Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-03-18

house. And when he came to the big
elm, whose branches overhung the water
and made a canopy above their heads, he
quietly shipped his oars, and, bending q
little forward, said, quite simply and
frankly:
II am going to take the liberty of ask
ing o q question. May II"
A little nervous futter crept from
June's a to her throat; a shade Of
lovely color, that could scarcely be called
q blush, came into her face, and she an
swered with n slightly embarrassed air:
"Oh, certainly"
"Why won't you, who are SO charming
to everyone else, be a little bit kind to
met"
His tone was so %deferential, and his
blue eyes looked SO humble and pleading,
that June felt all her GOODNESS and dis
pleasure melt away to nothing.
IAN 1 not kind to you?' she said, dip
ping her white fingers into the water and
apparently intent on watching them.
What have 1 done?"
You have hardly looked Mt or spoken
to me since I came; indeed, l have fancied
that you purposely avoided me-"
10 utter Il polite disclaimer was June's
hrst instinct; but a second coming swiftly
on its heels, she followed that instead.
"You have taken his mothers love from
Tom," she said. ".And, whenever you
are together, you always stand in his light
and make him seem-seem-"
But June IL find the words she
wants.
a all events, there is one brilliant ex-
ception to the rule," answered Dallas, in
n piqued tone, losing for a momen his
almost imperturbable good temper. Then,
with n fash in his blue eyes eminently be.
coming to them, II assure you, you are
completely mistaken about my aunt's feel
ing for me-. She likes me, and I amuse
her; but it is hardly probable that n wom-
an would care more for her nephew than
her Own son."
June is more attracted to Mr.. Broke in
this mood than in any in which she has
yet seen him. 1t is her turn to assume
that charming tone and manner which she
possesses in almost as great a degree as
Dallas himself.
II did not mean to say anything I'M.
kind" And she looked at him so softly
that his momentary wrath melted away.
but it is a little hard on Tom"
"IOm is the best fellow living" cried
Dallas. land no one knows it better than
Aunt vi. She is n woman of the world,
and would like him to have a little
moro"
"Polish:" suggested June.
"That is hardly the word; something of
that sort, 1 suppose. But she knows his
sterling worth as well as %anyone.'
Sterling worth! yes, how appropriate
those two words are! Yet they have a
dull sound in June's ears this summer af.
ternoon whilst young Apollo's eyes are
meeting hers.
II imagine,' he said, that you will
very soon have all the say here"
The swift blood flew to .June's cheeks.
You are mistaken, then,' cried June.
holly. II nm not going to marry him. 1
am not engaged to him. / love him as my
dearest friend, as my brother, and moth.
ing. nothing more"
Then she sank back in her seat, and a
cold, shamcd feeling crcpt over her that
she had betrayed Tom, ay, more cruelty
than mother or any other living being had
power to do. Dallas was so astonished at
this confession that he let go the bank.
and the boat drifted out into the sunshine.
He had to rise, take a scull and punt back
to the shore.
Had we not better be going in?" srg.
gested June. coldly.
mo, not just YETI he answered. "Do
you know you have positively taken nv
breath away?"
Have ~ said June, with averted ewes
rcmorseful IL ashamed, and vet feeling
n sort of satisfaction that she had struck
off her chains and declared her freedom.
II do not know why you should have
thought I was going to marry Tom. I
do not suppose that he told you that I
wns."
Most certainly not"
Since she was not going to marry Tom.
and it was not therefore high treason, he
allowed n tender infection to steal into
his voice. Dallas could not help it; it was
born in him; if he was with a pretty
woman, he must make love to her, unless
Il sense of honor to some friends who had
positive claims deferred him.
Lee us be friends" he whispered.
bending forward and stretching out his
hand: and she let him take hers. There
was Il magnetism in his touch that was
utterly wanting i'll TOMS; involuntarily
her eyes met his and stayed a moment
longer tina was wise, and straightway.
June knew that imagination may forestall
reality. and that the dreams she had cher
ishcd i'll summer starlit nights with long.
ing eyes strained hcavenward were not
only dreams, but that this gross material
earth holds raptures as great as the prom.
Use of the skies.
Tom, all unsuspicious, was awaiting
them ut the landing place, and, as he nut
both his hands out to help June from the
boat. he said, with a CHEEKY laugh:
well. have you two made upY"
June could not answer, but Dallas re.
piled gayly:
"Yes, l think Miss Rivers has forgiven
me-"
Then he walked up the slope to join
Mrs. Fctherston, who was coming to meet
them, her face wearing anything but a
pleased expression. A pnng Of jealousy
shot through June's heart. Tom was
hurrying her toward n sequestered part
of the garden, and she felt as though he
were taking her away from the flowers
and the sunshine.