The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-10-19

( AIc tci tiiIiy ditl upt. NIc hilpN u
/ him too long not to understand by this
] time what alone could whiteihllis brave
! handsome face. or cause the hand that
rested on her arm when passing to
burn with such Il dry, throbbin- heat.
! In moment her whole mood chang
/ ed: she could no longer chatter and
laugh with the man beside her; Black
woods 5 face !nterposci and seemed to
forbid it: she felt cold and chilled and
Wickedly inclined toward the world in
general. She hated Sir Mark. simply
because he had offered most kindly TO
tie her shoe, and she could find moth
lug else against him just then; she
hated the innocent colt that had been
! the primary cause OF all this mischief;
She hated herself in that she had al
lowed Warrenne TO hold her foot for
even one moment in his hand, and to
kiss it. Pah. how hateful seemed now
the thing that had appeared so harm
less few minutes before, and she
hated Blackwood because no. not
BlackWood above all people. Heaven
alone knew how little hatred she cher
ished III her heart for him.
w hat are you thinking Off" her com
panion asked. presently, beginning to
wonder 1t the protracted silence
"Of many things she answered.
vaguely. not to say unpleasantly But
Sir Mark being perfectly unsuspcious
or having offended her in any way, de
tected no warning in her voice. and
went on unwittingly of his undoing
lcll me one of them, Tita.' he said
fenderly. SO compromising himself as
absolutely as mortal man could do so
DO not address me in that manner"
She said, Who gave you permission
TO call me 'Tita| Not l, certainly, New
er dare to do it again.
Il beg your pardon" Warrennc re-
piled just a little haughtily feeling
and looking considerably astonishe,;
at this outbreak. as Well he might. Il
had no idea you would have any OBJ
lection. Will you tell me what I may
call you. thcn-'Katllerine?
Il think perhaps Miss Rlount will
be best she answered. with extreme
hateur. born either of her rufIled tenn
per or Of the new-found satin train
that rustled majestically behind her.
After this agreeab BILE finish to their
conversation the remainder Of the walk
was decidedly the reverse of pleasant.
'N&Atc p.tSSC0 Ill ututl SltpHCt, ana -
was not until they were safely seated
1T the tea-table that Katherine once
more recovered her usual spirits. Hay-
lns succeeded In making Sir Mark quite
rs miserable as a man could well be.
she changed her tactics most unexpect-
edly. and raised him in Il short time to
Il far higher realm of bliss than he
iEid ever dreamt of SO that when tea
Was finished. and they all broke up to
go their different ways. Warrenne fol.
lowed Miss Blount through the pretty
comfortable drawing-room into an al.
joining old-world apartrnent-empty
WaXed and wainscoted-until they
found themselves alone In the en-
nfasure or large oak-panelled window
that opened casement fashion. and
through which the white glimmering
moon shone down upon their faces.
The hour and situation were ..senti
mental" to say the least of It. and
Katherine. leaning against the shutter.
with soft. silver moonbeans lighting
up her black dress and fair lovcliness
looked almost unearthly In her ex-
tremc beauty.
katherine" said Sir Mark, In a low
mpassioned voice and w;thou, a word
of preface. Il love YOU" "Will you
marry mc?'
Miss Blount. not dreaming that for
the next few months at least he would
come to the last scene in his drama
was astonishcd She raised her eyes
and cazed with mute bewi!dermant
upon her latest lover, but answer She
found none.
Darling Warrenne went on. DOS
sessing himself Of both her hands. and
speaking quickly, vehcmently, 1T ia
soon. | know. to tell you this. but T
love you. aud waiting years could not
Increase my love hold you to nv
heart rs | never yet held any woman
Tor | place my whole future happi-
ness humhly 1T your feet Will You
not speak TO me. Katherine, and hold
out to me some hope?'
Miss Blonnt withdrew her hands.
ana sat down on the deep old-fashioned
window seat. 1t seemed very hard to
her just then to tell this man who
looked SO terribly In earnest that he
could never be anything more to her
than mere friend.
II am sorry" she began. faintly. hut
he interrupted her hurredly.
DO not begin like that" he implor
ed. DO not answer me like that at
all. katherine. but take little time to
think before you decide on telling me
what must render my entire life either
intensely happy or unspeakally bit
lef. Take until tomorrow. and prom
isc me that You will not condemn mo
hastily. but will for one night at least
reflect on what have ST. =
Archibald Blonnt was coming slow
ly toward them through the long room
on which the darkness seemed to
have fallen heavily. and the Girl had
only Just time to whisper. Il promise
yon.' when he came up to them.
What. Coin: so soon. Sir Mark ?"
he exclaimed. with his pleasant. we'll
bred smile. Have I frightened you
away? Well gnnd-nich rnn harn !