The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-03-30
CHAPTER VIII.
Duke COnfesses.

| on the III 1lpEnOOu VI lHe 1idS VI b'iN'
return from the hospital. Leonard Har
| yey who has been very remiss IN his
attendance during the past fortnight
| called while Ciccly waS dressing 10
start Minna, who was not going with
! her, was sitting ut her embroidery III
| the drawing room. When Leonard en-
tered she glanced up with a flush on
her face. He was looking even more
solemn than usual. and. Us usual. ne
seemed to have nothing TO say. Minna,
of course, affected to thin> his visit
was for Cicely alone.
Il am afraid she will have hardly a
moment to spare for YOU" she SAID.
she is going to fetch Duke home from
the hospital, and is afraid Of beirs late.
She is very much obliged to yoE for call
ing the other day-when she was out =
When you were out corrected Leon
ard, u, solemnly as ever. You know
who my visits are for
Whoever they are for, they haven't
been very frequent lately" returned
AIinna, with a slight but naughty turn
of the head.
Tiff that person had cared to have
any more, She would not have had to
complain Of any deficiency in that re-
spect."
Leonard was sitting very stiffly and
staring straight before him out of the
window.
Il suppose you mean" said Minna
with a light laugh and an assumption
of great Indifference, that your visits
We're for ne and | didn't appreciate
them?'
Yes" admitted Leonard, II suppose
| did mean something like that You
tolerated me while my dullness was
mitigated by Hurst's Hveliness; but
when his visits ceasad'-
He stopped abruptly for a quick
movement on the part Of Minna told
him what a dreadful blunder he had
made. There was dead pause.
Il see said the girl at last, in a chill
ing tone, you take your cue from Mr.
Hurst"
If | did" said Leonard, in sort OF
strangled voice, Il should go and offer
my worthless attentions to some other
girl, some girl with money"
Minna rose and walked to the piano,
trying. not very successfully to assume
the air OF being intensely bored by this
conversation.
i don't think you could possibly do
better She threw this speech care
lessly ut him as he passed
She began to play waltz, one Of
which Algy Hurst was fond. but the
tinkling emptiness Of which, as Leon
ard had often confessed nearly drove
the latter mad. So he stood bolt up-
right in the bend of the grand piano.
tapping the case nclyousIy as he spoke.
You don't think / should be capable
of such think, Miss Mnna? In fact |
need not ask you. For if / were not
cursed with a dog -lil7e fidelity which is
proof against snubs you would long
ago have had to see that my devotion
to you is worth something
Perhaps do know it now,'' she said
at last.
There was a dead silence again. Leon
ara Delng a great deal too shy to avail
himself of this opening. although Min
na waited for him obligingly.
But there limits to the patience or
every girl. and especially to that of one
VINO knows she is going to be proposed
20, ana IS ready to face the ordeal So
&C last she heayed an ostentatious sigh
ana went on softly playing nothing par
ticular -
wonder how shy men ever get mar
RED at air. She sighed forth 1T last
with her head tilted little on one side
IN pensive attitude.
VIII you give me a kiss?" sad sbn
Or,-and she affected to draw ber
lead back again-''or are YOU too shy5. /
re was not And although She tool,
great care, In the course of the nevt
aalT-honr, to assure him til 1t she only
accepted him to avoid the shame Of
being deserted by Algv Hurst for bnr
lch cousin, Richard took the cxplana. |
ion quite imperturbably.
shouldn't much mind even If Is
we're true he had the courage 10 saw
When you're very fond # a girl. tho
ming is to get her. And we've all con
'elted enough to think we can prove 70
Ter afterWard that she's made q GOOD !.
.hoice'' 1oA
1t came with shock upon these two
people when. the door-bell having runp
their noticing 1t, two visitors
anne IN to interrupt their tete-a-tete /
hey We're Mr.. William Bennington and
Algy Hurst. The sight OF them recalled
9 Mlnna all the misery and mystery OF
ne past fortnight, all her wondering
ears as to what Dukes return would
ring forth. For Mr.. Berrington's face
vas full OF hard determination as wall
9 curiosity. He had, In truth. know.
ng tnat Duke was expected to return
ome on this day, come on purpose tn
revent his nephew from getting into
~