Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-02-22

| the subject had never before been
mentioned In her presence.
Now that 1t was mentioned, how
ever, Miss Wells was quite equal to
the occasion. She laughed little and
said easily, with more of her art than
OF her nature In her tones:
Very cruel OF him, isn't II? Or at
least. 1t would be cruel II l minded.
But don't, you see"
"Or course not. OF course you
don't. said the other ladies'.
1t was about an hour after this when
they heard steps on the line again, and
something mounted up and looked In.
Through the steam on the glass the
face of man could be ditnly seen. He
tapped softly ON the window in Miss
Wells corner.
A deeper flush came into her white
cheeks as she came face to face with
Cyril Ardener.
Won't you ladies' come out?' he
said. I've found real fire.
But they refused, preferring the ills
they had to suffer to trudging over the
rails In the keen. outside air. Miss
Wells, however, had not spoken.
You will come, won't you, Con-
ottthtCs S%tta u kWWEI NDlG9.
A shiver ran through her, not caused
by the cold. IL seemed long time
since Cyril had called her by hei
Christian name.
She hesitated. and then said Yes
Cyril helped her out. and led her
across the lines back 10 the platform
Then she asked, suddenly:
Where's Miss FairbrotherY'
She's gone off with Glynn," said
Cyril, smiling, after quarrellng with
me-"
'Ahs' said Constance.
Cyril could detect jealousy, plaue,
pride, la the simple utterance They
walked along the platform In silence to
the office of the station master. where q
bright fire was blazing.
With a cry OF delight Constance went
down on her knees before 1t, and
spread out her stiff fingers in the wei.
come warmth. Cyril stood near, look.
ing down at her delicate. worn face, In
khtch the blue veins seemed preternat-
urally large. After a long silence he
said suddenly:
You think | asked you to come our
here because | had quarreled with that
/ little tiirt! You are wrong"
| Constance flushed slightly, but did
not glance up.
Il asked you because the little goose
let out something which was the last
thing she should have let me know II
she wanted me to forget you. You have
been fretting, il seems"
| Brough to task so suddenly, Con
stance could not keep the tears ont Of
her eyes.
NO" she said, rather feebly.
| -Oh, but You have Now. tell me. Is
| 1t true that you are not so hard ms you
i pretend to be? Is 1t true, for instance, Z
and he came nearer to her. that you
are sorry you snubbed me so unmerci-
fully that day yon know whcn?"
There was a pause Constance was
much agftated. But she gathered her
forces together and answered. with
some spirit:
No, Ii is not true | am not sorry. 8
/ But there was tremor In her gentle
voice. a tenderness In her eyes. which
belied her words.
Il don't believe you" said Cyril. as
he knelt down on the floor beside her.
Il mean / don't believe your words. |
believe your eyes. And | can read In
them that you do care; but you are
very unhappy, lonely, since you quar-.
| relied with me-
Then she gave way. and piteous lit
| tie sob betrayed the feeling she had
| been trying to hide. She stole one 81
her white hands. which not even the
frost had succeeded In making red and
/ ugly, and held il tenderiy in his own.