The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-03-19
EIIApTItR LII.

tIiAt fk III.
Mcla~hiIr Willie Snow worked rs harr
- Nay OF us 10 get at the secret. SIN
hr found ont nothing. His evening walk.
however. was always uphill now. dnr"
say thc sharp eyes of Nanit: Hardware
soon noticed him Strolling past the farm
evening after evening. for after Il iinr
She grew more marked in her signs of
Kindness. She met him occasionally on
tn" untrequontel road; and how thos"
dark staring eyes set his honest young
heart beating non" but himself knew.
On Il particular evening in June. Willie
pursued his upWar, way, coming 10 1
turn of the road where on either side ran
tall hedges, pink and white with flowers.
thal made toe sunset air sweet like honey
from their thousand breathing blossoms.
Who should he 500 her" hut Miss Hard
ware. OF course she did not know he WAS
near, innocent girl, She was trying
might and main To catch at Il spray of
wild rose that hung iemptingly out just
beyond her reach. What an opening for
Willie, He pluckcd mp courage.
Can I-can do thai for YOU
she turned round. her face bright with
surprise and pleasure.
Thank You. | do 50 wish for that par
ticular rose"
II the spray had been twenty-five fee,
above his head. mark You. Willie would
have secured it. In IA moment H." held
the rose on, To her. neatly trimmed by
his ready pocket knife. She took il grace
fully. Looping the spray round her rus
tic hat with Skillful fingers. she stood be-
fore him. on" arm raised over her head
statuc-likc. while love and laughter played
over her face.
"fcautitul. isn't it,"
"Wondcrfully beautiful" replied vii
lie. in Il low earnest voice. and with such
Il sigh,
Then he walked ON. Intoxicated.
Golden was the June that year. Long
sunlit days passed into warm, cloudlcSS
evenings and brcathlcss brilliant starry
nights. Willie became more regular than
ever in his uphill walks. Nor did Vanity
give him any rebuff. somehow she man-
aged to meet him constantly nj one par
ticular spot where tall trees shaded the
road, and from which the distant land
scape could be seen in perfect beauty.
So Vanity and Willie met frequently:
he talking about weather. scenery. news,
any triile. while his heart was full Of love;
she, all glance and smile. letting off flight.
of arrowy picasantries barbed with mock
tenderness. little suggestive sayings.
laughs tipped with a Sigl-flll meant tn in.
sinuatc Il am dying for you. but quite
capable, you observe. of being explained
as meaning nothing nj all.
What was Miss Nancy Steele doing all
this time: Biting her finger nails. | Sus-
ppct: Tightening her l'nS. tossing her
haughty head. clinrhiug her fist. but not
giving up the game for lost, not if her
name was Nancy Steele. That Willie was
cooling toward her she could not but dis
cover. Bul Nancy was Il long-healed girl
Other girls would have flown into a pas
sion. Not Nancy. She may have fumcd
and Sobhed. but this was in secret. She
go; scout Of Willir's evening walks. and
ihought she might take 4 walk herself
How and then.
By this artfui conluct on The part of
Miss Nancy. Willie WAS put - Il fix. When
they met sh" smiled and rha,trd rs usual.
never rcproyin= his coldnes@ even by u
glance.
doctor" sind Willie 10 .nr ono over
ins. y feel like Il Sc:.pmrr. | have been
rather sweet upon Nancy Strcin for Il
ions time. What must ! lo:"
Marry ncr." | replied. "rahr her ~
have and to hold from this day forward"
"i;at !! don't love her Be answered.
and d" love Miss Hardware passion.
atciy."
Then let Miss Nancy know" / Saia.
Gravely. Honor bright. Wi!i.'
Il viii! let her kno:r," cried Willie
this very night"