The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-07-23
CHAPTER XIV.

seemed and even was at Silvcrmead, the
ducal race week had attractions for him
which were not to be withstOod. He had
backed AlcestOS for the Cup. to an extent
far exceeding what even Acton had any
idea of: in fact, Harding. on certain in
formation he had received Of a private
trial. chose to believe that the horse could
not lose. He accordingly looked solely
to the chance of his winning, and thus
was never tired Of taking the odds upon
his favorite. And so, with a little cir
cumspectiOn, he managed to make that
three hundred pounds stretch and stretch
until at the present moment he stood to
lose every shilling of four thousand
pounds upon that one coup.
1t was not until the evening before his
departure that Acton, being alone with
her he loved so cruelty, suddenly startled
her from her supposed security. After a
short pause in a simple discussion as TO
the orthodoxy of a recent semi-religious
poem. he said, quite coldly:
You know, l suppose. that your good
father favOrs our marriage?"
She started: then, the next instant. tell
ing herself that the question meant no
renewal Of his suit, she said, looking M
at his face in the bright moonlight, to
read what might be there:
"Why do you tell me this?"
Il thought it only kind to prepare you
for what he is sure to say or 10 write to
you. But he will probably speak, for
YOU know he returns on Saturday. not to
the farm this time, but here, to stay at
Silycrmead."
"lou have told him nothing. thcn?"
Il assure you / have"
"Oh! But he cannot have understood
you; my papa is good and loving: he would
never cocrce me, and now"
"Belicvc me. l described everything to
him in the fullest detail: he has told mo
often that it will break his heart if you
do not change your mind"
"Changc my mind! | change now. Oh,
he cannot know what he is talking about"
and she laughed bitterly.
Then with sudden energy: 81 will 90 70
him at once. You shall see. A few words
and all will be settled. | know my own
dear father"
do not disturb him now. See through
the window. He is deep in sixpenny
piquet with Lady prendergast. Surely
there is no hurry"
D' H'' o'hh IL u any Itdi Jill
ference. 1t is merely a question of dis
polling, a little sooner or later, this fool
ish hope Of papa's."
"Why foolish?"
Surely you ought to know. Have YOU
so soon forgotten M words of the other
night? To go over the old ground again
is useless. My father has ever been low
ing and gentle. If you think he is going
to command me now, give up the illusion,
for. even were he to do so, l should not
dream Of Obeying him."
To himself Acton said:
w shall see about that"
And they went within doors to find Mr..
Harding more jubilant than ever. He
had won, and winning with him was al
way winning. whatever the amount.
Acton took care to give father and
daughter no chance opportunity of a tete-
a-tete, and in this the lateness of the hour
we'll seconded him. Camilla would not
condescend so far as to make a formal
demand for one. Her pride told her it
was paying Acton, whom she was begin
ming to hate in earnest now, too great
honor.
Nothing worth recording occurred dur
ing the next few days at Silvermead. Ac-
ton called on the morning after the scene
just described, but only to say he was
running up to town on business, and 10
ask the ladies If they had any commands
for London He should be back. he
thought, on Thursday or Friday. As he
drove away an immense relief seemed to
come to Camilla, who breathed IA secret
prayer that he might not return.
On Friday, however, at noon. he sent
"A note over TO say he was back at the
farm, and asking if he might come to
dinner. OF course the answer was yes"
and he arrived about seven. bringing
with him various small purchases which
he had been instructed to make for Lady
Prendergast. Neither Of the ladies could
help noticing the young mans unusually
high spirits.
Joy is indeed a more difficult emotion to
conceal even than great grief, except.
that is, i'll the first few moments of a ter
rible sorrow.
1t happens that tonight Camilla actual
ly sought an occasion for being alone
with Acton. but there was nothing in this
AT all flattering to him. A. o as she
found one she said:
can you by chance tell me how il has
Jared with my father al t~ioolwood? He
promised TO write and has not lone So?"
NO, | have seen or heard nothing of
him since Monday night. He was off at
daybreak next morning"
The girl bent her head penSively rs She
said, more to herself than to Acton:
"Oh, how | do wish he would take To
something else
",Just wnat / have urged Il hundred
tines" |rcjoincd he brightly.
"With his intelligence. for he is clever
in almost anything, | am sure he might