Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-05-20

less, selfish. Words words II
was folly TO consider things too close
ly: he dismissed all scruples, n IL
they would sometimes force themselves
on him he would argue with himself:
Who could tell IL it was not a good
thing ii Frank should not marry: He
WAS not a mar to marry-no, really; he
was c~hangeable, canricious and incon-
slant: he would not make u wife hap
by.
Sell, Van Maeren could see at once
that this was self-deception: and hc
would laugh 10 himself. shaking his
head, at tinding himself so droil, 80 sim
gular. Life was nothing; nothing was
worth troubling oneself about: but this
introspect.0n, this self-study, looking
into ones own mind. Juggling with
ones own th0ughts-that was really
interesting. that was an amusing occu-
patton, while. while lying at full length
on q comfortable sofa.
And yet he seldom enjoyed any re-
pose Of mind. His interviews with Eva
We're a fatiguing effurt-s0metimes Il
long discourse. sometimes only half
ut~terances-for he had constantly and
precisely to weigh every word. Still,
tiilN DCNN u Atftl w bE dtNttt-
ed in his air and manner or in the
phrases which fell from his lips, SO ap-
parently unprecedented that they
seemed alive with natural impulse.
They were. in fact. the outcome of the
atrical and carefully ela borated pes
simisIn; they We're lamentations over
the ills OF life, pity for Eva. wrapped
in mysterious regrets: and amid all this
"a ala s..f,nixs" n.onSattn,G n.afn1s yNrnSf
hove-mere TRIES. passing hints.
amounting to nothing but for the tons
and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF levity, in
constancy. caprice. ~fickleness. But, at
the slightest cutlery on Eya's part, he
was ready TO contradict himself. fenc-
ing cleyerly enough, now with himself.
ana nov with Eva, with all the feints
Of n master of the foiis, just touching
her lightly-a prick here and Il prick
tiiere-irawing a tiny drop of blood at
each hit.
And to Eva 1t seemed that her soul,
after having been dragged through the
gutter, was bleeding 10 death under
these pin-pricks. 1t was n very sensi-
BILE pain when she hopelessly compared
the reality with her dreams. as they
grew more yague and faded away.
WITCH Sit uISutG VIII htTScll III lut
cold light of reason. and asked her.
self: Why am L so wretched? Be
cause Frank is a young man like other
young men; because BERTHE is a pessi-
mist. and despairs of my v G being
happy" And then slie would shrug
her shoulders: her trouble was %intangi-
bic. had paled to a thin cloud and van
ished. She had always been very hap
Ply: Bertic's detection was sickly non
sense: she would be happy again. But,
Notwithstanding that her common
sense thus dissipated the pain, IL ron
stantly returned in spite of reason and
Argument; returned persistently, like
an object tossed on n wave. which
omc and goes. comes and goes.
She conld endure 1t no longer, and
II day when she ventured to look
honestly into her own heart, she saw
that she did. indeed. doubt Frank and
the truth OF his statements about that
woman. Longing for some certainty.
she asked Bertia-his friend:
Tell me. Bertie-that Something OF
which yor once spoke to me; that mys-
terry; what is it,"
"Ol,. nothing, my dear girl; absolute
~ nothing"
She gazed at him with penetrating
eyes. and went ON, In a strange, cold
tone:
We'll. but I know: I have guessed"
BERTHE was started. What was she
thinking; whit had she got into her
head.
"Yes: I have guessed It," she repeat
ell. Frank does not love me; he loves
he loves that wOman-that creature
Of the L.yceum. He has always loved
her; Is, ii so:"
BERTHE said nothing, but stared before
him; that was the easiest ard best re-
ply.
.Rertie, tell me; Is 1t 500"
'No; it is rot" he answered, duly.
"What n foolish notion to have got into
your head. What made you think OF
suck 4 thingf' But there was no ring
OF conviction in his voice: he spoke me-
chanically. as though in absence OF
mind. as IL he were thinking OF some
thing else.
Does he eve- see her now?" she
| went on, feeling as If she were defiling
herself with her own words; as If her
lips were dropping slime.
why, of IN not. What are you
thinking OFF,
She leaned back with a sigh. and
tears glistened in her dark eyes. He
WAS silent for a minute. studying her
u Of the corne OF his eye. Then. rs
ii to mitigate his too feeble reputation
OF her suspicion, he went on, ~reproach-
fully:
REALLY. Eva, you must not think
such things of Frank. 1t is not nice:
you must have some confidence in the
MAJ you are to marry"
Then 1t is not the truth?"
Certainly not. He never sees her
now"
but does not he think of her still?'
He gave her a 10 lg. deep, enigmatical
lock. His eyes were like black velvet
darkness; she could not read their
meaning.
"Fie" he said re~provingly, and he
shook his head.
'That Is no answer" she said, urg-
emily. And again he fixed his dark
gaze upon her.
Good God answer me!' she cried.
her heart wrung to the very core.
How can you expect me to know
Franks feelings?" he dared to MUIR
muir. II don't know-therer'
''Then 1t is sop she moaned, clutch