The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-11-07
a 6%roub|esomQ Girl.
By THE DUCHESS.
By THE DUCHESS.

"Oh. no, thanks: my soiicitude was
I'LL for you. AS for me; | like mono
tOny-and all the rest of it.
Am | the rest Of it," She laughs
D~rOvokingiy as she says this, and,
plucliing n flower ncxt to her, holds
it up before him. and then second by
second advances t,until il right under
his nose. "YOu are cross says she.
with a tilt of her chin; and with me.
Give il up. What good will il do
YOU"
None. None" says Dalrymple,
an inward groan and much cOnvic-
ton. why l let you triumph over
me as you do / can't imagine. But
what l can imagine Is, the folly of
your caring for so cheap Il victory.
Why not let me gO?"
Good heavens! One would think |
was holding on to your coat tails
says the spoiled child. with Il little
laugh. I'm not. anyway. You can
go, when II where you please"
"1s that a going to play your ac-
compartments to-night?' asked Dial
rymple, abruptly.
What mani
You know very well-Dartford."
Il don't know him very well. as it
happens. But-yes-I dare say he
will"
you must know him uncommonly
well to be on letter-writing terms with
him.
What nm extraordinary sentence.
Letter writing terms Why not say
as you correspond with him?-so
much prettier."
You are very clever at eyading an
accusation" he n y with a sneer.
And who attempts to accuse me?"
demands she, hotly, Stung by his tone.
you? And why, then? Where lies
your claim"
Il am your cousin, at all events.
After your grandfather your nearest
relative. have no intention of
standing idly by and seeing you make
Il fool of Yourself
Really, Noel a Y she as calmly
as possible. although she is positively
choking with Indignation, permit me
to say that you go sometimes too far.
There is Il line that must be drawn.
\ joke is Il joke, and | presume you
were attempting II when you called
me 4 fool. but one Fan be sometimes
too funny"
1T was no joke" gloomily.
Somehow this reply, which should
have increased her anger, touches in
an d way her versatile nature. ard
COmpelS her To laughter.
1t was not. indeed" says she. Civ
ing way to mirth. Well. don't do it
again, that's all. or l shall not let you
off $ o easily. oh, there's Mcfarlane-"
stay, Nell-Stay one moment. I
don't often ask a favor Of you. but
don't let hartford play your accom-
paniments tonight"
And if l say yes who will play
them-wili you:"
You know | can't" q V the young
man. reprOachfully.
You know what YOU would have"
says she, d~iSdainfullv. You would
have me give up music altogether! You
hate that precious violin Of mine. You
would break it into Il thousand pieces
if you dared. Come, deny all that if
you can"
Il can't says he. slowly. In truth,
wise and able man rs he is. he would
gladly wreak his vengeance on that
harmless instrument. Not even Dart
fOrd-thOugh latterly he has begun to
think of him with deep suspiciOn-is
so dangerous a rival in the path that
leads TO the heart Of this caDriciOuS
maiden as the violin she so dearly
loves.
Good boy, Go up one, The truth
before all things. Well. you shall not
demolish il, be sure of that, Sc long as
I'm alive. And as for Lord hartford
I beg you will not demolish him
either until | can get n substitute. I
don't think he has got an understudy
ready. and in himself he is so incOm-
parable that | can't afford to let him
go"
Il see" says Dalrymple, with a
strange glance at her. He is evidently
on the point of saying something
mOre-a good deal mOre-but by n Sill
preme effort controls himself. Pres
emily he says, quite quietly, You like
himr'
"Why not? He is a good musician
he understands ne
"He understands you almost VIC
lently.
my playing, at all events. Concede
SO much to him.
Il concede nothing to him"
You are. as / have said. illiberal:
you would deprive me of my friends,
and of my art. You would leave me
only"
What" detiantiy.
YOU with even greater defiance.
He is silent, staring at her. wonder
ing perhaps a little at her audacity
and a great deal at her beauty. Good
heavens! What an insolent, mis-
chievOus, adorable creature; with a
heart that might contain so much love
and yet not hold one small grain for
him.
Il confess. 1t would be a poor
change" says he at last, in a giving