The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-10-29
CHAPTER Iy-(COntinued.)

unfortunately, l left my spectacles on
the garden seat below the magnolia,
and without them / am nearly blind;
i am, indeed"
my eyes fail ne, too, Miss Milford,
bu I'm sorry TO say l don't wear
spectacles, but these awkward pinch
noses which my girls prefer, though
they fall from my nose as often as l
place them there"
But / notice that your-ahem-your
glasses are suspended from your neck
by a chain, which is so very convenient.
My s~pectacles frequently get mislaid.
1t is impossible" with a gentle sigh,
ito attach spectacles."
Mr.. Jones, to do him justice, was
behaving with tact; he looked as
though he was in the habit of paying
afternoon calls with his mother, and
appeared quite at home on the tiny
chair in the corner, where he had re-
treated on his arrival, and from
whence, for the first few moments, he
watched the scene in silence.
As soon as the elder ladies' were fair
ly engaged in conversation, Helen
turned and spoke to this unassertive
guest; though she was conscious that
his eyes rested more persistently upon
h'i 'hth ""S 'ItiNN III u'NoiNullNt u
good she no longer appeared
to resent it. If she had approved her,
soiled. weary, and travel-staiGed, as
she had appeared the previous day, it
was not probable that his admiration
would lessen on the second sight of the
girl, who, for some ineXplicable rea-
son, had mended her manner us much
as she had improved her appearance.
Yesterday he had fancied her gauche,
constrained, shy; now she was gracious,
self possessed, and smiling, although
there was something in her ceremOniouS
civility which baked his endeavorS to
arrive at that easy, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
stage of intimacy which he usually
adopted with those fortunate girls to
whom he took a liking; yet he was
not inclined to quarrel with her demea-
nor. After all 1T was a change, and
variety is refreshing.
He had come for the purpose of in
viting her to the ball. and he saw
no reason for concealing his purpose.
6 o he Immediately approached the sub
1ect.
my mothers brought you a card"
he said, n then he urged her to ac-
rcept the invitation.
Her smiling Indifference to the whole
question was rather astonishing to n
whose desire, opinion or remark usual
'1y received the undivided attention Of
the honored lady to whom it was di-
vulged.
"You don't rare for dancing?' he
hazarded. Perhaps you don't go to
balls?"
Il was at a ball last week." she re-
piled. 81 am very fond of dancing"
Perhaps you have had too much Of
1t. One gets sick Of anything"
She smiled at him without answering
"a provoking smile, because it was
ambiguous.
He thought those gray eyes Of hers.
with which she looked straight into his,
were very clear and cold, but wonder
fully pretty. he thought she looked like
q rose herself in her pink cotton gown
and her hands filled with roses; he
thought he should like to own that
c~loth-of-gold bud with which she toyed
half absently while she talked. He
wished she would be less uuapprOach-
able and more responsive.
Perhaps" he began again. still
searching for a cause for her refusal,
''you don't care for n ball ont of your
own neighborhood? Do strangers bore
your"
ION the contrary, I like change, and
therefore a change Of faces"
Then. why" doggedly, won't you
come to u.s."
II am so sorry" with that formal
air Of politeneSS hat was artificial, he
knew, and which annoyed him, that
j am unable to accept your kind in
vitation."
II am most unlucky," he returned,
4. 81 Gs.... ...;ll nann,Nt ,Nnthinr
of mine-not even a lift in my dog
cart"
IT was the first time he had alluded
to their prior acquaintance, and she
blushed n little when he did so, though
she answered with that calm savoir
faire and self-reliance which seemed to
place her at a great distance off and
reversed their former position, 10 his
advantage.
Yesterday you were a stranger TO
me-" she said. demufcly.
so is n cabman n stranger; but yon
drive In his cab all right
Il pay a cabmaE."
"You could pay mo, if you like"
81 have no money!
II would have PIT il down." ne said.
81 would have taken out the fare III
Dances"
"You were very kind" with a mis-
chievous twinkle in her eyes, ito pro-
pose driving me, but you could hardly
expect me to trespass upon your good
ness by accepting your offer"
at was no case of treSpasSing," he
returned, answering the twinkle with
n laugh. 1.-THE cart was there and the
empty seat ready for You. Upon my
word, / was miserable the whole "ven-
ing at the thought OF your walking
home. I couldn't forget it; but it was
your own fault"