Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-07-25

when his gaze met tnat OF DIS daughter.
Her mother alternately wept. smiled.
entreated or despaired, as occasion
scenes to require .
But 1t was not until a detailed ac-
count OF Shirley Austin's death-pur-
porting to come from a correspondent
in Acknowledgements in a daily pa
per. that Clarice showed symptoms OF
yielding.
ID with me as you please" she said.
when her mother next spoke of Philip
Grayson's proposal. Shirley is dead,
and my hear Is buried in his grave.
You say that my father is in the power
of mis- rich man. and that / alone can
release him. Then, he promises you,
mother, all the luxuries your delicate
health requires. Very well, then. l am
willing to sacrifice myself. 1t is hardly
a sacrifice now, since i would willingly
be disposed Of, one way or another.
This world holds nothing now that /
care for: do with me IS you please.
Mrs. Mowbray kissed the girls pallid
cheek. little impressed by the despair
of the words n voice, for her shallow
nature was incapable of understanding
a heart like her daughters.
She then FASTENED with the news to
her husband, who. in turn, was soon on
his way to carry the joyful intelligence
to Grayson.
IT was agreed between the two mon
that IN impatient sutton might call on
the following day, and earn the run
extent Of his happiness from the ups
of Clarice; and it was to keep TINS
same appointment that Philip hasteneu
away after parting with his sister.
Clarice was seated. alone. in the little
parlor, where he had first met her. lie
was very much in love. and didn't try
to conceal IL. His eager gaze drank IN
he. whole appearance at a glance. she
was simply dressed in a half-tlght
wrapper of white cashmere, without a
shade of color to relieve It's cold,
creamlike tint. save the violet OF her
large and lustrous eyes.
Her face. pale as her robe. was down
cast. and her gaze was fixed absently
on her slender white hands, clasped
loosely on her lap.
Her golden brown hair. fine and soft
as floss silk. that reached halfway to
her feet when unbound, was now close
~ braided and WOUND in glistening
beauty, around her inely-shaped heao.
III lht latUSA III SASSANN 1HN
would have seemed a very handsome
girl: but her restrained, cold, impas-
sive countenanca gave little idea OF the
radiant brilliancy natural to her.
She did not move or even raise her
eyes, when the man she had promised
to marry entered the room; but as he
approached her a wave OF color swept
over her face and neck, and he could
see that she trembled.
He came nearer, and she rose, slowly.
Then he took the hand. h did not
offer. and held 1t closely in his.
Placing his arm about her. he drew
her to him. and kissed her p~assionately.
but quite with the air OF a man takins
possession of his own property.
MY darling" he murmured. Il never
saw you ook so beautiful"
Clarice shuddered n drew away
from kim.
"Oh. Mr.. Grayson.' she faItered,
pray don't expect too much of me so
soon! You know-I hope you have been
told of my sad story. i am a poor,
heartbroken girl. All my hopes of hap
piness are buried in the grave of the
only man / can ever love-"
Grayson laughed lightly.
A young ladies speak that way to
the men who come second" he said.
But ] am content to wait, dearest. I
won't hurry you"
Thank you, thank you. You are
very good to me. And you are my faith
er's friend. You promise TO be kind and
generous to my sick mother. You will
see / will be grateful. and IL you will be
patient, Mr.. Grayson, I will try to be a
true and affectionate wife,"
And when VOL you marry me-, my
lovely Clare?"
whenever you please. Since Z am
to marry you. the soner 1t is over and
done with the better"
quite my opinion. too, you most
sensible little girl" and again Grayson
drew his betrothed close to his breast.
and pressed his lips to hers.
But this was more than the tortured
girl could bear.
She tore herself from his embrace and
dropped into a chair. buried her face
In her hands, and ave a to violent
weeping.
For a moment her middle-aged lover
looked at her with a dark frown, and a
keen pans Of jealousy smote him to the
heart.
Words that were half-resentful, half
s~cornful. rose TO his lips, but. with an
effort. he wisely restrained himself
from uttering them. The frown cleared
away from his face. and a gentler, al
most plying, look too the place Of II.
Poor child!" he murmured. poor
child! I will try not to expect too
much of you at first"
With a caressing touch he stroked
the bowed head, and though 1t seemed
very hard to forego his rights as an ac-
cepted lover. he turned away without
any further effort at a farewell EN-
brace.
Clarice raised her face. caught his
hand impulsively and pressed 1t TO her
lips Tor a moment.
THANK you" she said. THANK you,
Mr.. Grayson. 1 appreciate your kind
ness to met"
He left Ter without another look. feel
ing that ne had obtained a kind of vic
tory, and anxious not to spoil II.
And she sat listening to the sound OF
steps descending the stairs. until the
loud bang of the front door told her he