The Holly chieftain., 1898-10-21
I.-CosrIsuEp.
Copyright. 1894. by Mary H.lIoek Eoo.e.l

Dhfeic eooh tHe seat opposite Miss
Bingham, and devoted himself, some
what nervously. to serving her and
keeping her attention from her father.
Everybody is SO kind in these ex-
traordinary places" she began, and her
voice betrayed her unconfessed anxiety.
through the forced society key she had
struck into nervously. Its impossible
to believe all that we hear about the
trouble with the miners: they seem
such respectable men when you meet
them" She stopped in confusion, and
looked at Darcie helplessly.
Are you-excuse me-are you a
miner?"
VERY much So" Darcie answered.
dropping his eyes.
Her own glance fell. and lighted upon
a brown, sinewy hand resting upon the
.table-a hand that looked as If it might
have been familiar with golf-stick and
tennis racket, or with paddle and gun,
but scarcely showed long acquaint-
ance with pick and barrow and drill.
Darcie Strengthened himself back in his
chair, and slipped the telltale member
iElO Ills pOChct. his W dS tOO
observing by far.
"And is he miner?" she asked, indi-
eating Mike with her eyes.
'Yes, Miss Bingham"
"The same as yourself?"
I'VE don't inhabit the same person,
quite"
But you do the same work?"
.
II than l do"
Darcie's face wore such an odd, en-
barrassed. defensive expression that
Miss Bingham laughed out loud. sud-
den girlish peal that sent light shivers
through the young mans nerves: then.
as suddenly, her eyes brimmed up with
tears. She leaned little toward him,
and asked confidingly:
Where is my father?"
''He is in bed, assure you; he's quite
used up. you know"
She sighed. T believe can't eat any
supper; thanks, so much"
..Oh. do-won't you try? know the
stuff's abominable."
NO. it isn't at all; it's very nice. But
II you had anything to tell me, you
would tell me. wouldn't you?"
Undoubtedly" Darcie assured her.
She did not believe him; but there
was nothing to be done but wait for the
fncts to develop.
Darcie was not conscious how intense
was his observation of the girl, while
his thoughts were busy with her situa-
ton, and his own rather mad plan for
taking her fathers place. How should
he put it before her? In the meantime,
how lovely she wasi The wind had
burned her lips and cheeks, and rough
ened her fair hair, which made soft
nimbus. in the frelight, around her
glowing face: the fire was in league
with the wind, and rain, weaving spells
of light and shadow to enhance the
charms of color, and feminine ex-
preston in line and attitude. Darcie
must have looked what he could not
say.
''You-you are not an American, are
you, Mr." Miss Bingham hesitated
questioningly.
''Darcie," the presumptive owner of
thdt name suDJolnen.
''Mr. Darcie?" the girl repeated.
"No"-he dwelt upon the word as if
trying to recall her question-'no; I'm
British tenderfoot-not so tender as I
was last April"
His accent pleased her very much.
though she would not have chosen to ac-
knowledge it: her lips parted in smile
as she repeated his "last April" under
her breath, the broad "a" as broadly as
possible.
"I'm rather glad, on the whole. that
you're not an Ameican," she said. eve
are all Americans, and it gets a bit tire
some" she added, with another gleam.
"And besides, it helps to account for
things"
"Does it?" said Darcie. "Tm very
glad II it does. Could you impart some
of your light to me?"
"Well.-' she hesitated. 'tif you had
been nm American-with something
about you which seems to place you
il would seem odd that one should never
have heard OF you. know very few
people. of course, because I'm tender
foot myself; but my father knows
everybody All the menwho come from
the east-with letters, you know
sooner or later always visit the mine.
This is very absurd of me. There's
really no reason why should insist
upon accounting for you. But If you
are from the other side, you may know
some of our Big Horn people? Some of
them are very swell, I believe"
II know good many people on the
other side who are not SWELL" Dnrcie
replied evasively.
But do you know any one Of our syn
dicate?" the girl persisted. "Of course
we think everybody has heard OF the
Big Horn who has ever heard Of the
Coeur d'Alene."
"Excnse me-" said Darcie, clumsily;
"I think your shoes are too close to the
fire. It's q great bore can't be ac-
counted for in the usual way" he con-
tinued. on resuming his seat; still, the
chances are I'm better as riddle with
out the answer. The answer is sure to.
be stupid. Let us assume that YOU have