Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-09-28

he saw her clearly tram where she
stood; there was no installing the
fact. But, so quickly that 1t was diff
cult to believe it had been there, the
expression Of vexation passed. The
sharply contracted brows smoothed
the graceful head bent slightly for.
ward, the lips parted.
How do you do, Mr.. Norreyss" she
said. "We are always running against
each other unexpectedly, are we not?'
Her tone was perfectly natural. her
manner expressed simple pleasure and
| qualification. She was again the third
h rarcst of her three selyes-the per.
sonality which Despard, in his heart
of hearts, believed to be herself.
He smiled-a slightly amused, almost
a slightly condescending smile, but q
very pleasant one all tire same. He
could afford to be pleasant now. Poor
silly little giri-she had given In with a
good grace, a truce to her nonsense of
regal airs and dignity; a truce, too,
to the timid self-consciousness of her
first introduction.
"She understands better now, ! see.'
he thought. Understands that a little
country girl is but-ah, well-but a lit
tie country girl. Still, / must allow
and he hesitated us his glance fell on
her; it was the first time he had seen
her by daylight, and the words he had
mentally used did not quite "ft"-'I
must allow that she has brains, and
some character Of her own"
Il can imagine 1t seems so to you"
he said aloud. You have, / think you
told me, lived always in the country
Of, course, in the country ones &c
quaintances stand out distinctly. and
one remembers every day whom one
mas and has not seen. In town it is
quite different. / find myself constant
ly forgetting people, and doing all sorts
Of stupid things, imagining | ha re seen
some one last week when it was six
months ago, and SO on. But people are
really very good-natured!'
She listened attentively.
How difficult it must be TO remem-
Der all the people you know she said,
with the greatest apparent simplicity;
indeed, with Il tone of almost awe.
struck reverence.
II simply don't attempt it," he re-
piled.
"How-dear me, I hardly know how
TO say it-how very good and kind of
you it is to remember me-" she said.
Mr.. NOrreys glanced at her sharp
iy.
Was she playing him off? For an
instant the appalling suggestion all but
took his breath away, but 1t was quick
ly dismissed. Its utter absurdity was
too Se~f-eyident; and the expression ON
her face reassured him She seemed
so innocent as she stood there. her eyes
d for q moment by their well
frlnged lids, for she was looking down.
A faint, the very faintest. suspicion
Of q blush colorcd her cheeks, there
was u tiny little trembling about the
corners of her mouth. But somehow
these small evidences Of confusion did
not irritate him as they had done when
he first met her. On the contrary,
poor little girl" he said to himself.
Il see l must be careful. Still, she win
live to get over it, and II cannot posi-
lively be brutal"
For an instant or two he did not
speak.
Then: 81 never pay compliments,
Miss Fforde," he said, but what / am
going to say may sound to YOU like one.
However, l trust you will not dislike
it"
And again he unac:ountably hesitat-
SN-WuuJ Was the ulaIlcF WIN MINI
He meant to be kindly enco Jraging to
the girl, but as she stood beside him,
looking up with Il half-curious, half
deprecating expression in her eyes, he
was conscious of his face slightly flush
ing; the words he wanted refused to
come. he felt as If he were bewitchad.
Wont you tell me what you were
going to say?' she said at last. II
should so like to hear it,
Its not worth saying" he blurted
out. Indeed. though | know what l
mean, | cannot express it. You-you
are quite different from other girls.
Miss Fforde. 1t would be impossible
TO confuse o with the crowd. That's
about the sum of what / was thinking.
thought meant to express it differ
entity. Certainly, in the way I have
said Il, no n by any possibility could
take 1t for a compliment"
To his surprise she looked UP at him
with a bright smile, a smile of pleasure,
and-of something else.
ION the contrary, l do take It as a
compliment" she said, considering
whom it comes from. Though, after
all, it is scarcely | that should accept II.
The-the circumstances of my life NAV
have made me different-my having
been so little in town, for instance.
l suppose there are some advantages
in everything, even Ia apparent disad.
vantages."
CTo be continued.)