The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1898-10-20

in this way. 1t is a dreadful liberty
we have taken--forcibg our troubles
upon you in your own house"
Darcie's chest rose, but he did not
speak.
al want to ask you-yet it's such n
silly thing-do men talk of this sort of
-'accident'-among themselves. gen
erslly-the thing heing so common?"
III don't know what some men do;
do you think shall make common talk
of trouble Of yours?"
"And Mike? win you tell him, please,
how hard l take it?'
81 can answer for Mike" said Darcie;
"but will speak to him if you wish"
ITS not that | doubt either of you"
-Darcie WINGED little at this free
ification-"but seeing il so differ
emily, you know, you might make light
of it.. | should wish il never TO be men
tioned-even to excuse it,"
You mistake me; | don't excuse it,
As an accident, touching your father,
man would say it is nothing. But,
as a sorrow affecting you, il is anything
| YOU please. 1t is monstrous; and il
shall be guarded as | would guard a
| trouble of my own"
"Ah," said Faith, musing bitterly,
"men are more charitable than women,
| suppose; they see SO much more of the
world. But what would they think of
us If we laid traps for our own weak
nesscs and then claimed to be pitied
for falling into them!"
| haY IL
tenderness, and resorted to pulling his
mustache in lieu of speech,
"There comes that poor, good Mike
splashing through the mudl" she eX-
claimed, laughing helplessly through
the tears she had vowed she would not
shed. How very excellent of him TO
do all the work, while we sit here talk
ing!"
mike chooses his own part" said
Darcie, with dignity; but we can
change parts If you prefer. Would you
rather have him to go home with your
That's not for me to say" Faith
eluded the little trap that had been set
for her. 1T would not become me 10
choose between two such friends in
need. am simply parcel left on your
hands, to be delivered at the mine. The
least one of you, if there is least, is
only too good for me-"
I'm the least one of us in several
senses of the word" said Darcie, con
tentedly. 80 on grounds of humility
you will have to put up with me. will
deliver the parcel safely, and" he add
ed in a low voice, 80 much of youI
trouble as have unwillingly seen to
night | think you may trust me with
81 would trust you with all my
troubles, and / have more than one.
Faith answered, impulsively. Sh,
raised the sweetest eyes, all bright anc
large with tears, 20 his-eyes of graft
tude and absurd belief And Darci'
forgot that he had anything in his con
sciousness to settle with before he coult
meet such look from her eyes or re
ceive such n trust. Mike remarked hin
uneasily, and confided to the fire hi,
opinion that "wan fool makes many
and that "the ould man is not the onl,
wan that's off his base this night" ii,
held open the door of the cabin. and lie
its light shine out, while Darcie put tn
young lady into her saddle. TIL,
restive horses sprang about over tn
stones, and, one behind the other, clat
tered down the ledge where the trai
was narrow and steep. The girl locke,
back, and Mike for long afterwar'
could not forget the sweet, half-appre
hensive glance she gave Darcie as h
drove his horse forward to her side
The wet trees closed and shut them in
That's the way he settles the ques
tion av inshtinc'," said Mike, as he shu
the cabin door. ''I'll be bound he nive
gev her the ch'ice, but just sided in 70
himself. He's very timber lad, and
have not the measure av him in m
mind, entirely. But I'm wild him. Tn
solid for ye, me little Darcie."