Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-08-16

had been trying for a chance to thaaA
George. hut now when she attempted to
do so he prevented her by saying:
oh. don't-don't-I can Imagine all
yo" wish to say and I hate to be thanked.
lose and l are particular friends, and it
afforded me q great deal Of pleasure to
purchase it for h~er--but,' he added,
~glaacing ut his watch, II must be eNcus-
ed now. US l promised to call upon my
ward"
Who's that:" asked Jenny, and
George replied that it was a Miss Hern-
don. who had accompanied him from
New Orleans, to visit her aunt, Mrs.
Russell.
He says she's an h%eiress, and very
beautiful" rejoined Ida, seating herself
ut the piano.
Instantly catching at the words 'hcir-
ess" and beautiful" Henry started UP,
asking iii it would be against all the
rules of propriety for him to call upon
her thus early"
Il think it would" was Georges brief
answer. while Mary's eyes flashed scoril-
fully upon the young man. who, rather
crestfalien. announced himself ready to
listen to Ida, whom he secretly styles IAN
old maid" because since his first remcm-
brancc She had treated him with perfect
Indifference.
That night before retiring the three
girls sat down by the cheerful fire in
Mary's room to talk over the events of
the day. when Mary suddenly asked Ida
to tell her truly il it were not George who
had paid her bills at Mount Holyokc.
What IL silly girl" said Ida. 'He was
perfectly able and more than willing, SO
why do you carc?'
II do not like being so much indebted
to anyone" was Mary's reply, and yet
in her secret heart there was a strange
feeling of pleasure in the idea that
George had thus cared for her, for would
he have lone So f. She dared not fin
ish that question even to herself-dared
not ask il she hoped that George More
land loved her one-half as we'll as she
began to think she had always loved him
Why should he, with his handsome per-
son and princely fortune, love one so N
worthy. md so much beneath him? And
then, for the first time. she thought OF
her changed position since last they met.
Then she was a poor, obscure school mis-
tress-now tlattered, caresscd and an
heircss. Years before, when a little pau
per at Chicopee, she had felt unwilling
that George should know how destitute
She was, and now in the time of her
prosperity she was equally DESTROYS that
he should, for a time at least. remain ig-
norant of her present condition.
Ida" said she. lifting her head from
the table. docs George know that l am
Mrs. C%ampbell's niece?"
NO" answered Ida. 81 wanted to tell
him, but Aunt Martha said I'd better
no.."
Don't. them" returned Mary, and re.
suming her former position she fell into
a deep ~reverie. from which she was at
last aroused by Jcnny's asking "if she
intended to sit up all night?'
The news that George Moreland ha9
returned and bought Rose Lincoln's piano
besides several other articles, spread
rapidly. and the day following his ar
rival Mary and Ida We're stopped in the
street by a group Of their companions,
who We're eager to know how George
bore the news that his betrothcd was so
ill. and if it was not that which brought
him home so soon; and then the CONVEX
sation turned upon Miss Herndon, the
New Orleans lady who had that morning
appeared in the street; "And don't you
,hinl.' said one of the girls. that Henry
Lincoln was dancing attendance upon
her? If | were you." turning to Mary
I'D caution my sister to be Il little wary
Of him. But let me see, their marriage
is to take place soon?"
Mary replied that the marriage was
postponed indefinitely, wliereupon the
girls exchanged meaning glanccs and
passed Oh. In less than twenty-four
hours half of Elias acquaintanccs were
talking of her discarding Henry on ac-
count of his fathers failure. and sayin.
that they expected it. twas like her"
Ere long the report. in the shape of a
coincidence. reached Henry. who, caring
hut little what reason was assigned for
the broken engagement, so that lie got
we'll out of it, assumed Il much-injurel
air. but said 'he reckoned he should man
age to survive;' then. pulling his sharp
pointed collar up another story. and
brushing his pet mustache. wherein lay
most of his mind. he walked up street,
and. ringing ut Mrs. Russell's door, ask.
ed for Miss Herndon. who, vain as beau.
tiful, suffered his attentions, not because
she liked him in the least, but because
she was fond of tlattery. and there was
something exceedingly gratifying in the
fact that at the North. where she fancied
the gentlemen to be ~icicles. she had so
soon made a conquest. 1t mattered not
that Mrs. Russell told her his vows We're
pIighted to another. She cared nothins
for that. Her life had been one long
series of %conquests until now, ut %, there
was not in the whole world Il more fin.
ished or hcartless coquette thai Evron
Herndon. (To be c%ontinued.)