Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-11-11
BREAKING THE NEWS.

My@ ass : ;,,s ssss =.
lSAaSgS$GIsysSsM ty, you ought to
NESz&s@SfM~ know more
NWXM about Mr.
ANgES Markham's powers of cndur-
'RNancc rfs- /"
" "But what do you think he'll
y do? What Go you sup
Why waste our time in sup
position? He'll be here most likely
this afternoon, and you will be able 10
judge for YOURSELF
Betty Oaklulst sprang TO her feet.
Ted is coming here this afternoon!
Why on earth didn't you tell me be-
fore:r And she tidgctcd %ncrvously with
her hat before the glass as she spoke.
But YOU knew. Betty, where are
you going:'
"Anywhcra out of this cried the
girl, laughing %ncrvously as she stopped
to kiss her friend.
Nora. however, caught her arm.
"Nonsensc, Betty! You'd much better
tell him straight out now and get it
over. 1t will be ever so much
awkward for you il the news reaches
him from outside"
II don't see that Mt ALL returned
Betty quietly. as she drew away from
her companion. II am SURF that Tiff
you-"
She paused tentatively.
You don't mean to say that you eN
poet me to tell Ted Markham that
you've Tilted HING
81 certainly don't expect to put it in
that way" replied Miss Oalshurst, with
q little laugh; but L am quite certain
that you would explain it to the poor
fellow much better than any one else
"EXplain.. exclaimed Nora, impa-
ticntly. 81 don't know that there's any
thing to explain, except that you've
put yourself and me in IL most ridicu-
lous position"
"Nora!"
81 wish I'D had anything to do
with it. 1 never felt so uncomfortable
i'll my life as l have done since You
dragged me into this precious scheme
| of yours"
Poor old Nora!' murmurcd Betty,
| sympathetically. while she east furtivc
glances at the clock.
You came here and shed any mum
Der of tears; declared that you adorcd
Ted Markham; that your father
that if you only had n little time be-
fore you, YOU We're sure everything
would come right"
$50 it has," remarked Betty soto
vocc. ITS only n question of point
of view."
Nora flashed an indignant look at
her.
' and at least pretend that you're asham.
ed of yourself. You begged ME to help
you to get my aunt to ask him here,
to act as screen in fact, so that your
I. people might Imagine 1t was all over
and that you had both changed your
minds, and now-now-"
Tho sound of a bell broke i'm upon
Miss Helmsley's eloqucncc, and Betty
caught up her gloves.
"I'm awfully sorry, Nora. Abuse me
as much as You like. Good-by."
And before Nora could stop her she
had darted through the door, and was
on her way downstairs. She let hcl
J so. After all, it was OF any use
to argue with Betty; she was one OF
those delightfully."- irresponsible crea.
lures who always manage to shift the
blame of their shortcomings on to other
peoples shoulders, and whom no one
no man, at any ratc-ever dreams OF
Judging by ordinary standards. Nora
wondered, as she stood there idly look.
ing into the street, how she could eve
have been foolish enough to take Bet
tvs love troubles seriously.
Nora sighed as she stood at the win
dow. 1t was a topsy-turvy world, and
the wrong people were always being
thrown together. If only
"Am I disturbing you? I was told
to come in here"
Nora started, and the color rushed
to her face.
"Oh, I hadn't heard you come in
Do sit down. Aunt isn't well. 1 an
SO sorry you should have had tn,
trouble of calling for nothing, but sh,
hoped to be able to go until the las
moment. Won't you let me give 20,
some tea?" She spoke with nervou,
hurry, scarcely pausing for an answer
Ted Markham took the chair she of
fered him, and listened in silence Will
she ratified on. Suddenly she stopped
-----f---N-R .N--r -
"Is anything the matters" she ask
ed, in a slightly alarmed voice. 1
was surely not possible that he coul,
already have learned Bctty,s treacl
cry.