Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-06-28

stopped suddenly, and kissed the kind
sly large brown hand that lay on the
table near her.
Nonsense, child" said Blount. hast
lily; what did you do that for? Why,
the money is lying idle at my bankers.
not doing the slightest good to any one
and I am only too pleased to be able
to oblige you so easily"
Thank you,' returned Nab, thank
you again, Mr.. Blount, for all your
goodness to me-"
Il have done nothing for you" pro-
tested old Dick, "and l shall be serious
ly angry, Miss Mabel, if you ever men
ton my goodness to me again.
They were crossing the hall at this
time, and presently gained the outer
porch, where he put her on her horse
and gathered up the reins for her hand.
Well, good-by, and take care OF
yourself; and be sure you look your
very loveliest on Thursday evening.
"Good-by," Mabel cried, and rode on
beneath the elms once more to the
high road on her way home to Kings
Abbott.
When she reached it she found the
house deserted-the two elder ladies,
accompanied by Miss Younge, having
gone a distance of five miles t. return
some visits, while the gentlemen had
been shooting since early dawn.
''And Miss Mildred--where is she?"
miss Trevanion has just gone down
by the copse way, toward Grants
farm, to see Kate Dempsey, whose
man has been in trouble. Jenkins
the footman, informed her.
And so there was nothing left for
Mabel but to wait patiently until such
time as any of the members of the
household should take it into their
heads to return.
Mildred at that moment was return
ing from Mrs. Dempsey's dwelling
house, and Denzil Younge was at her
side
Slight and tall though she was, she
scarcely reached her companions
shoulder as they walked along side by
side, very silently at first. The chill
breeze sent bright warm glow to her
cheeks, and played with and flung
about her hair, until she seemed trans
figured into one of the ancient sirens,
come back once more to break the
hearts of men. The heart of the man
beside her was very fairly on the way
to breaking just at present, so sweet
she seemed to him, SO fair past all ex-
preston, so hopelessly beyond his pow.
err to reach.
"'And of what are you thinking, Jen-
ny?'"
Mildred hummed gayly, glancing up az
Denzil with laughing violet eyes.
"Of you," he answered simply, "and
of something else"
Every explanatory said Miss IRE
vanion-"only want very much to
know what the something else is. I
hold it as my due to tell me, because
/ am your Bradshaw just now, and you
certainly owe me return for my ser
vices"
IF 1 told you, it would not interest
you in the least"
81 can quite believe that-few things
do; but we have good long walk be-
fore us, with no earthly subject to dis
cuss, as l conclude you hardly feel
equal to the weather. Do you?
'sOf course do; surely you cannot
suppose that this little gust of wind
possesses the power to upset me?''
II don't mean in that way-how
stupid you are! I spoke Of being
equal to- or as you would say, up
to- discussing the weather.
'.Oh, that indeed! I beg your par
don; the cobwebs thicken on my brain
of late, fancy. I only hope this live
ly breeze will blow them all away be-
fore Mr.. Blount's ball, or I shall find
no one there to take pity On me-"
Remove your hat, then, and give
YOUR head a chance; the result will
probably be severe cold in it-but
that doesn't matter compared with the
clearr.ess of intellect Are you think
ing much about the ball?"
(To be continued)