The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-04-13
A ROBBERS PRIZE.

lated as we We're. shut out from osher
society or diversions: | young and N
ceptible, she queenly and fascinating.
She was two years my senior. She
had been a belle two seasons. and, dis
gusted in the midst OF the third, run,
away to my aunt's'to recruit and forget.
She was there when | came home from
school at the INNER vacation. | was
twenty. she was twenty-five. and we
spent all those lingering scented suns
.mer months in the same House. | dare
say she never thought of anything SO
improbable rs my falling in love with
her.
Her look when | confessed the state
of my heart said all that and more. The
regal head turned ~languidly on the Grim
son cushion against which she reclined,
and she regarded me with q most pro-
voking. steady ~incredulity in her beau
tiful face. The full. finely cut lips quiz
cred with suppressed smiling.
Does any honest love deserve TO be
laughed at, Miss RUTH" | questioned.
with a half angry tremor in my voice.
Certainly not" said Miss Ruth. 81
dare say yon are honest enough. but
you're not old enough"
Ruth Bonange sank back among her
cushions. convulsed with laughter. |
stood meanwhile, every nerve tingling.
passions of anger d~evouring me.
Miss Ruth" | said. II am waiting
for my answer
You ridiculous Steve. haven't you
got it?' she said, sitting up and staring at
me.
"You won't laugh the next time / tell
you / love you, Miss Ruth" | said to N.Y.
self as she gathered her silken draperies
around her and swept into the house.
"A gentleman in the parlor to see
Miss Bonange," | heard the one servant
my aunt kept say.
Miss Bonange was lounging the morn
ing away TN my aunt's roomi She seemed
to h~esitate~two minutes, nervonsly pull
ing to pieces the card Peggy had brought
her, then with her proudest mien swept
from the room. .
Stepping through the window | care
fully gathered the fragments of torn
~pasteboard from the carpet and put them
together N the palm of my hand.
Richard Dunkirk. ESQ.," was what
read.
1T is her iover!" My brow throbbed
Mt the thought.
The door slammed. she Is coming
l thought, and fed to the veranda again,
Just in time to hear her voice in tones
OF expostulation answered by another's.
icy with sternness.
Hers said haughtiiy:
Il would never marry You were !
thrice as much in your power as | amf'
"Who them was the response in ac-
cents of slow areasm
mo matter, so it is a man more man.
ly than you"
could hear her quick drawn breath.
and the angry rustic of her dress as she
moved away from him. 1t wascoward-
iy to stand there eavesdroppingf felt
so, but l set my teeth and staia.
IF 1 were a man. | heard her say
presently, Il would force you to yield
me my property"
Your property! These are mine
made mine by yourself, a free agent"
What viii yon do with them
Present them To Diy wife on my we'd
ding day, or, that failing. 10 your hus-
band on yours.
could have srr ag into the oom
and throttled this Cow aTtaly threatener
of a woman. but instead | slipped a
sash of the veranda, aaa, leaping down
among the flower beds. hurried out of
sight and hearing. Half an hour after
saw q handsome, rather distinguished
looking man stalking through the gar
den path toward the road. | made a
turn and met him. The distinguished
look CHANGED to be a sort Of daredevil
recklessness of air and manner as | ap-
preached him, and he seemed decidedly
out of humor.
| lifted my hat c~ourteously as we
passed; he did the same. With a half i'm
pudent stare, turning TO look after me
rs 1 sauntered up the walk.
| found Richard Dunkirk, ESQ.,, an
Cling in the trout stream below the house
the next morning. | angled, too-not
for trout, but for his acquaintance. He
scowled at sight OF me, bat | baited my
hook cleverly and presently he became
civil. Isaw that he was trying to dis
cover who / was and my relations with
Miss Bonange.
We separated with apparent mutual
pleasure in each other. We encountered
again the following day, Quite like old
acquaintance, and / invited him iodine
at my aunt's. He gave a sort of startled
stare, but assented. 1t was too good an
opportunity TO be lost.
IAN acquaintance of yours, | believe
Miss Ruth : | said simply as / care
lessly ammo inced to her and my aunt
that Mr.. Dnnkirk had come to dinner.
Miss Bonange hsd seemed out OF sorts
for a day or two. She gave me a hal
desperate look at the announcement.
lyon see l am not jealous, Miss Ruth.
] eaid In IN undertone.
~You are certainly generous she re
piled coldly.
1 was half OF the opinion that SD,
would not come to dinner; but she did
We were-on the whole quite a pleasan
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