The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-10-19
CHAPTER. I11-tcontiuue.l.,

uulr ana neck anu belt with some
pieces Of brilliant scarlet geranium,
coming directly. almost Immediately
afterward, upon Sir Mark Warrepne
In all her new-fOund bralve:y.
For moment tine young man was
silent, and could do nothing but stare
at her, SO beautiful vision did she
appear to him just then, with her
cleaning white neck and arms. und del
icate laughing f,lce. No matter how
old the dress might bc, no matter low
ancient and Out-of-datc. 1t suited her;
its very antiquity only serving to show
her oft'more clearly in the mellow, soft
ening twilight. as one Of the very dain-
tlest, sweetest. fairest creatures that
ever adorned this earth. His fixed gaze
brought n faint blush to her soft
eli ceks: she came hurrietlly forward and
held out her hand.
ut is yOn," she said. simply, but in
a tone Of unmistakablc welcome. He
took her hand aud hcld It fast. hut
still made no answer, bcing fully occu-
ried in trying to account for the altcra-
ton II, her appearance. Presently, hnv-
ing submitted to his scrutiny very
quietly for n few moments. she spoke
again. half coquettishly, half cOnfusedly
this time.
Have ynu nothing to say to me?"
"Yes. I have plenty" Warrcmle an
sweretl, still puzzled. but drawing him
self up as though to shake of. or at
least loosen. the spell that was closing
round him. "but somehow tonight You
are IL little different fancy-you are
changed. Oh" with relieved look
and n feeling Of inspiration. You have
new dress OH. have you not!"
NO, haven't" katherine exclaimed.
with II merry. ringing laugh: lit IL rs
old as the hills, und has. am afraid,
frightened you. am going down to
the off-paddock to see the new colt"
she answered, land you may come
with me IL you like" After which gra-
ciO,is permission OIL the part Of the NIL
jestic little lady they sauntcrctl along
together through the soft velvety grass.
On one side Of them rose a tall. quick
set hedge, which cffectually shielded
from their view a narrow. gravcllcl
path. that wound Its secluded way di-
rectly to tho house, and from which.
about hundred yards further on. one
had access by rustic stile In a breach
In the hedge into the field where they
now were. When they had come To
within about fifty PAGES of this stile.
Miss Blount stopped suddenly. and
glanced up Mt her companion with Il
half-amused smile.
what Is it?" he asked.
"Nfy SHOE" she answered. 1T has
come undOne: the string is loose, and
If 20 another step 1t will certainly
come off altogether"
"I4ct me fasten 1t for yOu." Sir Mark
proposed. gravcly. and Miss BlOunt
having murmured that hc was Every
good" he forthwith bent down on his
knees and took her beautiful little foot
almost rcverently In his hand
1t SO happened that just ut this mo-,
ment. as Ill luck would have 1t, Black
wood Craven was returning by the
email gravelled walk from seeing after
his uncle's business. and rs he stepped
on the stile, preparatory to entering the
field. with the fond hope in his heart,
poor fellow! that he should somewhere
rlnr tha. go rlen meet his cousin, Katll-
eyes.
Sir Mark Warrcnlc was kneeling Ou
the grass, his fair. handsome head bent
over Miss Blount's foot as 1t rested
on his knee. while she was steadying
herself comfortably by leaning her
hand on the STOPPING barOnet's shoul-
der The shoe took very long-in
fact, remarkably longtime to fasten.
Either Sir Mark was unused to such
tasks (as most probably he wasD and
therefore was awkward in accomplish
ing it, or else he found his occupation
the most agreeable he had ever under
taken, and wished to linger over 1t.
Who shall decide?
Certain 1t is. however. that two whole
minutes elapsed before 1t was consid-
cred safe for Miss Blount to place her
foot upor the ground once more. and
when at length 1t was pronounced
ready, Sir Marx, as though unwilling
to part with 1t without rendering it
homage, bent down and pressed his
lips most fervently to the dainty stock
ing that covered the higll-archel ill.,
step.
Miss Rlount first frowncd ut this lit
tie act on the young mans part. after
which she smiled and murmurel de-
mlre little "rllank you!" and then
BlackwO0d Craven. with a grOan that
was half n curse. dropped down from
the stilc wfelpOn lie had been sitting
quite un0bscrvel by the other two, and
advanced rapidly to meet them. The
passionate pride Of his nature stood
him in good stead here, blanching his
whole face. certainly. but leaving his
smile us uncmbarrassel and pleasant
as usual.
Good evening. Warrcnnc," he said.
carelessly, holding out his hand. II
fancied somehow all day that you
would be down this evening. j want
to speak to you by-ani-by about that
pointer Of yours. Going to see the
Duke Katherine? hurried back as
quickly as could to accompany you.
but now. you have Sir Mark 1t doesn't
matter, and 1t happens very well, as I
have some letters to write. But" with
smile, do not be longer than You
can help, dear, as I want my coffee
badly, and. besides, the dew is begin
ming to fall heavily" With which lit
tie brOthcrly speech, and part
ing kindly touch upon her shoul-
der. he went on his way. to all out
ward seeming perfectly composed.
Perhaps that he imposed upon Sir
Mark Culture events proved that he
did. more or less0 but on his cousin
he certainly did not She had known
him too long not to understand by this
time what alone could whitelh!iis brave
handsome face. or cause the hand that
rested on her arm when passing to
burn with such a dry, throbbing heat.
In q moment her whole mood chang
laugh with the man beside her; Black
woods face !nterposesl and seemed to
forbid 1t; she felt cold and chilled and
general. She hated Sir Mark, simply
hn ho1 nHfo LII Ir, IN,