The Red Cloud chief., 1886-02-12

uet MANY saiehaUies- nc dskeu-
George laughed. "Yes a few"
"A Cews' CALCULATED the young man.
"Ah; Mike. that's the way our hearts
are trampled. And which did you like
the best?" he continued.
George blushed. .'Oh-ah-I don't
know" she stammered. Here Mary
Croft laughed. II don't know who
they're all FROM" said George. in q
happy inspiration.
Gould you not guess?" murmured q
deep voice by her side.
Before she could answer, O'Brien's
bantering voice broke in again. How
many had you. Nike"
St Michael's face darkened as he
thought of his disappointment. We'll.
l had. as Miss George stated, a few;
but you saw them this morning"
"Was there none this ~afternoon?"
"One." said Mike, shortly; "a mos,
bold and unladyIike affair. However,
wasn't surprised when / saw who it
!aVe from"
Oh, Michael! Michael, I think had
you know that poor little valentine
came from George you would have
thought it the most charming idea in
the world.
As this point of the conversation
Mary Croft dropped her spoon with q
loud c%latter. and in the laugh that fol-
lowed her crimson cheeks were I'M
noticed. Poor George, on the contrary.
turned pale and neither moved nor
spoke.
Mary Croft was in agony. Every
moment she expected to see her fall
with a crash to the ground; yet she
dared not say anything.
Very soon the guests rose from the
table and George escaped from the
room wherc Mike followed her.
lyon will have this waltz with me?''
he asked.
"No." she answered hoarscly. IL
couldn't. My head
You are not WELL" he said eagerly;
let me gel you some VINE"
Don't" she gasped; ..go away"
''But you are ill.," he pleaded.
'COme into the cool conservatory. But.
no, you are shivering. Go and lie
down."
81 am not ill.," answered George.
with an effort. II am only
Rr,$ tho ,,-ol IL: L
and her eyes filled with tears.
A sudden thought flashed across St.
Michael's mind
why, YOU never" he stammered.
''you never sent
"Yes did," cried George, her voice
quivering, ''but l am bold and unlady-
like. and you were. of course, not r
prised when you saw where it came
But I thought"--he began. but
George had vanished.
Not one word would she say to him
she returned to the drawing
room. She vas flushed and excited.
and Mike saw when she was standing
that there was q weary look in I
Ter hazel eyes.
He went up to her. |
Miss George, wont you say good- c
but she turned away her head +
4 word. and when the last q
ldieu had been said she dragged her q
elf YEARLY to her bed with 3 heavy J
leart. c
st. Michael Delaney went home to
The Royal Inn" in a most unenviable v
of mind. What = fool he was. ne '
bought. Why couldn't he have seen t
hat the innocent joke was too piquant Q
o have emanated from that Bingham
,irl. =
Now he had MORALLY offended the n
My woman he had ever loved. What &
as to be done? He would write her Ii
letter. Yes, that was best.
He began his letter and tore it up; :.
other drafts followed. but none '
ave him satisfaction. So IT last. hav- I
ne scrubbed until almost daylight. he Y
ave up in despair and went TO bed. re- o
he would call in the morning. /
At nine O'Clock he rose and dressed il
With more elaboration than usual and t.
tarted on his visit. He found Mrs.
'roft in the drawing-room and she Il
him with \ smile of welcome. i,
.'Georgie's in the morning-roon." v
he said in reply to his question. $,
"May l go to herr" he asked. x a
are say you know what about?"
Mrs. Croft nodded and laughed. ii
"Well, YOU shall have ter minutes.
he is really too tired to do much talk "
,g."
He crossed the entrance hall. passed p
the staircase and knocked at the Il
DOR of a room on the right. Georges e
cried Come in" and . very
'esry. ~listless voice it was. Is
He entered. She. thinking it Was a
ervant. did not turn around. Mary a
'roft was sitting by = table writing. ii
ut rose and left the room when she b
sd shaken hands with Mr.. Delaney. =
George started and colored violently
hen she saw who the visitor was. W
Miss George" he began, abruptly. ii
won't You forgive me:" Il
No answer. c.
Twill YOU not believe that l had no y
lea that it came from you? That if
ad known"- c