The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-02-10
another ice upon the counter. "But

10Y you have suggested il" went on.
considering, "it's not at all a bad idea"
Miss Hewitt moved to the farther end
of the stall and sold another pair Of
stockings. Its quite worth thinking
Of l said when she was within hear
ing again. Il am glad you mentioned
it, Il never mentioned anything"
she retorted holly. mo, of course you
didn't mention it," l agreed, "but I
don't see why you should be angry, be-
cause we are discussing calmly
I'm no discussing anything" she
observed tartly. NO" said l, but if
the Duchess Of Devonshire thought it a
good deed to purchase what she consid-
cred the welfare of her country by al
lowing voters to kiss her / don't think
you should be offended if, for the sake
of an excellent charity Il am not
the Duchess Of Dcvonshire," said Miss
Hewitt shortly. Il don't suppose"
said, THAT it was much of q kiss"
Miss Hewitt's nostrils curled in scorn.
Good people are always SO particular"
I said philosophically. Miss Hewitt's
Indignation broke forth. "Do you sup
pose, Mr.. Randall" said she sarcas-
tically, THAT one would allow any one
that wished to- "Oh, I never said
any one" I interrupted hastily. "No;
certainly not any one." She looked at
me with undisguised hauteur. Iglanced
about the stall. Il should like to have
a lot Of those things,' l said. Il could
send them to a children's hospital, you
know." Miss Hewitt's face relaxed
slightly. "They would be very useful"
she said. 1T would be $50, wouldn't
it," I asked, as if entering On a calcu-
lation. Yes" said Miss Hewitt, with
q little show of excitement; "e45 if
any n took the lot l fingered in my
pocket and hesitated. I'm afraid''-
said I. "You see, I forgot l had prom
Used to buy a quantity Of flowers for the
~intirmary," l remarked. CHANGING at
Miss Chudleigh's stall. Miss Hewitt's
face fell, but she said nothing. 1 took
out my pocketbook and extracted some
notes, dividing my looks between the
two stalls in "A hesitat:ng way. II think
the children in the hospital would like
the toys very much" said Miss Hewitt
nervously. Yes; they could play with
the stockings nicely, couldn't they
said l. She paid no heed to this remark.
Il wonder if Miss Chudleigh would
do what the duchess did?' l observed
presently. "Perhaps You had better ask
her." said Miss Hewitt sarcastically.
"Oh,> no! I said hurricdly. II was only
wondering. For the sake of the poor,
people do make sacrifices, I suppose"
Il don't believe she did let them-let
them kiss her." remarked Miss Hewitt,
after a pause and contemplating a wood
en- horse. Don't you?" I asked, look
ing up. "What did they do, do you
Think" Miss Hewitt examined the toy
carefully. "Oh, she said indifferently,
Il should think she merely pretended. "
"P~retended?" echoed. Eyes they only
kissed-just-not quite-I mean they
didn't really touch her" che explained,
with more interest in the horse. I con-
sidered this. But some of them, l OBJ
jected, would not have been content to
be put off that way. They must have
really "Oh, if any one liked to be
rude and take advantage like that, she
said disdainfully, "she couldn't help it,
poor thing!" "No,"I assented, II sup
pose she couldn't, and she must Lave
hated it all the time" "Of course she
did," said Miss Hewitt. now inspecting
a doll. But she did it out of a sense
Of duty-to benefit her country" l con-
cluded. "A man would never have been
SO unselish," said Miss Hewitt. "Nev-
err l said emphatically. But do you
think that women are capable of such
an act Of self sacrifice in these days." I
asked. "Of course" said Miss Hewitt,
watching some people 60 by with great
interest, "if-if they only-only pre-
tended to-" "But if there was an acct
dent?" I ventured. Miss Hewitt ap-
parently did not hear this. do you
really think,"I persisted, "that a wom-
ana irl-would do a thing like that?"
"She wouldn't-she couldn 't-of course
the duchess did not let it pretend to be
done-in-before any one else" mot,
for example, in a DON like this?' l
said, looking round the bazaar. How,
then?' "Afterward," murmured Miss
Hewitt, bending down to pick up a pin,
l suppose. "Oh," I said, "she would
only promise, then" Miss Hewitt said
nothing. l rose. "Well, I'm afraid I
must be really going,"I said, holding
out my hand. II think if she We're real
ly honest she would have to keep her
promise, " said Miss Hewitt in a low
voice.
I looked at her, but she was not look
ing at me. Il think you have given me
two waltzes tonight" l observed. 1T
isn't very generous usage" "I'm sure
it's quite enough" said Miss Hewitt
firmly. well, at any rate, let US sit
out the second" I suggested. Miss
Hewitt looked at me in surprise. 81
thought you liked dancing" she said
innocently. "Oh, sometimes! !" l said.
but we might have a talk in the on
servatory. It's sure to be very hot"
"Do you think it ISL" said she. Ger
tain" "Oh, we'll see!" said she N
chalantly. I turned to go. by the
way" said I, leaning on the stall conf
dentially, "shall / leave you the ESQ