The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-11-08
"A 6roubles nc Girl.
cHAPTnR vl-{cs.sinusa.
b. THE DUCHESS.

BY THE
CHATTER vl-Centinusa.s
"For instance, II he only came las
night, how did you know he was d
the countryY
why, that il the simplest part o.
1t all. He wrote me word OF his In
tended return last week. From Parii
he wrote, I think"
"You correspond, theny' His face l,
white now,and there 10 Of curious ex
preston on his lips. "Does you
grandfather know that, tool"
II don't know" nonchalantly, q
daresay not. You can tell him."
Colonel Dalrymple, catching her By
her arm, swings her lightly round q
as to face him.
"Once for all," says he, "you are {
girl, know, and ] am q man, but I'M
derstand at once, that you shall moi
insult me-
"What temper you are in," sayt
she, shaking herself free of him, will
a little rapid movement, .'and all be
cause you lost that game ut tennis"
III that was all the loss I am ever
to endurew says he In q voice now low
and subdued, but very sad. He
seems ashamed of his late violence.
"Still, you don't like it" says she.
"You hated having to play with me,
for one thing, because you know am
uncertain with my balls. Yes; I quite
understood what you meant by that
depends when Dicky called out to
you, and said that he would give you
licking You wanted to play with
Mary"
II really don't believe gave the
matter thought" icily.
However well you play tennis, you
certainlw play the lover badly" says
she with scornful little laugh. IF
you had been sensible, you would
have given me thought. Not that I
wanted 1t. much prefer Dicky as q
partner-but still It would have been
more graceful than to show openly
what bore you thought me-"
did show that?"
"Well, leave 1t to yourself. OF
course, know Mary plays beautiful
~. and that am inferior to her In
every way, but there is certain
amount Of courtesy, that-I think, !"
she says quickly, perhaps at heart a
little ashamed Of using her best friend
as medium for her desire to torment
her cousin, II think Mary is the sweet
est thing alive"
Miss Sylvester is charming, as all
the world allows" says Dalrymplc
with warmth. The warmth has its
principal source from the anger that
Is still burning hot within him; and ia
30 pronounced that involuntarily Nell
turns her eyes to his. 1t Is not the
answer she had expected, and some
how-fOr moment-it startles her.
How, or why, she could not have ex-
planned.
Eyes, all the world" says she, slow
", "and-you."
ut is really matter of no impor-
lance to her." says Dalrymple; "but
she certainly stands very high in my
estimation"
"When she marries," says Nell, still
staring at him, Il shall lose my best
friend"
II hardly see that" says he, "but II
you do lose her, she will be, should
think, real loss to you"
"YOu admire her very much" says
she slowly, yet with much vehemence.
Gas l have said," shortly.
"Well, You can't marry her either!"
cries she, with all the careless anger
of spoiled child. Because she IL
going to marry John Amoryw
NELL" says Colonel Dalrymple,
sharply. us If shocked, as indeed he
well light be. "Don't speak to me like
that" He lays his hands upon her
him. and us she thus looks into his
tn u1,1 1~n
touched her-but 1t doesn't. Il have
no desire to marry Mis- Sylvester, or
any one-unless'-
"Ah! there we are equalw inter-
rupts she quickly, not needing the end
there might be to his sentence. "That
Just how feel. We are companions
in this one thing at least. I don't
want to marry any one, either
"Don't you| says he. "Well, but
do; SO We are not such close compan-
ions tas you thought. And yet, oil my
desire lies that way. For, us you are
tired of hearing no doubt, I would be
your companion always"
"DOn't make me quite hate you"
says she, with a fierce little wrench
that leaves her free of his grasp.
Dalrymple, as though effectually
silenced. walks on beside her with
out word. 1t seems to him, that IL
he was ever SO eager to pursue the
argument, no language is left him In
which to do it. She has killed within
him all spontaneous thought. A
dreadful chill seems to hnve fallen
into the heat of the summer day, and
indeed as he looks round him In half
hearted fashion, it occurs to him that
day is gone, and evening Is already
here. The warmth, the vigor of life
has faded, only the ashes of 1t now
remain. And so with his life.
As IL in passionate protest against
this mOurnful deere, he throws up lis
head and compels himself to enter
once again into conversation with the
wilful beauty walking In stubborn 81.
lence by her side. He will talk gen
eralities to her-anything-every
thing-if only to show her that he il
not altogether slain by her bow and
spear.
Warm day." says he, making this
brilliant remark with all the force
that it requires.
"Warm evening" corrects she
sweetly.
Dull in the country, isn't it,"
sis I'll:
"Seems absurd, the monotony, after
the incessant change of town.
I'm afraid you are very unhappy
Why stay here? I'm sure grandpapa
will excuse you IL you return to The
sweet, shady side Of Pail Mall"
"Oh. no, thanks; my solicitude wal
oil for you. AS for me; like mono
tony-and all the rest Of IT.
cam the rest Of itT' She laughs
provokingly as she says this, and
plucking flower next to her, hold,
it up before him, and then SECOND by
second advances it,until 1t right undel
his nose. "You are cross" says she
with tilt Of her chin; "and with me
Give 1t up. What good will it d.
you?"
None. None," says Dalrymple
an inward groan and much sonvic
tion. "Why let you triumph ovel
me rs you do l can't imagine. Blu
what can imagine ia, the folly Of
your caring for 80 cheap a victory
Why not let me go?"
Good heavens! One would think /
was holding on to your coat tails
says the spoiled child, with a littl,
laugh. I'm not. anyWay. You car