The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-11-18

NA1A~0
But Pen was away down in the glen;
she had no thoughts just then for her
grandmother, Or supper, or aught else
up at the farm.
AS she walked quickly away to the
trysting tree her thoughts We're busy
back at that night, just a week ago,
when she had stood beneath those pur-
pie, dropping Branches with Herbert
Maclean beside her, and he a whis-
pered intoxicating suggestions into her
little pink ear.
He hadn't asked her to be his wife,
but he had asked her to met him again
beneath the beech at shutdown and
we'll, he owed her; the rest was sure
to come right.
h could see the path to the village
from where she stood, and soon in the
distance she espied a speck coming
nearer. Yes, it was Re! But as the
"speck" advanced she saw tina it con-
sisted of two figures. both men.
How handsome he looked!-the light
checked suit, the Norfolk jacket and
trinity gathered legs making him look
taller and broader than ever. The
other was shorter and broader; he car
ried a stick, but he did not swing it. He
wore ordinary trousers, but, Of course,
that wasn't to be wondered at! his legs
couldn't possibly be as finely shaped
as Herbert's.
With her pretty face crimsoning with
newborn bushes, Penelope slipped be-
hind the sturdy bole of the giant tree
and waited, breathless. Herbert would
dismiss h stranger soon, then she
could go out of hiding, and
Halo! The little wench isn't here
herself such airs. ?"
"Is this the chosen spot? The altar
of Cupid?" said another voice-a
strangely full, melodius voice.
women are always so beastly I'M
punctual," said Herbert. "They can
fix a time and keep to it! So I always
name, a quarter Of an hour earlier than
I mean to appear"
tAlways?" There was o note of scorn-
full interrogation in the tone.
"You don't suppose" Herbert laughed
foolishly-"you don't suppose that this
is a solitary instance? Ha! Hal
IT suppose you've met her often be-
fore?'
mot this particular her. my dear
boy. But girls are cheap. One must
amuse oneself
"Amuse onself? Girls cheap" re-
peated the stranger angrily. do you
mean to say you're such a thorough
paced cad as to-"
DRAW it mild, old chap! The girls
all right. We're both playing at the
same game"
You're sure of that?" Maclean stir
red ~uneasily beneath the others flash
ing eyes. You're sure she holds things
as cheap as you do?"
"Well, Jove, old fellow, really I never
asked her. She is a pretty thing. It's
dull in the country without some fun,
And I asked her to keep the tryst-"
"Never imagining that it would be
kept" interrupted the other scornfully,
ooh, yes. She's only a girl. I expected
her to have kept the tryst. To tell you
the truth. I expected she'd have kept
it till called for I expected she'd have
been here long ago."
"Wel, I'm off. You and I don't agree
in our ideas about women and honor
you know. We never did, and"
"And never shall, old chap, while you
are so beastly straight-laced and old
maidish!' said Herbert, laughing. "You
take it all in solemn earnest; you don't
know your own worth, as I know mine
Catch me throwing away my freedom
or a. woman!"
$50 that's the way the cat jumps,
S it?' Herbert Maclean stood facing
is friend some weeks later, a CLEAN OF
amusement in his eyes. 1.-THE old grand.
mother is dead and Pen is heiress to the
family stocking"
"Heiress to a good deal it seems
'sponded Maurice Deane, slowly. "The
Id grandmother is dead, and Pen is
eiress to to quite a fortune"
and Penelope has smiled on you,
h?" sneered Herbert jealously. "You
idn't go to see the old grandmother
lille. Oh, you doctors are such pre-
ious humbugs!"
Maurice didn't vouchsafe n reply
0 the taunt. He had one to Dry
fridge three months ago as locum
enens to the village doctor. His time