The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1901-09-12
BY CHARLO T7E N BRAEME.
CHAPTER XIII (Continued.l

CHAPTER XII. - (Continued.)
ssThis is almost as good as a billiard
cable said Hildred laughingly; but
the earl shook his head.
ut may be for you, he replied; but
sst Is not for me.
<Lord Caraven," said Hildred, "a
thought has just struck me. WeshaVe
been married how long?-since the
third of August, and it is now October
and do you know that you have never
once addressed me by name? MY
achool- fellows used to call me Dreda,
my father calls me 'Hildred. You
have so contrived as never to give me
any name at all. You do not say Lady
'Caraven,' 'Hildred, wife or anything
OF the kind. How is 1t
II cannot tell" he replied, blankly.
The question had evidently puzzled
s91im. @
II do not expect you would ever care
TO use any pretty familiar loving
name, but do you not think you
might learn to use my own? Lady
Courtenay used to look at me, when
you addressed me in that general kind
-of way as you Gould you not say
.Hillred' p Ut.
I'll really do not know he re-
Dlied: 1t is an uncomfortable kind OF
name Hildred, TX <, y.
She raised her charming head with
"a naughty little gesture. s
DO you fancy so? think you do
mot know what uncomfortable means.
q am rather proud Of my name; It ma may
be quaint, but 1t Is not common. Ii
! you cannot say tHildred,, can you not
t~cafl 9ne Lady Caraven'? 4 am tired
.4of being spoken to so vaguely.
II will not do 1t again, Lady Cara
wen. lie 1t annoys YOU" he said; and
then there was silence between them.
broken only by the soughing OF the
wind.
Would he let this hour pass without
speaking freely to herr They were
alone nowhere was no one to listen.
Sine raised her face, all bright with
play OF feeling, to his.
Lord Caraven,' she said, awill you
be very angry with me IL ask YOU
a question? r.
mo: without knowing what the
\ question may be, predict that-cer-
sttainIy not.
'sThis question has troubled me
very much; 1t has been the one thing
which have pondered night and day
- question that ! cannot answer, one
that / feel is the key to a secret.
You alarm me with that long
prologue. Briefly, what Is your ques-
tion, Lady Carayen? r.
Briefly, it is this: Why did you mar
Try me. Lord Caraven?'
why did marry you?" he echoed
i'm establishment.
4 ask you the question, she went
on, because / have watched you and
studied you, and / am convinced at
5last that you did not marry me for
love-
Lover he cried, "Why, what has
Char to do with it
81 thought" she continued, that
You had married me because you loved
me. / knew that you were cold, un-
demonstrative, that you had no SYM
1pathy, little kindness; but i believed
Implicitly that You married me for
love- h
>T had never seen you.-I saw you
only once" he said in establishment.
II know. remember. Still, re-
speat what have said to you; Ii
.gancled- II am quite ashamed to tell
you the truth, but will do SOL fan
cied that you had seen me some
where and had liked me-
He laughed, but the laugh was not
pleasant to hear.
ibid you really think that?" he
asked musingly. Poor child!' Then
he turned to her with sudden brisk
mess. .'Do you really mean to tell
me, on your word OF honor, that you
lido rot know why married your"
SHE raised her fair, proud face to his.
'ssI assure you most solemnly that do
not. It is the greatest puzzle I have
ever had"
did your father tell you that IL
loved your
NO." she replied, thoughtfully, che
did not. Indeed, he assured me that
love was not needful for happiness.
He never said you loved me. He said
you wanted to marry me.
"And what else? Go on. What
-else3''
which I should be supremely happy"
ss'What else: asked the stern voice.
II hardly remember That If ! con-
scented his highest ambition would be
.-t@S, ~ - '54- 1z#@tE Efz5s'E taf
------