Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-02-15

49, - AZ "a ANA 1853 1AN A&A-~
found a friend there-a friend on
whose masculine sense she could rely,
while at the same time his gentle kind
ness banished the timidity which poor
Bell was in the habit OF feeling In the
presence OF sensible persons" "Ad-
vice." and good sense" and solid
Judgment had hitherto been offered
TO her by her mother-in-law and others
in the form OF a bitter bolus, at which
il was known she would make WY
faces-such being the perversity Of
her n~ature-but which, nevertheless.
she was bound TO gulp down. Bell had
a sincerely modest opinion of herself,
and easily believed that her conduct
might be faulty even where she was
conscious OF the goodness of her mo-
tive. But IL was against the constant
demonstration OF her motives that
her spirit rebelled And IL was a new
and delightful sensation TO discover a
person who would gently point out TO
her that she was doing wrong. while
fully admitting that she intended 10 do
right.
Ali the sweetness OF her nature was
elected By this manly gentieness. She
was quite free from any petty desire
to shine on false p~retenses: and, once
assured that she was trusted, she ac-
knowledged all her shortcomings with
perfect honesty and humility. Ner was
a sterling Acknowledgement OF short
comings the only result OF her acquain-
lance with Robert Warren. Perceiving
that on many points he thought better
Of her than she deserved, she stroye-
half unconsciously perhaps-to attain
the high character he attributed to her.
IL Is a base nature hat Il not stirred
by praise to be the very thing which in
the eyes of affection Ii seems TO be.
And now, after all the pleasant
words and c~onsiderate acts which she
had received at his hands, after having
learned to think OF him as n whose
regard was sure, whose kindness was
steadfast and 10 be relied on, she found
herself suddenly divided from him as by
a great blank wall. And the conviction
was forced upon her that she had been
misrepresented to him utterly. Per
haps To- he thought OF her with con-
tempt, as a vulgar, sclieming woman,
without delicacy. or dignity! The
thought ate into her spirit like a can
ker. There came moments of reaction
when she rebelled against the injustice
she had been subjected to by Mrs
Boddington. HE Is as bad as his
sister, and he has not the instinct OF a
gentleman. il he does not know ME to
be incapable Of the designs she accuses
me off, cried Bell But depression soon
followed these bursts of indignation.
She was simply forgotten by Mr.. War
rem, 90 the rest. After all. why should
he try TO keep up an acquaintance with
the goyerness of his sisters children?
What was she TO him? She had exag-
gerated a few kind words, OF course.
into expressions of serious friendship,
And then the tears would flow down
Bells cheeks, which had lost all the
pretty rose bloom and were growing
hollow as well as pale.
Although the weather had now be-
come too chilly TO make IL prudent
Mrs. Jack did not abandon her habit
of sitting out of doors in the ittle
wood. She was to be found there
every afternoon. when IL did not abso-
luteiy rain, wrapped in a shawl, sitting
on a rough bench which one OF the
farm servants had placed under the
copper beach tree for her accommoda-
ton. The wood was her boudoir, her
sanctum, her secret bower-a somewhat
dreary and leafless bower by this time.
but solitary and secluded. Hither Mrs.
Jack carried a letter one day which
had just arrived from Codlington, in
order 10 read Ii at leisure.
The letter was from Barney, Of
course. Barney was her only CORE
sponient II had been written two
days previous and intrusted TO the
carrier who piled between Codlington
and Beck's Heath. and who could not
be got to comprehend that IL was a
matter OF any consequence whether a
letter reached Its destination to-day or
tomorrow.
Poor, kind Barney" exclaimed Mrs.
Jack. after she had deciphered her
friends crooked. cramped handwriting.
What a good old dear she is"
Then reading n passage ever again.
she said quite aloud. What nonsense
they all have got into their heads about
sending me 10 Italy. That wouldn't
do me any good, and. besides. how
on earth am | to get 10 Italy by my
self:''
'.Nyili yon 90 with me, Isabel" said
, 4 low voice at her ear. And she was
so violently startled that she nearly
fell of the wooden bench and let the
letter drop from her shaking hand
among the dead leaves at her feet.
All. what a thouShtless brute I was
Il. starile you so" cried Robert War
rem.
He stood in front of her and took her
cold hands IN his, and looked down on
her face. which. from having become
deadly white. was now glowing with a
deep crimson blush. She could not ut
ter a sound for q minute. but kept gaZ.
ing up at him With an expression like
that OF Il w0nderin: child in her hazel
/ eyes. Is * youf" she gasped out at
| length: and then. with a sudden nov
mcnt. she withdrew her hands from
his and stood up. But her knees trem-
bled 30 much that she had to supper.
herself against the trunk of a tree.
How weak vuu are9' he said. la a
low voice. "Sit down again. Pray
sit down.
no: I must 20. | must go into the
house. I-I-can't stay here. MIR. War
rem"
She spoke very fast AID breathiessly
and looked at him no more. but turned
her face away.
Not until you have answered my
question. I have asked YOU q ques.
ton. you know. They have recon,
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