The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-08-13
CHAPTER xxx.

YOU not
BETTER: What is The matter: Oh
yes" she added. quickly pressing her
white little hands 10 her forehead. Il
remember. | turnrl -iddy. Did | fall
NO: ! was just in time. | heard YOU
laughing strangely and hurried to The
spot"
Thank YOU" she said. vaguely. You
you are the very person | wanted II
see"
Yes" he replied. evidently surprised.
l. had long seemed TO him that Miss
II3"l;aS never did want him. Pray
Vii, can | do for you:"
Sac was in such a hurry to 20 through
Win what she had resolved upon that She
came t. the point AZ once. y have
10 speak TO You without loss Of time on
very important business"
And she laid an imperccptible cnpha-
Sis on the last word.
shall we 90 into the library:' he
asked.
''Oh, dear. no. This will do. If any
ii>teu6rs come we shall see them."
We'll. | am all attention"
My father before making that dread
fui attempt. wrote me a letter, which |
have only read to-day, l learn from il
tAa, You had promised to pay all his debts
80 honor on condition tha:-that i be
come your wife"
There was no embarrassment in her
tone or aspect as she said this. The
slight hesitation was due solely L. disgust;
but she concealed the feeling. and rs Ac-
ton merely bowed his head in assent. she
continued:
My father. know. will not recover
unless his mind Is set NJ ease. The doe
tors say ~ much. | have just told him
that You are going at once 10 settle al! his
bets.
"ln'"ed.
Yes. | will pay the price"
"Ih"se are hard words
'Nky 80: Everything in this world
.aS 10 10" paid for, and dearly too. !
want 20 know if You consider the agree
ment sui open: | need say nothing of
NY sentiments. lou know quite We'll
cannot love. bat | know this is a point
You are Indifferent upon"
'oh. how little you know me. I would
give worlds for your affection. butt"
But You are content to do without il.
To our agreement. please" she Went on.
with a strang, low laugh. ",Now. then.
are You still prepared 10 pay rh">" sums.
thousands. no ioubt. for my father. ana
take me in exchange? If 50. you had bet
Ter rush up 10 town this very day and
do il. Al the >ame time You are free to
publish our engagement. l will marry
YOU as soon as the preliminaries can be
drcrntly arranged-say in TWO months
from now
II took a good deal 10 startle Cyril
Acton; nor did the mere fact of even Ca
milia Harding coming into his conditions
seem 70 him beyond the limits of posi-
billy, But what did literally take his
breath away We're the words and the
manner OF this girl he thought he knew
So we'll. as she suddenly seemed 10 turn
into a new being.
He now put on a very melancholy face
As he took a Canadian telegram ont If his
pocket, which he handed to her. saying:
Il have had sad news today. Read
it"
"~Niscount"s> HammerSley. Montreal. TO
Hon. Cyril Acton. South Audley street.
London. Your father has had a fir and
lies in a hopeless condition. | am dis
tracted."
Though these Wen l-ople whom Ca
milla had never seen. her gentle heart,
never 50 engrossed III her own SORROWS as
So be indifferent 10 the eltt"rinys Of any
human being or even dumh animals. az
once began 10 pity and feel tor Them.
'Oh," she said. what anxiety your poor
mother must be in. What will YOU do:"
We'll. what can | do: II can serve no
possible end for ME 70 set our fpr Canada.
II il ends fatally, | shall get my mother
to come over here
This might be all very sensible, but i