The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-10-03

dliflcult 10 please. but she TOOK Jane 10
her heart directly. liking her the better
that she WAS 50 free from young-ladyism
so fresh and unsloiled by contact with
the world. Having been so long in her
convent school,. she had contracted Il nun
like shyncss and gentle. winning way that
added 10 her charm.
Colonel Prinscp, too. saw a good deal
of his protcge. as Mrs. Denc persisted in
calling Jane to herself; he had always
thought her more than ordinari-
IS pretty. and soon discovered
that she had other claims to
his admiration. She was so bright and
unaffected. and abov" all SO imbued with
a scusa Of his superiority. than which
nothing goes 50 surely to a mans heart.
Most PEOPLE find it difficult to resist fiat
terry. when dclicatclS administered; and
in this case the homage wa quite uncon-
s~ciously rendered. and so Of double worth.
Mrs. Denc smiled sometimes III James
enthusiasm. yet on the whole agreed with
her. She had always liked Colonel Prin-
sep. though she had never seemod to
know him so well as of late. now that lie
so often joined them in their rides and
drives. Besides which they We're acting
together in a comcdietta, apd jane often
assisted at their impromptu rehearsals.
The Colonel was notably good at theatre
ais, but this as Mrs. Dene's first effort,
ind she had beer very unwilling to nc
cept the part; only the fact that the per
Torrance was for the benefit of a reGi-
mental charity. and that her husband
wished it. al last persuaded her.
Very pleasant We're the afternoons spent
in these rehearsaiS. JAM would be seated
Mt the further end of the room as audi
encc, her eyes liked dcmurcly on the little
yellow book. listening with unnecessary
intentneSs To the Colonel's drawing
tones. which were becoming dearer 10 her
thar she we'll know. Sometimes they
referred a knotty point to her, and bad
she been obscrvant. she must have noticed
that Colonel Prinsop always adopted her
suggestions. once Mrs. Dcnc laughingly
appealed to him. whether Jane wOuld not
make the better actress of the two: hu.
he only smiled. and forcborc TO express an
opinion.
Often he found himself CHANGING around
to see if she were near; in church he list
"ncd almost unconsciously for her voice.
which was AT times TREMENDOUSLY up
raised; and once as he stood near her g:
an Afternoon AT Home" AT their mess.
it entered into his mind that, bein: so
slim and lightly made, she ought to he
II pleasant partner.
He strolled toward her slowly.
You arc not dancing" he observed,
and smiled n little consciously as nj the
sound of his voice she turned. her OK
preston bctraying a delight that AL her
occurrences could not hide.
Some one did ask me-" she assured
him. G~ravely.
II do not doubt il. Was he such a bad
performer that you refusedT'
1T vas more of my own shortcomings
| was afraid. You see"-blushing--'I
have never learned TO dance"
Dancing is an art that requires no
teaching; it comes by instinct toto such
as you"
Il wish ! Gould believe So" she an
swcred, quickly. loo eager to show In
barrassluent at he compliment implied.
TRY with nc -~persuasiyely.
Il dare not: besides. | could not. l am
with Mrs. irenc, and she is not dancing
the gentleman She introduced TO me
would be oitruded
Half a dozen bad reasons don't make
,r. good onr.' he laughed, eayly.
Come
He put his arm round her waist, and
drew her forward INCREASINGLY. When
the first aWkwardneSs was over she en-
joyed ii. as he could not fail TO see by
the flush on her cheeks and the sparkle
in her hazel eyes.
When they stopped at last he was
smiling, as men Viii smile when they
have broken dow one of the weak walls
which woInc love to erect. often more
as a procaution than a defense. Then
almost Immediately his mood changed,
and he ted her back TO her chaperon
without masking any remark.
A.'h'- tlpIlcit Captain Denc returned,
a:G aoidug ont his cigar-"asc 10 the
oloqel. led The way on to the veranda.
II Wa~ quite la~N. and a warm wind
r~nStling among the trees prevented their
footsteps FROM being heard. Mrs. Dcnc,
unconscious Of thcir presence, answered
James inquiry.
You were cAnntly describing Colonel
Prinsep," she said. laughing lightly. so
ne is your ideal of Il perfect man
A discreet cough from her husband
startled both. and they turned to sec tina,
he and Colonel PrinSep were close behind
them.
CHAPTER ".
Colonel Prinsep drove home that even
ing with a strange sensation OF anger
tempered with involuntary amusement.
Like most men, he dislikcd being put in
q ridiculous position. and strenuously Oh
jected to being the declared hero Of i
romantA1 girl, however charming he
though, her. The daughter of his own
Quartermaster. too.
For several days after this Ii" saw
nothing Of her.
The Colonel had driven ont about ten