The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-09-23

talnmenJ upon mis- most, MI. Howard,
who proved himself, however, equal to
the occasion, being q man of an intelli-
gent mind, and considerable informa-
ton.
From him, Allan learned all about the
best localities for sport, and the kind
of game he was likely to be most sue
cessful in finding and securing; and in
acknowledgment of the suggestions
thus gained, he laid a particularly fine
brace of birds at Mrs. Towards feet
the next evening, quite winning her
heart, not only by his offering, but by
the frank and manly sphere that per-
vaded all his actions.
Il can't see why you have taken
such q dislike to him, Daisy" she said,
in conversation with her daughter that
evening. HE seems to me the incest
young al l have ever met-really like
one Of the family; but you hardly treat
him decently. I am sure he is Just as
polite to you as he a be-"
Polite now-yes! Daisy assented III
her thoughts. Because she had not
given him any chance to he anything
else. There was that indignity Of two
days ago yet ranking in her mind,
III u1uSt NO dJO11Cu Lux UCIOIC 1C
could be conciliated; but with feminine
inconsistency she did not take into con-
sideratiOn the fact that an Offense need
ed to be declared before an apology
could be reasonably expected. That the
words she had heard from his lips Of
first seeing him had been directed at,
If not to, her she still persisted in be-
leving, and in cherishing her resent
mcnt at the impairment familiarity they
denoted; and she mentally resolved that
she would give him no opportunity to
repeat or continue such i~mpertinence.
IIc should see that even 4 country girl
could have and compel from others a
proper respect for herself. Dignity
was Daisy's strong point, and she was
determined to give it free play. Once
only did Allan attempt to utter her
name again in her presence; and that
was on the third evening of his stay,
when, returning from his most success
full hunt, he called out cheerfully, as he
came suddenly upon her standing on
the little front porch: Success, Miss
Daisy" and was about to throw his
trophies at her feet in true cavalier fash
ion, when, drawing back with freezing
disdain, she promptly corrected him:
Miss Howard, If you please, sir" and
swept into the house, WITHOUT waiting
for him to rectify his mistake.
Allan was not to be baffled at once,
however, and tried with all the art of
which he was so we'll the master to
ingratiate himself into her regard, and
with mOr success than he was aware,
although, sustained by the remem
brance of that still unsettled grievance,
Daisy managed to maintain both her
secret and her enforced role.
He little knew how, after awhile,
her eyes followed him from the house
as far as she could see him, and how
many times she turned away with a
fit of choking tears, and a feeling of
strange, loneliness which would not be
appeased until night brought him back
again; or how often, when he thought
she had retired, she crOuched down out
side the door to listen to his lively chat
with her father and mother who bright
eneQ up wonderfully at the infusion Of
vigorous young life he seemed to in
still among them, and declared they
would rather take him for nothing than
be WITHOUT his company.
AS it was, he yielded to their sOlicita-
tons to prolong his stay-a promise
which Daisy heard with a strange ex-
ultation at her heart, of which, how
ever, her cold, distant manner gave
no sign.
Mrs. Howard ceased to demonstrate
with her daughter, but tried to. make
up by r%edoubled kindness to her guest,
while Daisy went On her way proud and
naughty as ever, but with q pain at
her heart which each day made worse;
which caused her to look forward at
once with longing and dread to the
time when Allan would be gone.
For she had made a discovery that
the revenge she had sought to take
for tlat real or fancied presumption
had recoiled upon hersclt--that the
man she had stceled herself to hate
and avoid had become the master of
her heart; and to her proud, high
strung sensitiveness she felt as much
Inundated as If he had known it and
had spurled her love.
ooh, when will he be gomez" abe
would exclaim, pacing her room in an
ecstacr of distress while her parents
deemed herself peacefully asleep.
And then the exclamation that was
sure to follow would come through
her binding tears:
"How shall I live when he has left
me?" .
II must put in my most effective
shot to-day" Allan exclaimed at the
breakfast table a few mornings later.
'"This is my last chance; tomorrow,
like the Arabs, I must fold my tent
and silently steal away"
He glanced involuntarily- at Daisy
as he made this remark; but for the
first time her glance failed to meet
bis with its customary proud indiffer-
ence. Her eyes We're fixed upon the
plate, and there was a nervous futter
about her mouth which all her resolu-
ton could not entirely restrain.
II hope You will have the best Of
LUCK" said Mrs. Howard, cordially.
''Thank you! Whatever my trophy
may be, / promise to bring it back to
you," he answered, as he rose and left
the room.
Daisy waited until he had had time
to have left the house; then quitting
the oom in turn, she was passing
through the hall on her way up stairs,
when half way down she came sud
denly upon Allan. With q desperate
effort she attempted, to pass him, but
in vain.
"We have not been good friends for
some reason, Miss HoWapd!" he said,
holding her fluttering little hands in
his strong, masterful clasp. But you
will not refuse to bid me goodbye, I
hope; and, as 7 shall start in the morn
ing. probably before Won are stirring.
I want to say it now. You will say
goodbye, won't you?"
For an instant Daisy was all but
conquered; then pride rallied once
more to her aid. That he should pre-