Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-10-12
BY mAs' MEaESWUK

Ld1t ttilb NitNo Il . -
matter had been left entirely out of
the question.
Despard smiled.
do you mean am I sure she cares
for me:" he said. "Oh, yes-as for
that
II don't like a girl who-who lets ii
be seen il she cares for a man." she
said.
Mr.. Norreys turned upon her.
Lets it be seen" he repeated an
grily. 'Maddie, yea put things very
disagreeably. Would tell me, Is it
likely that I would take to a girl so ut
terly devoid Of dei,cacy as your words
sound? And is it so improbable that
a girl would care for me?" He smiled
in spite OF himself. and Mrs. Selby's
answering smile rs She murinured: Il
did not mean that, you know" helped
to smooth him down. 'She did he1'
best to make me think she detested
me- he added. But"
"AI, yes, but said his sister fond
ly. '"Then it is settled, Despard,' she
went on. III shall tackle Mrs. Engle-
wood In my own way. You can trust
me. You don't know where Miss Ford
is mt present." she added.
He shook his head despondently.
Not the ghost of an idea. / didn't
try 10 hear. / thought / didn't want
to know, you see. But Maddie," he
added, half timidly, ''you'n write at
once:'
'.As soon as l possibly can" she re-
piled kindly. for CHANGING at him she
saw that he looked really i'll and worn.
And" she went ON, las my reward,
you will go with me to the DensterS'
garden party this afternoon. Charles
can't, and L hate going alone. l don't
know them-it is their first year here,
though everybody says they are very
nice people"
"Oh, DEAR said Despard. Very
well, Maddie. i suppose / must"
Then be ready at a quarter to four,
I'll drive you in the pony carriage"
and Madeline disappeared through the
glass door whence she had emerged.
II wonder il she win write to-day
thought Mr.. Norreys, though he would
have been ashamed TO ask il. II should
like to know it's done--a sort of cross
ing the Rubicon. And it's a good while
now since that last day I saw her. She
was never quite so sweet as that day.
Surprising l heard she was marriedY''
His heart seemed to stop beating at
the thought, and he grew white. though
there was no one to see. But he reas-
sured himself. Few things were less
likely. Portionless girls, however
charming, don't marry so quick now
adays.
Madeline's feelings were mingled.
She was honestly and unSeltishly glad
of what she believed might be a real
---s NA..x nwx-nrl .,gL.I fA. has
pard. Yet-'if only he had not chosen
Il girl quite so denuded of worldly adj
vantages as she evidently is" she re-
flected. ''For. of curse. lie she had
ciSner money or connection Mrs. Engle-
wood would not have kept it Il secret.
She is far too outspoken. / must beg
her 10 tell everything She knows, not
to be afraid of my mixing her name
up in the matter in any way. When
she sees that Charles and / do not dis
approve she will feel less responsible
ity."
And it was with n comfortable sense
OF her own and Charles unworldli-
ness that Mrs. Shelby prepared to in
ditc the important letter.
She saw little of her brother till the
afternoon. He did not appear at lun-
tiOOi. liS WI "CAo AhAN HN 100
gone for 4 long walk.
provided only that he is not too
late for the Densters'," thought Made
fine, with a little sigh over the perver-
sity of mankind.
But her fears were unfounded. At
ten minutes TO -four Mr.. Norreys made
his appearance in the hall, faultlessly
attired. ~apoloGizing with his usual
coErtesy, in which to his sister he never
failed. for his five minutes delay, and
Mrs. Seiby. feeling pleased with herself
outwardly and inwardly, for she was
conscious both of looking we'll in a
very pretty new bonnet and of acting q
truly high-minded part as a sister, seat
ed herself in her place, with Il glance
Of satisfaction at her companion.
Everybody will be envying me" she
said to herself. with a tiny sigh as she
remembered former air castles in Des-
pard's behoof. ''The Flores-C Carter
girls and Edith and Bertha Ryder, in-
deed all the neighborhood, get quite
excited il they know he's here. He
might have had his choice OF the best
matches in this county, TO my own
knowledge, and there are several girls
with money. All, well!'
lhC eiOuuuo cSSuhCu tAiCdts LUZ VI
guests when the brother and sister
drove up to the Densters' door. Mrs.
Selby was at once seized upon by some
of her special cronies. and for half an
hour or so Despard kept dutifully be-
side her, allowing himself to be intro
duced to any extent, doing his best
to please his sister by responding gra-
ciously to the various attentions which
were showered upon him. But he grew
very tired Of 1t all in a little while
a curious dreamy feeling began to come
over him, born no doubt Of the TN
wonted excitement of his conversation
with Madeline that morning. He had
gone a long walk in hopes Of recovering
his usual equanimity, but had only
succeeded In firing himself physically.
The mere fact of having put in words
to another the conflict of the last few
months seemed to have given actual
existence to that which he had Try fits
and starts been trying to persuade him.
self vas but a passing fancy. And
even to himself he could not have told
whether he was glad or sorry that the
latter had come to a point-had, as Ii
xxara boon taken mt Of his own hands.