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

- 1@N 49, A> s>h Nos'E
edncsS which seemed to him that he
knew SO well. How was it SO? Had
he met her before In some former *
uoas I9q lnoGg NE PIP 6UM s9ou9lsI
at once strange and vet familiar? He
had experienced the like before.
These thoughtS-scarccly thoughts in
deed fiickcred through his brain as he
looked at her. They served one pur-
pose at least, they prevented his feeling
or looking awkward; could Such Il state
of things have been conceived possible?
Seeing that he was not going to
speak, remembering, perhaps, that If he
remembered the last words she had
honored him with, he could scarcely be
expected TO do, she ut last opened her
lips.
That" she said quietly, slightly in
clining her head in the direction where
young Leslie had stood, was, under
the circumstances, unnecessary
He did not know" said Despard.
Il suppose not, though ] don't know.
Perhaps you told him you had for
gotten my name
"No,' he replied. 81 did not. 1t
would not have been true"
She smiled very slightly.
There is no dancing tonight" she
said May / ask" aud she hest
tated.
why T vcntured to disturb your"
he interrupted. Il was requested to
take You down stairs for an ice, or
whatever YOU may prefer TO that. The
farce did not originate with me, / as
sure YOU
DO you mean by that that you will
not take me down stairs?" she said,
smiling again as she. got up from her
seat. Il should like an ice very much"
DeSpard bowed without speaking,
and offered her his arm.
But when he had plotted her through
the crowd, and she was standing quiet
~ with her ice, he broke the silence.
Miss Fforde," he began, "as the
fates have again forced me on your
notice, l should like to ask You a ques-
tom
She raised her eyes inauiringly. No
Tho had not exaggerated their beauty.
II should like TO know the meaning
Of the strange words you honored me
with as | was leaving Mrs. Engie-
woods the other evening. I do not
think you have forgotten them"
NO" she replied, Il nave not for
gotten them. and l meant them. and
= I'LL A1lAAAii iNA Jul Il III Aiot tAAAA
about them or explain anything /
said.'
There was nothing the least fiippant
in her tone-only quiet determination.
But Despard, watching keenly, saw
that her lips quiyered q little as she
spoke.
AS you choose" he said. "Of
course. in the face of such a very I'M
compromising refusal, l can say moth
ing more"
Then shall we 60 up stairs again?'
proposed Miss Fforic.
Mr.. Norreys a~cuuiesced. But he had
laid his plans, and he was n more dip
lomatic adversary than Miss Ff0rde
was prepared TO cone with.
II finished reading the book we were
speaking OF the other evening"" he
began in Il matter-of-fact voice; Il
mean" and he named the book.
AT least, j fancy 1t was you was dis
GUESSING Ii with. The last volume falls
off greatly"
''0h, do you think So" said the girl
in q tone of Acknowledgement disappoint-
ment, falling blindly into the trap. II,
on the contrary, felt that the last vol
ume made amends for all that was
unsatisfactory in the others. You see
by IL what he was driving at all the
time, and That the persi1age and APP
parent cynicism were only means to
an end. / do hate cynicism-it is so
easy and such II little makes a great eff
feet
Something in her tone made Despard
feel irritated. SIS she hitting at me
AGAIN. he thought. And the idea
threw him, In his turn, off his guard.
The natural result was that both for.
rot themselves in the interest of the
discussion. And Despard. when he, as
1t were, awoke TO the realization of
this, took care not TO throw away the
advantage he had gained. He drew
her out, he talked as he but seldom ex-
erted himself TO do, and when mt the
end of half an hour or So SIN elderly
lady, whom he knew by name only,
was seen approaching them. Miss
Fforde sprang to her feet, exclaiming:
Have you been looking for me? L
hope not"-he smiled quietly as he
prepared to withdraw-he had succeed
ed
Goodnight, Mr.. Norreys," said Mai
sic, simply.
Two evenings ago she would not
say goodnight at ALL" he thought.
But he made no attempt TO do more
than bow quietly.
"lou arc very -cold, gyim-no. /
don't know what TO call 1t, Ma;sie,
dear said the lady, the cousin and
present chaperon. as they drove away,
lin your IL to men: and that man
In particular Dcspard Norreys. 1t Is
not often he is So civil to any girl"
II detest all men-al young men,
replied Maisic, irrltably.
"nut, my dear. YOU should be COM
monty civil. Aud he has been giving
himself. for him. unusual trouble to
entertain YOU Can he know about |
herr oh. no, it is impossible" she
added to herself.
Miss Fforde closed her lips firmly.
But In n moment or two she opened
them again.
Cousin Agnes" she said, half smil-
Ing. Il an afraid you are quite mis-
taken. Ii | had not been what you
call commonly civil would he have
gone on talking to me? On the con-
trary. ! am sadly afraid / was far too
CIVIL
My dear child" calculated her cous-
In, what do You mean?"
"Oh," said Maisie. II don't know.
Never mind the silly things ! say. III