The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-04-22

two waltzes."
Two" and he laughed as he looked
down at her. why, little woman. we
can't dance together twice-it would
be ridiculous! Here, I'll take this one.
| don't suppose you'll have any diff
Guilty in filling in the other; you're
looking very pretty tonight. l must
go, dear; this is my dance with Laura"
Maggie Fawcett bit her lips. She
wouldn't have minded people seeing
that she was in love with her husband.
and that she thought him the hand
soonest man in the room, but men were
difse rent-very different-and her heart
swelled as q rush Of memories came
upon her. She answered her part
ner's not very abtruse remarks me-
chanically. 1t was doubtless bad form,
but her eyes sought her husbands fig
ure; he was Waiting with Laura-it
seemed to her that he was always
waltzing with Laura. But, then, per-
haps Eric might be thinking the same
thing of her, for she had certainly
danced a great many times with this
Mr.. Dobson-Dodson-she "a not at
all sure of his name, and she really
did not care at all who was her part
ner. The Darshire hunt ball was not
amusing, she thought, and it was a
little embarrassing that SC many peo-
pie noticed and admired her bangle;
she touched it doubtfully, twisting it
on her arm so that the diamonds
flashed in her eyes. 1t was very pref
ty, but
Maggie seems to be putting in a
very good time tonight" observed
Lady Carew as she strolled into the
conservatory with Eric Fawcett; 'she
appears to be enjoying herself tre-
mendously."
Not half as much as | an" replied
Eric, with a laugh. 1T is quite like
old times, isn't it," he added, draw
ing a low seat forward for his COM
panion.
20, my dear Erie, don't try to be
sentimental! But, really, 1 begin to
think my warning 10 Maggie was not
uncalled-"
Eth, what warning?"
We'll, it rather seems to me that the
Old Adam is returning, my friend;
that domestic joys are ralling, and for
hidden fruit is becoming terribly at
tractive."
rs that a challenger"
Not at all; besides, Maggie is my
cousin and my friend, and | think it's
right to warn her"
Are you in fun or in earnest? What
dc you mean by warning herr"
Lady CareW broke into a laugh.
Only that l told her to beware of
a husbands presents-that a magni-
fcent diamond and emerald bracelet
often meant more than met the eye
when it was bestowed a propos de
bottes."
Really, l haven't the smallest idea
of what you meant"
Mean? Why. the lovely bangle you
gave her yesterday"
II gave Maggie a bangle yesterday"
Certainly. She is wearing it to-
night"
You must be dreaming"
Lady Carew looked into her COM
panion's face with frank establishment.
Il am very sorry she said quietly.
Il am afraid l have been indiscreet;
but how vas / to guess? o, what are
you going to do?"
For at that moment Mrs. Fawcett en-
tered the conservatory on the arm of
her partner, and Eric Immediately rose
to his feet. Laura caught his arm.
Eric, don't be ridiculous, it is some
absurd mistake! I'll take that man
away. Speak to Maggie, but for heav-
ems sake don't look like that"
But. in spite of Lady Carew's efforts,
it was not so easy to take that man
away" and while The futile, frivolous
conversation Tlppled on, Eric stood by,
bewildered and stunned. Maggie, the
soul Of truth and simplicity, had told
q lie. There was not the faintest doubt
that Laura had spoken the, truth. and
spoken it without arriere-pensee. The
stones Of the mysterious bracelet gilt
tered maliciously before his eyes, and
yet, had not his attention been drawn
to it, most probably he would not
have noticed it. The details of any
other woman's dress were always more
obvious to Eric than those of his wife's,
and Maggie might have presumed on
that.
Blu Maggie!-he was very much in
love with her when he married her, but
he was uncomfortably conscious that
he had paid very little attention to her
of late. But then, Maggie-who would
have dreamed
At last the music struck I'D, and
Lady Carew led off the intruder, hav-
ing succeeded in ~persuading him that
> L. % I.,,lnAtnn nrnrO out nr-l 49, L.