Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-11-03

that Grace was as easy 10 manage as
Rutl. was ~intractable; and there was a
grain Of comfort in that knowledge.
.If II had been the other way" Mrs.
Leger thought, with an uplifting OF hefi
arched brows, land Ruth bud Deeh
free and Independent, l should DE u
mere cipher in the house: fortunately,
can depend on my Gear Grace.
Seeing her elder daughter. AIRS. Leg
or spoke to her on the subjef. surprls-
Ing the girl by a display Of dnwonted
tenderness and @consideratlhn mat
brought a grateful glow to tae aaie'
| pretty face.
do not disturb yourself. dearest
the elder lady said, rs Grace put COVE
the book whose leaves she hau peeh
| rather Ghacn;ly turning as her mother
| entered the loom. .IIow cosy you iooR
in your sanctum. | 10 not wonder tlat
| you Ike 10 steal away from us al. anu
indulge vour dGydreams in this deiight-
full Ions."
Grace looked a-ound and shuddcred
! q little as She recalled the day-dfeanls
! That had visited her there. She WAS
always a reticcnt girl, and her mother
! was the last person in he worid 10
draw her into emotional
So she answered, with IL little smile,
that she feared her NOOK" was rather
| luxurious. but that she liked solitude
made comfortable.
"Ah, that solitudeI' Mrs. Leecr crled,
| catching quickly at the word, ana re-
gariing her daughter with n pensive,
| maternal look. THAT brings me TO
| what l have to say. / know how M
| selfish you are, my darling. and vet
with a p!ayfully-nervous l~augh-"Im
half. afraid 10 ask a favor of you.
"A favor, Surely. you know WIN
do anything you wish?'
Even If ! asked you 10 give q I
den party? No-Eo" rs the girl haif-
rose in her chair with a dlstfessed
look. perhaps. even for Ruths sake.
that would he asking too much. Let
! MS talk of something else. What Is
your book about, dailing!
She stretched out her hand toward
| the y~elum-bound volume, but Grace eN-
claimed, quickly:
For Ruth's sake? | hardly under
stand. Is it Ruth's wishg'
..WelI-yes and no. You are aware
| Of her love for innocent gaiety, but she
has u deeper interest in this, and fol
that very reason, am sure she viii
| rather try 10 protest against what she
really longs for. You see, Mr.. Carl
ten would be our principal gCest!'
Smiles anu mods made the last phase
| significant. otherwise Grace might
have failed to find much meaning In
her mothers rambling sentences; but
as ii was, her attention was now
reused.
MIR. Carlton-the great man OF the
! ncichrorhood," she exclaimed. with ey-
| ident interest. Mother. what is he TO
cur little RUTH
Her ardent admirer In the present;
in the future. perhaps her-but We
will have no castle-building, Mrs.
Ieger said, with a sternly-yirtuous air;
.'they may not meet again, for, OF
| course. without entertaining in some
mild fashion. we cannot go to other
| peoples houses
stay. mother" Grace broke in; ''you
| are taking the fact that am an obsta-
Gle to all enjoyment too much for
granted. BY all means, have your
garden party"
MY lear Grace" Mrs. Leger's face
flushed with delight: she had caicu-
lated on ultimate, but hardly on SO
| speedy n victory. But are you snre
that the effort will not cost you too
much? Shall we not be sacrificing
yoC!"
mo-" Grace raised her clear eyes
calmly. and answered with quiet conf
| dencc."I must meet people sometime,
aud why not now? 1t Is only u cow
arGly fear of pain that makes me still
| shrink from society"
II wish Ruth heard you!" was the
mothers comment, uttered in all heart
mess and sincerity; and Grace, with a
smile. promised that Ruth should hear.
|. Mrs. Santley kept her word, and
| found il no difficult task to convince
her young sister that giving the party
was not only rightful and proper. but
a Undesirable thing to do. Ruth
was unscltishly willing TO give up any
pleasure rather than e her sister:
but when she found that Grace was
apparently bent on pleasure, too, she
thought that everything was propi.
t:ous. indeed.
TO Be C~ontinued.l