The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-11-12
OF SKILL.
By WHITLEY.

1 hills and wales, before the Overwhelm,
ing majesty of Gods creation, her puny
pride of life" was annihilated. She
turned to him for sympathy as a child
might turn.
And l shal so away and forget it,
she sighed, and then added slowly:
"Oh, Memory, shield me from the
worlds poor strife,
And give these scene thine everlast,
ing life"
She was astounding him by this de-
parture, but he said again. in that ia
miliar formula which, like one of
Humpty Dumpty's words, did duty
with him for a reflections:
ITS ripping.'
at makes me good" she said; sit
makes me want to be good. Nothing
else matters. All the things we value
are nothing-they are ridiculous. l
want only to be good"
He nodded. He knew, or guessed,
what she meant: but he was a genuine
John Bull, to whom gush is impossible.
Only upon a very great emergency vas
a glimpse below his levelled surface
to be obtained.
He kept his eye on her glowing face
in lieu of those glorious waters. She
caught his glance, hesitated and then
jumped to her feet.
"We ought to co." she said; and as
he did not dispute her assertion she
retraced her steps, he following in her
wake.
AS a matter of course, but with COM
plete authority, Mr.. Jones took Helen'S
guidance into his hands. He helped
her into the cart, wrapped a light rug
over her knees and decidedly mega
lived her ardent desire to drive her
self.
Lean back" he said: that seat is
pretty comfortable, and you must be
tired"
I'm not the least tired. 1 should
like to drive"
Are you used TO driving?"
Eyes"
II was accustomed TO driving the
rectOr'S rough, gray pony, which lived
in the paddock and was twenty years
old.
"Then you shall take the reins pres
emily. She is fresh at starting and l
know her ways She will soon cool
down. Do you mind my smOking?'
"Not if the wind won't blow it in my
face" she candidly replied. She did
not share the modern damSel's oft-aS-
serted passion for the fragrance Of to-
bacco.
THE wind Is the other way and 1 ON
half a foot above you" he urged with
some natural anxiety.
'Then smoke by all means"
He thrust his hand into his pocket.
81 have no light" he told her, 80 /
can't"
And he mounted to her side and they
started.
Few wild enjoyments equal that
soothing of drowsy we'll being
in which a tired frame regels as it is
driven through the balmy air of a
warm summer evening, with a fresh
horse between the shafts that covers
the ground with a long, easy, equal
stride, traversing, too. such wild and
wondrous scenery as bcggars descrip-
ton.
Helen's face still wore the reflection
of that softened intensity OF feeling
which it had caught by the river side.
The long hours she had passed in the
open air had lulled the aggressive vi
vacity of her youth; the spirit of mis-
chief no longer sharpened her eyes.
her dimpleS played family in her soft
cheeks. She was gentle. therefore
more womanly, and for that reason a
thousand times more winning than be-
fore.
He and she were talking as though
they had been friends from childhood.
If that cool, brotherly demeanor of his
was assumed for her deception it was
a clever and seductive mask.
How do you like Jack Peel?" he
was asking her. you and he spent
the day together pretty well. didn't
your"
He sat next me on the drag. | liked
him-a little; but he hates everybody.
and doesn't admire anything"
Il suppose he admireS Mrs. Peel?"
Isn't she pretty? l dlun't know she
was married, not to him"
You mean she firts? oh, yes, she
does"
"She is very pretty and amusing"
"She's a butterfly: but a man wants
more than color, down. beauty to live
upon. That sort of thing is stunning,
but you want sunshine to show it off.
y butterfly isn't much TO admire on a
wet day. n good deal of rain falls in
Dcvon-and elsewhere"
o a WEI day one can stay indoors"
Helen had a suspicion that she was
a butterfly; her high spirits were ia
tiguing.
"A butterfly indoors; think of the
luttering on the window pane"
"A butterfly can't help being a but
terhy."
"NO more than a chrysalis can
help being n chrysalis. Both are
nice in their way, but / have
no wish TO own either the one
or the other. Don't argue with me,
please, I'm not up to it: but / know
what / mean and | know what l like.
l want a wife far better than am
myself, some n who would keep me
I'M IN tho mark soma nna who would