The Red Cloud chief., 1892-05-27

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up against Edward Dnttcrsby himself.
Of course he would expect me to intro
duce him ia you. and what would he
think Of that bonnet and gown"
~ ON sorry" poor Olive repeated,
'but you know, Michael. that you
wished me to come on a Saturday. II
had arrived carly in the week ] could
have got some new things ready for Sun
day"
"Why not have bought some better
things before you started?" he asked ir-
ritably. ..
michael. have you forgotten what
kind of place Enstmcon is?" Ills an
reasonable words provoked her. Have
You forgotten that I have been living
miles away from any town."
lie had really forgotten II for the mo-
mont. They walked on together In
silence along the Strand, and when
they turned into Trafalgar square
Olive almost forgot her annoyance. She
stood still with n Frightening face to
look Mt the great stone lions asleep In
tho sunlight, and the foam and sparkle
Of tho fountains. Other people looked
Mt her rs they went by, and half smiled
nj the fresh delight that shonc In her
brown eyes. Michael hurried her on.
"Do try TO take things calmly" he
implorcd. THAT brute who has just
passed us was actually laughing ut you.
In London, people don't 60 into rap
lures In the streets"
There was no need for n second warn
ing against raptures. With such q wet
blanket hanging over her Olive was not
likely to enjoy any moro sights that
morning. She walked on dcjectedly by
his side, and asked herself II this was
the life she had dreamed Of? Must she
always live in n dreary state OF sclf-rc-
preston, forbidden TO rejoice? And
this was hat first walk together which
she had longcd for 80 blindly; this was
''the distant and the dim" that she had
been so ''sicls to greet"
II seemed to her an interminabel
walk, and yet her limbs were not
weary. They got ut last TO the Marble
Arch, and her heart revived q little ut
the sight 81 grass and trees. Michael
led her to a bench, and they sat down.
1--WE won't go to church this morn.
Ing" he said. II confess I'm not n
church-going man. like fresh mir. its
clears my brain and strengthens me for
the weeks work; and now we can talk
quietly, Olive, and ] ear tell you about
something which has been in my mind
for nearly two years."
She prepared herself to listen. After
all, It was silly of her TO be unhappy
because he had found fault with her
rustic ways. She supposed that train
ing was always rather a painful proc.
css. Here. with the tender green Of
the young foliage quivering overhead,
and the May sunshine resting on the
broad space of sward In front of her,
she was feeling more like her old self.
And surely II Michael had not loved her
he would not have been SO anxious TO
tell her everything!
"You know" he began, show rnpid-
ly hnvc been rising ever since ] went
to Battersby's works. Old Battersty Is
breaking down very fast; he has not
been the same man since his brother
died. II was nftcr the brothers death
that Edward Battcrsby was taken into
partnership, and when his father dies
he will be the sole representative Of the
firm"
Olive was honestly trying to give him
her full attention. but all this was not
very interesting. Two girls went trip
ping by; they wor golden-brown frocks
and straw bonnots adorned with but
tercups that looked rs II they had
been freshly gathered from the water
meadow Mt home. She could not help
wondering how much their costumes
had cost and signing for q buttercup
bonnet. Then another girl came by
with her swain, and her dress was per-
fectly enchanting.
~ have made myself useful to Ed
ward Dattersby in a hundred ways"
Michael went on. "Thcrc Is no need
to tell you how ! have managed to slip
into his confidence. lie Is q weak sort
of fellow, and his brains arc not half
as good n mine. He Is glad enough to
use mo and ! let myself be used, but
only to serve my own ends by and by"
Olive glanced Mt him and saw q smile
OF sclf-satisfaction lowering round his
mouth and n CLEAN Of triumph in his
blue eyes. And all ut once she remem-
bered that Lucy Cromer had not ad-
mired Michacl's eyes, although she had
admitted that their color was bcauti-
full. Lucy had said that they were cold,
and the remark had made Olive quite
angry. She hardly knew why such
foolish words had come back to her at
this moment. but they panied her a
little.
IL shall be able to wind him round
my finger soon," he continued. "You
SEQ ! have always held myself well in
hand. Smiles says: 1t may be of COM
parativcly little consequence how n
man is governed from without, whilst
everything depends upon how he gov
ems himself from within The man
who rises is the man who has learned
the secret OF sclf-governmcnt. Now
Edward Isattersby would never learn
that secret II he were to live a hundred
years. lie let's himself be swayed by
every within that seizes him. He graft
fes every passing desire and runs aftor
everything that attracts his eyes. I
have n purpose, Olive, I am treading
tha rnad TINT 1aoAo 49, S~t< Al = ,.vo~