The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-12-13

" ~
only vex himself
by the sight OF the other fellow philan-
dering after the girl he had loved AL
his life. She'll find him out after a
bit" he said to himself, "and then
she'll know how to value a man who
means every word-ay, and more than
every word-that he says"
In the meantime Dick Aylmer went
on and turned in at the Hospitality
open gate of Graveleigh Hall, with the
assured air of one who knows before
hand what his welcome would be. as
Miss Dimsdale at homer" he asked Of
Barbara, who came to the door in an
swer to his knock.
Il am not sure, sir" Barbara an
swered. But she may be in the gar
den-I1l find out, sir, in a minute"
She disappeared again, leaving him
there, and then a man ran out from
the side of the house, to take the
horses head: and before Barbara APP
peared again, Dick heard a light foot
step on the gravel, and Dorothy her
self, wearing a blue dress and a white
sailor hat. came into sight. "Ohi Mr..
Harris" she cried. in such a joyous
tone that Dicks heart fairly thumped
In response. II had no idea that you
were here. / wonder how 1t was | did
not hear the wheels. Come and be in
troduced to my aunt: she is here. round
this shrubbery-we always sit here in
the hot weather; the sight Of the sea
helps to keep one cool. Auntie," she
continued, not giving him time 10 say
a word. this is Mr.. Harris, whom ]
met at Lady James, who brought me
home that day, you know" then, turn
ing to Dick, she said, This is my
aunt, Miss Dimsdale.'
l am very pleased to see you, Mr..
Harris" said Miss Dimsdale, holding
out her hand In a frank and gracious
welcome. Miss Dimsdale had the
somewhat stiff of the last
generation, or, l might say, of the
first hall OF the century, but in her
W house she was always more genial
than in any other place, and Dick
Aylmer shook hands with her and
felt-well, that a very fate was fol-
lowing him in his acquaintance with
Dorothy Strobe, for here he was again
forced, as it were, to be known as Har-
ris, when all the time his real name
was Aylmer, and how was he to tell
the old lady that some one or other
had made a mistake-that is, without
giving himself the look of an impos-
ter? Like lightning there flashed
through his mind an idea that IL Lady
Jane had mistaken him for somebody
else. she had really no guarantee of
his responsibility, and with equal rap
tdity there shot through his brain a
remembrance Of his uncle's letter, his
uncle's threats and his ur c.e's unyield-
Ing, unbendable-yes, / must be hon.
est and finish up the sentence as Dick
thought this uncle's unyielding, I'M
bendable, devil of a temper. And so,
not from any contrivance or wish Of
his own, Dick, in that awkward mo-
ment, let the mistake pass, and al
lowed the two ladies at Grayeleigh
Hall to believe that his name was, as
they had imagined, Harris.
In behavior he was very judicious;
ne talked more to the aunt than to the
niece, although his eyes followed her
wherever she went in a way which told
Miss Dimsdale all too plainly what
had brought him there.
But, judging by his serene and sober
conversation with Miss Dimsdale, you
might have thought that Dick was
sixty instead OF six-and-twenty, and
Miss Dimsdale was charmed with him.
Such a thoughtful, sensible fellow"
she said TO herself as she watched
him presently go ac9os the lawn with
Dorothy to see her Persian kittens.
just at that time the very pride and
JOY Of her heart. Ay, but men were
deceivers ever, sometimes quite un-
conscious though it be. At that mo-
ment Dick was saying to Dorothy,
"And / thought the week would never
get over-the very longest week / ever
lived
Then why didn't you come be-
fore?" she asked: with innocent au-
dacity.
Come before! But you said that l
wasn't to come till this week." he an
swered. Besides, / didn't KNOW
wasn't sure that l nightn't get bun-
died out neck and crop when l did
come. OH no. l didn't want to run
the risk of that"
D you often get bundled out neck