. He gave in, and
tempting an Excuse.
II beg your pardon. Miss DAILY. and I am
very sorry"
There was so mournful an expression in
the warriors facc that Miss DAILY was soft
ened at once. This was true contrition.
every sorry!" she repeated.
Every"
"Then l forgive you, major, it a poor
girls forgiveness is Of any value to you"
She held her hand toward him, and wa.
surprised to find that his was trembling.
sYou will not let this happen again, will
you3" she sud.
"Happen againi What do you sayp
"You know-you understand"
"Of course I had no idea that you were
secret, Miss Daily" he stammered forth, cor
you would have found me still your friend.
But as to this happening again-n
The hand was timidly withdrawn: the
eyes became larger and more luminous.
"What are you talking about?" she asked,
In fresh amazsment.
sAbout young Todd" he answer d, "of
COURSE"
@rm not thinking about young Todd. {"
cried Ruth DAILY, with a pretty little petu-
liant outburst that really became her. II
never have thought about him. What has
he ever been to me but a nu~;sance!'
"iou don't say SOIL am glad-I-
Well, then-what is the matterl What have
I donel"
"You don't knows Oh, Maj. Crawshaw ",
what is the use Of playing the hypocrite, and
playing it so Eadlys"
II play the hypocrite!" he exclaimed.
for heavens sake, girl, tell me what is my
offense."
Ruth DAILY looked at him again sharply
and steadfastly, but the bright gray ewes Of
the soldier did not finch. He had had only one
idea as to the cause Miss Days reserve,
and this being dismissed. he was utterly lost.
There was no time to consider a fresh cause
Of grievance at this ju cture.
"Yon have a very BIZ memory" she said.
TRY and think why l am here, and who put
me here"
@Oh!' said the ma jor, recollectins on the
instant.
ut was You who persuaded Mr.. FRESH
water to appoint me book-keeper; it was
you who persuaded him-who offered to nav
my salary, even, and IL fancied all the time
1t was my W wonderful talents which had
set me in this place. You have robbed me
of my independence b" this; you have low.
cred ME in my s'lf-esteem."
81 wished to get you away from Battleton."
"At any cost-yes." and the tears were
swimming in her eyes as she spoke; shut it
was for your nephew's sake"
"Pardon me-, Miss Daily, but it was for
your own" said the major. u wished to
rescue You from q false ~position-to plac,
you in a different sphere, where. ut least,
you should not be exposed to the vulgar at.
tentions Of a mob. I wanted you to he
something better than a waitress, and IL
certainly told Mr.. Freshwater you deserved
to be.n
"And he took your hint, as you were
likely to be a good customer" she sa d,
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