The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-03-24

How dare YOU" she said, hoarsely,
her voice low and trembling, take
such q liberty In a house while the mas
ter IS awayl Go at once-at once;
and don't dare--tO come back-tin he
Is here himself-again."
am surprised, MI. Hurst, that you
should take part in what Smoothing
less-than ar outrage" she painted out.
He, too, had nothing to say. With
some murlnured words of humblest re-
greet he followed her way upstairs both
gentlemen had left the house.
CHAPTER VIII.
Duke C~onfesses.
On the afternoon Of the day Of Dukes
return from the hospital, Leonard Har-
vey, who has been very remiss in his
attendance during the past fortnight,
called while Cicely was dressing to
start. Minna, who was not going with
her, was sitting at her embroidery in
the drawing room. When Leonard en-
tered, she glanced up with a flush OH
her face. He was looking even Q
solemn than usual; and, as usual, he
seemed to have nothing to say. Minna,
OF course, affected to think his visit
was for Cicely alone.
II am afraid she will have hardly q
moment to spare for you." she said.
..Sfe is going to fetch Duke home from
the hospital, and is afraid Of being late.
She is very much obliged to you for a l
ing the other day-when she was out.
when you were out corrected Leon
ard, as solemnly as ever. you know
who my visits are for"
Whoever they are for, they haven't
been very frequent lately" returned
Minna, 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 stiffiy and
staring straight before him out of the
window.
II suppose you mean," said Minna,
with a light laugh and ar assumption
OF great Indifference, that your visits
were for me and / didn't appreciate
them"
Yes" admitted Leonard, II suppose
/ did mean something like that. You
tolerated me while my dizziness was
mitigated by Hurst's liveliness; but
when his visits ceased
He stopped abruptly for n quick
movement ON the part Of Minna told
him what a dreadful blunder he had
made. There was n dead pause.
II see" said the girl at last, In q chill
ing tone, you take your cue from MIR.
Hurst"
.If I did," said Leonard, in a sort OF
strangled voice, II should 60 and Die
my worthless attentions to some other
girl, some girl with money" 4
Minna rose and walked to the piano,
trying, not very successfully, to assume
the air of being intensely bored by this
conversation.
II don't think you could possibly do
better" She threw this speech care
lessly at him as he passed.
She began to play Il waltz, n OF
which Algy Hurst was fond, but he
y 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 ~nervously as he spoke.
You don't think I should be capable
OF such a think, Miss Minna2 In fact !
need not ask you. For II / were not
cursed with a dOg-lihe fidelity which is
proof against snubs, you would long
ago have had to e that my devotion
to you is worth something
Perhaps I do know 1t now" she said
at last. So,
There was a dead silence again, Leon
ard being q great deal too shy to avail
himself Of this opening, although Min
M waited for him Obligingly.
But there limits to the patience Of
every girl, and especially to that Of one
who knows she Is going to be proposed
to, and Is ready to face the ordeal. 10
at last she heayed an ostentatiOus sigh
aud went on softly playing nothing par
ticular.
II wonder how shy men ever get mar
tied at ALI. she sighed forth at last,
with her head tilted a little on one side
In a pensive attitude.
win you give me q kiss?" said she.
t.Orr-and she affected to draw her
head back again-sOr are you too shy r
He was not. And although she took
great care, In the course OF the next
half to assure him that she only
accepted him to avoid the shame Of
being deserted by Algy Hurst for her
rich cousin, Richard took the explana-
ton quite imperturbably.
II shouldn't much mind wen Ii 1t
were true" he had the courage to say.
when you're very fond 81. q girl, the
A lAA1uGs - ~ 6GG AACSs ANU W. 0A SVA~
ceited enough to think we can prove to
her afterward that she's made q good
choice"
1t came with q shock upon those two
people when, the door-beN having rung
without their noticing ii. two visitors
came In to interrupt their tete-a-tete.
They were Mr.. william Bennington and
Algy Hurst. The sight OF them recalled
to Minna all the misery and mystery Of
the past fortnight, all her wondering
fears as to what Dukes return would
\ bring forth. For Mr.. BerringtOn,s face
was full OF hard determination Oh well
as curiosity. He had, in truth, know
ing that Duke was expected to return
home on this day. come on purpose to
prevent his nephew from getting into
the cellar alone before him.
AIgy Hurst appeared not quite 20
much ut ease as usual; while, on the
aOther hand, Leonard Harvey came for
ward Ia shake hands with him with
unite unaccustomed warmth and hearth
IS ness. Both men looked at each other
~ & anxious to know whit brought the
B other there. Is was Mr.. sBe.Til gtOn
ss who started the Inevitable explalntiens.
vi brought AlgeFnOn with me to-
he raid presently. lin order Ito
introducesto yOu what I may call tan
old friendsWith Anew face. Here is
my future eofln.lAW. ss
klgyglDoked very uncomfOrtlh I'LL. but
Leonard Was radiant. Minna, too.
laughed quite brilliantly and easily.
ITS epideHlc.e said I1eOnprd. with
2A&E AEBM - X.