The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-12-07

the house for she was still tremolihs
with terror; and when more com
posed, his carriage conveyed the moth-
er and child home.
But we must not pass over the ilfst
interview between Basil and Alice. 1t
was not a shyness because OF hrs sex
which made her sit silently looking III
him-and this she did, and never re-
moved her eyes from his face; IL ne
Quilted his seat her unWinking orbs
followed him, she seemed AFRAID 10
give them the momentary rest winch
that operation by q dispensation OF ma
ture. affords. lest in so doing she Should
shut him out from Ler gaze; II was an
intense stare. The captain ana MIS-.
Evelyn sat converSing. more friendly
than either ever imagined possible
with the other. and they left the child
rem to themselves. Basil was shy
boy. but somehow this extraordinary
species of watching made him feel
queer. so he resolved boldly 10 break
the spell by seeing if she could talk as
well us look. Crossing the room he
slid into a chair beside her. and asked
the most natural question in th world
considering why she and her mother
were there
Did the COW frighten you very
muchf"
Evidently he thought her diStcnsion
of eye arose from alarm: but Alice,
whose thoughts We're far away from
terror and COWS. answered his ques-
ton by one not very pertinent, yet
opening a wide field for conversation.
rs your name WillieE"
mo. my name is Basil" he replied.
Il am sorry" she whispered, you
are SO like my brother Willie
rs Willie at SCHOOL," inquired the
boy.
"Oh, no, l wish he was, He's in
heaven
Here spoke perfect childhood: she
would rather have had him learning,
punished perhaps. and a whole forest
of green sorrow before him to pass
through. before winter should cast
the whitening leaves to earth. then
know him away from her, though in
Paradise
Don't tell mamma l said this"
whispered she, coloring Mamma
says he IS happier away, and that it
is wicked regretting him: but | know
I'm av cry wicked girl. for | every day
think Of Willie, and wish he were
with me-
All this was uttered with the most
complete gravity; not>a childish smile
lit up the serious little pale face.
I'm glad | resemble Willie" said
Basil. after Il pause, for now YOU will
like me. and come and see me: want
a nj
l know no one here"
Can YOU play. 'Ben's out? inquired
Alice. She was like an IriShman. gen.
orally answering a question by asking
another.
Il don't know what that is" Basil
said. smiling
y II teach YOU" she quickly answer
cd. I played it with them, and Willie
was always Ben and got turned OUT
Here size smiled. forgetting for a
moment that the them" comprised all
her dead companions. and that Ben,
too, WAS gone. Suddenly it flashed
upon her. and her face grew very long
and as she furtively glanced at her
mother. a tear rolled down her cheek.
Basil saw il, and something more OF
manhood than belonged to his age
made him take her hand in silence.
1t arose from sympathy. ard the nat
ural pleasure his sex gave him in hold
ing the little fingers. This IS. perhaps.
JOY many may remember to have felt
even at twelve years of age; it is very
innocent love, but love it is.
Between these two. there existed no
more ice. all was we'll thawed, and
when the parents rose, and Captain
Oliver escorted Mrs. Evelyn to the
carriage, both smiled as he remarked
My boy Basil seems to have made
good way in the young lady's favor"
So he had. for they followed the 9TH
ers without thought of concealing
their liking-hand ia hand, talking as
II they had known one another whole
years.
TO be Continued.)