Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-07-30

freshmcnt room. have Just brought
Ncttie up. 1t is cool there, and there are
some seats"
Il am rather tired" said, taking his
offered arm. "1t is a pity London draw
ing rooms are so small. One can never
manage sufficient seats. find"
Il think your spirits will wear out your
body, he said; "you bear excitement bad
ly. You enjoy it, perhaps: yes" gravely,
II think YOU do enjoy it. But you are
not like yourself in the least"
IL wish" l said pcttishly. "you would
not watch me so. have told YOU before
ii is no business of yours what l do, how
l look ui'-'
"or whether you kill yourself or not"
he added. 'No. You are right; it is no
business of mine; only can't help Won
dcrng why any one who is as happy as
YOU say you are, should throw herself
heart and soul into n whirl of dissipation
with the energy you display, and not the
strength"
'Of course" said with little laugh,
''my mirth is IL false and hollow thing.
and IL am only Il giddy butterfly of
fashion. This is Il new sensation for me
the trying to be Il social success"
'lt would suit you better" he said, "to
bc Cny Il domestic one.
perhaps" l said. "it would; but"
laughing again. ''the one is very brilliant,
and the other Very Slow"
| AS l said these words Sir Ralph on
tered tho supper room with one of his fav
orite .lowagcrs. l think he heard them
l ann almost sure he heard them. and
the fact that he had done sent the blood
! in hot tide to INV face.
LET lis GO" | said abruptly; II must
f, look after my guests upstairs
He gave me his arm. We passed Sir
| Ralph. ] SAW the stern look in his eyes.
and my heart sank within me- What i'll
fate always brought him across my path
| nj the most compromising moment:
| The evening came to an end al last
the rooms were empty. Nottic. and Sir
Ralph fingered few moments and dis
c,,ssed lightly the various occurrences.
! made move AT last.
II am very tircd.' said. land it is
Sunday morning. Iou." looking ut Sir
Ralph. who was leaning against the man
tclpiccc. "you, | suppose. are going TO
| have Il smokc:"
YES" he answered: "at least such is
my desire"
THAT said lightly. as | glanced back
| mt him over my shoulder. sounds alarm
ingly like Il bit of the Church Catcchism
or the Marriage Service. But perhaps
You thought ii appropriate TO the hour and
day"
The staircase faced the door. AS
reached ii. l could see his face reflected
in the glass by which he stood. l no.
tced how panied and sad it looked. and
felt somehow as if my iesting words had
| iarrcd upon him. AS stood there an in
Stan, caught Il glimpse of another face
looking back at me. With sudden pans
of wonder saw it was my own.
| The hue of my dress was not whittier
than that colorlcss reflection: the glcam
ing satin that trailcd behind me made the
darkness of eyes and hair look startling
4 against its snowy hucs.
| turned quickly away.
"Do really look like that?" thought.
with little pans of alarm. NO wonder
| Yorkc warned me"
| "sre yo,l too tired to listclfto something
i | have To say:" asked Nettic, following
me into my room few moments later.
had sunk down into large easy chair
\ by the fire. l felt utterly tired out.
ut is so strange" she said. and half
shyly nestled her head against my knee.
I'll hardly believe it yet. only that
am so happy. Joan. can't You gncss:"
My feart seemed to stand still for a mo-
ment IN sheer surprise. l bent down and
raised her head.
rs it about Yorke:" cried brcathlcss-
ly.
Yes" she said. the shy, brilliant color
flushing from brow 10 chin. HE has
spoken"
was too utterly amazed to answer a
word Al last found breath and speech,
and. l fear. Indignation.
..!Do you mean to say" l cried. "that
he has proposed actually proposed:"
"Oh." said Nc,tic. raising her head and
laughing softly. "how pros;lically you put
! it, don't believe a man ever does really
| propose. He just drifts on. and says
somcthiny-a word. even Il look is enough
5 and then-why, then, you know it is al
right
t "And so." said stupidly, '.you know il
! is all right?"
\ "Ycs. of course do. l suppose it vii
be long engagement. because he ha.
not even been called yet, and there are al
those dinners to eat. Still," with tina
little happy laugh. II don't mind waiting
# any time. however long. and so tol,
t him. Oh, have been longing to tell 20,
d about it all the evening! You-you di,
d not guess. suppose:"
NO. answered in dull. heavy tone
$. 81 certainly did not guess. Whcn-whe,
II was it!''
l. ut was before he took you down int
f, the supper room," she said. turning he
IS eyes upon the fire once more. and smilin
in her soft content. "Oh, Joan, am S
l. happy"
le "Of course You asc." answered, tryin
to galvanize my voice into similar jub
l liant tones: "and so am 1. and so will
1t Sir Ralph, and-and everybody. Reall
ot nothing could have turned out better fc
ly for all parties"
II knew you would he pleased" sh
k said softly; II told him so. l said it ha
o. been your great wish-that YOU were
to happy in your own married life. you a
ht ways were wishing me to be the sam
Joan"-looking suddenly up Il: mc-''d
he you think he was very fond of you one
e. that he-that he really loved you?"
S.Y .o:Sl ,o,, -.