Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-04-16

Mr.. Eastlake sent up his card By Hassan,
with the words written on it in pencil,
"What is the matter, Niche? Are you
not well?" then turned into the library
and waited the result. She came down
to him presently. He examined her with
a look of surprise.
why, child" he said, they never told
me that you were ill.,"
I'm not ILL.," said Michele with some
difficulty, as she steadied herself against
II table. He could see that her hands
were trembling. She looked white and
worn and miserable; and her eyes seemed
to be set in purple hollows with red rims.
as if they had been nearly cxtinguishcd
by tears.
what is the matter, thcn?" he asked,
still regarding her.
Nothing. AT least-I suppose YOU
haven't heard that l am-going to Eng
land wcck?"
II England? Why, Michele, how's
this:"
ut would take too long to tell you," she
said. turning away from him and looking
down.
Why are they sending you:"
"Because-oh. it is all n middle: and it
is my fault, too. ! 4 dare say. Mamma was
veXed about my keeping the boat so late
The other night, and she told papa; and
then papa scoldcd me, md l was cross
ahd-and impairment. l suppose; and so
they say that they think l am getting
spoiled here. and had better go to Eng
land for a year. especially as Anne has
come to take my place." And then Mi
chellc broke down again. and sobbcd for
Il few moments vehcmcntly.
"Would-would your father listen to
any one else-tO me-. for instance. if l
askrd--' Here Eastlake stoprcd alb
ruptly.
II don't suppose So" said Michele i'm a
hopeless tone. II said all | could; | said
1 was sorry. and that l would he more
thoughtful for mamma another time; hut
it was no use. He had made up his
mind"
"iou are fond of Egypty' lie said gent.
ly.
You know I ann
Would it make you happier. Michclle.
If you had the prospect of spending the
rest of yOur lifc-or at least IL great many
years of tin Egypt"
but l have the prospect already" said
Michele. opening l,cr great dark eyes.
lie smiled slightly. but looked pale and
moved. as if he were making some great
effort to govern himself.
Your father talks of buying'a house
in England and settling there"
\ flash of feeling which he could not
exactly understand passed over the girls
face: but again she said nothing.
what ! meant was that l myself was
likely TO stay here for many years. and
that might perhaps venture to ask you,
Michele. t" stay with meas my wife,
The words were Sobcrly. gently uttered,
with the kind and almost tender look in
his eyes to which Miclrlle was well ac-
cls1omcd: and she did not notice that in
all his speech there was not one word of
love. For the moment it was natural
enough that this fact should not strike
her: If Paul asked her tn he his wife, it
could he only because he loved her. Her
faith in him WAS unbounded: and in a
great man. matters she WAS still childish
ly simple and unsophisticatcd.
The color rushed into her face: from
brow To chin she was scarlet. Then, as
suddenly. she turned pale. and the ready
tears came into her eyes.
oh. Paul" she said. "do Won really
mean it,"
1t was not Il digniticd sentence. hut it
w" wv Oiis olS tutt Hut lids cO(llu
frame. And then she impulsivcly held
out her hands. and Eastlnkc took them
in his. drew her to him and kissed her
forehead.
SHOULD | ask YOU. little one. if | did
not mean it, he said.
"Oh." she said. with Il long-druwn
breath. II am so glnd."
He smiled Il little at that. but his face
was still pale and grave He had made
Al great d~ecision-made it almost without
prenleditation-and he was not sure after
all whether that decision had been for the
hest.
Don't you love me. Michcllc::' lie ask.
ed.
The question broke down all Michellc's
defenses. She so simply and
frankly that Eastlake reminded himself
with Il pang of rcmorse that after all she
WAS hut Il child. and that perhaps he was
taking an unfair advantage of her youth.
He had hardly meant to go so far. OF one
thing. however. lie was confident, Mr..
DumalesI VAS not mt all likely to object
to him as n s%on-in-law. Son-in-law! There
WAS something rather absurd in the idea
of becoming the son-in-law of his old
friend and companion!
II do love You. Paul. she said.
And you think l can make you happy,
little one:" he asked. with an accent of
sadness which Michele did not remark.
"Happy!" she repeated almost scorn-
fully. AS if | could be happy with my
body else" Then with Il sudden fall in
her voice. she said. How good you are
to me! l never thought that you-you
cared"
He kissed her. and she ran away. half
frightened at the prospect before her,
altogether tremulous with happiness.
Go be %continued.)
Scattered 50, 600 in a Crowd.
She was pretty. She wore n dainty