Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-08-23
CHAPTER xyI-tCont;nuea..

us attendance upon the proud SoutncrI!
beauty. whose fortune was valued by
hundreds Of thousands. AT first she re-
fused to believe ii. hut when Mary and
Jenny both assured her it was true. and
when she herself had ocular demonstru-
tion of the tact, She gave way to one
long fit of weeping, and then. drying her
Eyes. declared that Henry lincoln should
see that She woui! not die for him"
Still Il Minute observer could easily
have seen that her saycty was fcigned.
Tor she had love-! Henry Lincoln as sim
cereiy is she w..s capable of loving. and
not even George Moreland. who treated
her with his old boyiSh familiarity, could
make her for a molpent forget one who
now passed her coldly by, or listened pas
sivel.y while the sarcastic Evron Hcrn-
don likcned her 10 a waNen image, tit
only for Il glass case.
Toward the las. of April Mrs. Mason
and Mary returned to their old home in
the country. On Elias account Mrs.
Campbell had decided to remain in the
city during Il part of the summer, anil
she laborcd hard to keep Mary also.
Mary promised. however, to spend the
next winteg with her aunt, who wept at
parting with her more than she would
probably have done had it been ELLA.
Mary had partially engaged to teach the
school in Rice Corner. but George. as
suming Il kind OF authority over her, de-
clared she should not.
III don't want Your eyes to grow dim
and your checks pale in that little, pent-
up ROOM said he. Won know I've been
there and seen for myself
Mary coiored. for Georges manner of
late had puzzled her. and Jenny had more
than once whispered in her ear, II know
George loves You. for he looks at you
just as William does at me, only Il little
more so.'
Ida, too. had once misclievously ad-
dressed her as Cousin" adding that
there was no one among her acquaint-
ances whom she would as willingly call
by that nalne when | was Il little
girl said She. they used to tease me
about George, but Id as soon think Of
marrying my brother. You never saw
Mr.. Elwood. Georges classmatc, for he's
in Europe now. Between you and me, l
like him aud-'
y loud call from Aunt Martha prevent
ed Ida from finishing. and the CONVERSE
ton was not again resumed. The next
morning Mary was 10 leave. and as she
stood in the parior talking with Ida,
0tplSt tiuic III VAIN IL lEINtillS SttCllcl
in his hand, and a shawl thrown care
lessly over his arm.
Where are you going:'' asked Ida.
TO Springfield. l have business there,''
said George.
".And when will you rcturn?' continued
Ida, feeling that it would be doubly
lonely at rome
"Tha depends on circumstances said
he II shall stop al Chicopec on my way
bnck, provided Mary is willing"
Mary ans,,ered that she was always
glad to see her friends, and as the car
riage just then drove up, they started to-
gether for the depot. Mary never re-
membered of having had a more pleasant
ride than that from Boston to Chicopee.
George was q most agreeable companion,
and with him at her side she seemed
to discover new beautines in every OBJ
ject which they passed, and felt rather
sorry when the winding river and the
blue waters Of Pordunk Pond warned
her that Chicopee station was near at
hand.
ooh! how pleasant to be at home once
more, and alone said Mrs. Mason. but
Mary did not reply. Her thoughts We're
elsewhere. and much as she liked being
alone, the presence of Il certain individ-
ual would hot probably have married her
happiness to any great extent. But he
was coming soon. and with that in antici-
patton She appeared cheerful and gay as
usual.
Among the first to call upon them was
Mrs. Perkins. who came early in the
morning, bringing her knitting work and
staying all day. She had taken to dress
making. she said. and thought maybe she
could get some new ideas from Mary
dresses. which she very coolly asked to
see. With the utmost good humor Mary
opened her entire wardrobe to the inspcc-
ton OF the widow. At last the day was
over. and with 1t the visit of the widow,
who had gathered enough gossiping mate
rails to last her until the Monday fol
lowing, when the arrival in the ~neishbor.
hood of George NJ ireland threw her upon
IL fresh theme. causing her. to won.icr
'if twas M:lry's bean, and if he hadn't
been kinder comrtin' her ever since the
time he visited her school,"
She felt sure of it when. toward even.
ing. she saw them enter the school house.
and nothing but the presence of a visitor
prevented her from stealing across the
road and listening under the window.
She would undoubtedly have been highly
canned coulu sue nave heard their con-
versation. The interest which George
had felt in Mary when a little child was
greatly increased when he visited her
school in Rice Corner, and saw how
much she was improved in her manners
and appearance: and it was then that he
conceived the idea of educating her, de-
termining to marry her if she proved all
he hoped she would.
He had asked her to accompany him to
the school house. because it was there
his resolution had been formed. and 1t
was there he would make it known. Mary.
too. Ind something which she wished "a
say 10 him. She would thank him for his
kindness to her and her parents memory;
but the moment she commenced talking
upon the subject George stopped her, and
for the first time since they were chill.
dren. placed his arm around her waist
and, kissing her smooth, white brow,
said, Shall l tell you, Mary, how you
can repay meg
She did not renIy. and he continued: