The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-11-14

among her guests. There Is a sugges-
ton of triumph-but triumph unsatis-
fied-in her whole air. To Dalrymple.
still watching her, it appears as If she
disdains the compliments pressed upon
her and pines for a larger ground.
After Il vague word or vague smile to
those who insist on laying their hOm-
age at her feet. she turns aside and
SAYS q word or two to hartford as
though he alone really can understand
or appreciate. As Il fact, she is so far
artist at heart that praise from the
outsiders, the uninitiated, is as moth
ing to her, and she is too young, too
untutored to pretend Il gratitude she
cannot feel. In hartford, who is
really a musician, whatever else he
may be, lies her sole interest for the
moment. He has been the sharer Of
her victory, the partner OF her success,
small though she counts 1t; and as
such is given for the time befpg a high
place in her favor.
That hartford should UNDERSTAND
the position is inevitable. Accustomed
to he smiled upon by women. he ac-
ceptS Eleanor's brilliant giances as
distinct encouragement, II having
finally decided on reforming himself
and giving to her the joyous task OF
reforming the rake. decides on making
her a formal proposal before the night
is over.
Together he and she pass through
the rooms to the conservatory beyond.
She. impatiently anxious to escape
from the hudatiOnS she ScOrnS with
all youths intolerance; and he, eager
for the moment when he shall hear the
pretty yes" that will put an end to
his rather ~disreputabe bachelerhOOd.
1t is half an hour later. a century,
as it has seemed to Dalrymple, who Is
consumed with jealousy. A good long
hour To Mrs. Maxwell. who is secretly
furious at DartfOrd's detection and
eager for an occasion to be revenged
upon her rival. as she has grown 10
regard the unconscious Eleanor; some
ground indeed for her suspicion has
been given her by the fact that since
Miss Fairfax ana Lord hartford en-
tered the conservatory thirty minutes
ago. they have been lost to other So
ciety but their own. Such a fiagrant
breach of or the part OF her
hostess deserves, in Mrs. MaXWeliS
opinion. instant punishment, and 80
with Il rather nasty little smile she
now rises, and sweeps down upon
Lord Carbyne, making her adieu5 in
a very determined fashion. Ii Is still
distinctly early, but that she has re-
fused to consider it SO, is evident.
Yes. it grows chilly. and the gener-
ais threat is SO troublesome. No. no,
please do not disturb Miss Fairfax.
You will say good night to me for her,
will you not: | feel sure he must
have good reason for depriving rs of
her society for the past hour. and |
would not for worlds be the Il of.
Now | beg you will let me steal away
without compelling her to do the usual
thing. | adore unconventional people
myself, they are SO satisfying. one
never knows what they are going TO do
next. Good night
zone moment" says Lord C%arbyne,
in his coolest. haughtieSt tone; Noel"
to Dalrymple, who is standing near,
and who is regarding Mrs. MaXwells
little smiling face with Unsurpassed
anger; tell Eleanor to come at once
and bid Mrs. Maxwell good night; you
will excuse her, | am sure" with Il
courteous, if rather forced, smile, to
Mrs. Maxwell. when she gets on the
subject of music she forgets all
things"
Given her m%anners') is on Mrs.
MaXwells fippant tongue, but she re-
serves it, and. satisfied with having
brought the attention Of the entire
room to the fact that Miss Fairfax has
been for the past half hour, ~tete-a-tete
with a man of DartfOrd's reputation,
and so far charmed with him as to be
fOrgetful of even the cOmmOnest eti-
Quette, subsidies into a lounging chair
beside her host, and consents to let the
generals throat take it's chance.
Dalrymple makes his way into the
smaller conservatory that leads into
the larger n beyond, and. not finding
Eleanor there, pushes aside the heavy
curtain that divides the two rooms,
and advances slowly.
Tall, towering shrubs stand here and
there. behind which cushioned lounges
have been arranged. On one of these,
at the farthest end of the cOnservato,
ry. a slender figure. gowned in white
satin, is seated-the lace fiounces Of
her dress cleaning like snow aGains'
the dark background of myrtle leaves
1t is Eleanor. She is hardly seated,
indeed. She has just riscn-One hand
pressing against the arm Of the lounge
her attitude suggestive Of sudden
surprise-her face upliftod to hartford
who is bending toward her-an impas
stoned glance within his eyes.
SOmething-he never knew what
compclS Dalrymple to stand still. as
his eyes light upon the tableau. He is
too far away to note the glance in
DartfOrd's eyes, to read the expression
in Eleanor'S. 1t is an instant's halt
but long enough to work a world 81
mischief. Even as be gaZes. hartford
stoops swiftly downward. his arm goes
around Elnn nnl's slimht form hiN hon